Donald Trump is pointing to a powerful winter storm sweeping across the United States as proof that global warming is a hoax, even as the system spreads heavy snow, freezing rain, and dangerously cold air across wide regions, turning roads icy, delaying flights, raising the risk of power outages, and affecting millions of people.
At first glance, the claim may sound convincing, because when people are freezing, warming feels impossible; however, this argument collapses once the facts are clear. Climate science does not say cold weather will vanish altogether.
Instead, it explains how long-term weather patterns are shifting over time, which means severe winter storms can still occur even as the planet continues to heat up overall.
Why the claim of Trump confuses weather with climate
The statement of Donald Trump focuses on one weather event. However, weather and climate are not the same thing. Weather describes short-term conditions, like today’s snow or tomorrow’s temperature. Climate, on the other hand, looks at patterns over decades.
Because of this difference, one storm cannot cancel decades of global temperature records. Even a massive storm affecting hundreds of millions of people does not change long-term climate trends. Across the United States, winters are becoming warmer overall. The coldest days of the year are not as cold as they used to be.
Since 1970, the lowest temperatures people experience each year have warmed by at least 2.5 degrees Celsius on average. At the same time, record hot days are becoming far more common than record cold days. This imbalance matters. It shows a clear direction of change. While cold days still happen, they are increasingly outnumbered by unusually warm ones.
Therefore, when Trump points to a winter storm as evidence against global warming, he overlooks the bigger picture. Climate change does not erase cold weather. Instead, it reshapes how often and how intensely different types of weather occur.
How Arctic warming plays a role in extreme winter storms
This winter storm did not appear randomly. It formed because very cold Arctic air moved south and collided with warmer, moisture-filled air over the United States. When these air masses meet, powerful storms can develop.
Usually, cold Arctic air stays near the North Pole. It is contained by the polar vortex, a massive ring of strong winds high in the atmosphere. This system acts like a barrier that keeps extreme cold locked in the far north. However, sometimes the polar vortex weakens or stretches. When that happens, freezing Arctic air can spill south into the United States.
It is similar to opening a door on a freezing day and letting cold air rush inside. This is exactly what is happening now. Importantly, scientists have found that global warming may be contributing to this process. The Arctic is heating up much faster than the rest of the planet, at nearly four times the global average rate.
As Arctic temperatures rise, sea ice melts. Dark ocean water replaces bright ice. Because dark surfaces absorb more heat, warming accelerates even further. These changes disrupt atmospheric patterns, including the polar vortex. As a result, the polar vortex becomes more unstable. When it stretches or weakens, extreme cold can surge south. This does not mean the Arctic is getting colder.
Instead, it means the Arctic is warming so rapidly that it is disturbing long-standing weather systems. This is why the argument of Trump misses a critical point. Global warming does not stop winter storms. In some cases, it can make them more disruptive by altering how cold air moves around the planet.
What long-term US winter data actually shows
Looking beyond this storm reveals a clear pattern. Across much of the United States, winter cold snaps are becoming shorter. On average, extreme cold periods are now about six days shorter than they were in 1970. At the same time, snow patterns are shifting. While some regions are buried under snow today, others are facing severe shortages.
Parts of the western United States are experiencing unusually low snowfall, hurting ski resorts and water supplies. Glaciers continue to shrink. Seasonal norms are changing. Winters are arriving later and ending earlier in many places. These shifts are gradual, but they are consistent and well-documented.
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Even during the current storm, the entire country is not cold. Some regions are warmer than normal. Others are drier than expected. This uneven pattern reflects a climate system under stress, not a stable one. Trump’s claim relies on a snapshot in time. Climate data relies on decades of observation. When scientists examine the full record, the trend is clear.
The United States is warming, and winters are warming faster than other seasons. Cold weather has not disappeared, but it has changed. Extreme cold events still occur, yet they are shorter and less frequent overall. Meanwhile, extreme heat events are becoming more common and more intense.
This reality explains why a single winter storm cannot serve as proof of a climate hoax. Instead, it highlights how a warming planet can produce surprising and sometimes dangerous weather extremes.
Understanding these facts helps cut through confusion. While Trump points to cold temperatures as evidence against global warming, the science shows something very different. The planet continues to heat up, even when winter storms make it feel otherwise.
