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Scientists say global warming – specifically the rapid warming of the Arctic – is a possible, if not likely, culprit in the extreme weather.
Freak cold in Texas has scientists discussing whether climate change is to blame https://twitter.com/ReutersScience/status/1362137277653262338
Freak cold in Texas has scientists discussing whether climate change is to blame https://twitter.com/ReutersScience/status/1362137277653262338
Jet stream slowed down & meandered.
Paul Beckwith, a climate system scientist in Ottawa: "(Arctic warming) could cause the polar jet stream to slow down and meander, so that it carries more warmer air toward the pole and frigid air further south"
Paul Beckwith, a climate system scientist in Ottawa: "(Arctic warming) could cause the polar jet stream to slow down and meander, so that it carries more warmer air toward the pole and frigid air further south"
“What we’re seeing this year is an extreme example of what happens when the jet stream trough goes really deep southward,” Beckwith said.
“I think it’s a rock-solid case,” But “it might take a bit of time for the science to catch up and find all the details” to prove it.
“I think it’s a rock-solid case,” But “it might take a bit of time for the science to catch up and find all the details” to prove it.
Speculative, not facts:
The theory “remains speculative, and it is the reporting of it as fact that is not justified,” climate scientist Geoffrey Vallis at the Univ of Exeter tweeted on Tuesday. “It may be true, but perhaps more likely not.”
The theory “remains speculative, and it is the reporting of it as fact that is not justified,” climate scientist Geoffrey Vallis at the Univ of Exeter tweeted on Tuesday. “It may be true, but perhaps more likely not.”
Record cold, intense storms and tornadoes amid global warming: Could there be a connection?
“It’s been unusual for a few weeks now – very, very crazy,” Francis said. “Totally topsy-turvy.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/record-cold-intense-storms-and-tornadoes-amid-global-warming-could-there-be-a-connection/ar-BB1dLZao
“It’s been unusual for a few weeks now – very, very crazy,” Francis said. “Totally topsy-turvy.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/record-cold-intense-storms-and-tornadoes-amid-global-warming-could-there-be-a-connection/ar-BB1dLZao
Goosing the atmospheric wave @judah47 
Warming in the Arctic, with shrinking sea ice, is goosing the atmospheric wave in two places, giving it more energy when it strikes the polar vortex, making it more likely to disrupt the vortex, Cohen said.
Warming in the Arctic, with shrinking sea ice, is goosing the atmospheric wave in two places, giving it more energy when it strikes the polar vortex, making it more likely to disrupt the vortex, Cohen said.
What's happened to the vortex in the past few weeks has been remarkable: Francis said “it’s been a major breakdown. It really is the cause of all of these crazy weather events in the Northern Hemisphere.”
"Wandering polar vortex"
From USA Today:
Some scientists – but not all – say there could be a connection between global warming and the wandering polar vortex: The theory is that when weird warmth invades the Arctic, some of the cold that's supposed to stay up there.
From USA Today:
Some scientists – but not all – say there could be a connection between global warming and the wandering polar vortex: The theory is that when weird warmth invades the Arctic, some of the cold that's supposed to stay up there.
"The theory is that when weird warmth invades the Arctic, some of the cold that's supposed to stay up there."
Heating Arctic may be to blame for snowstorms in Texas, scientists argue
The wintry weather that has battered the southern US and parts of Europe could be a counterintuitive effect of the climate crisis https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/17/arctic-heating-winter-storms-climate-change
The wintry weather that has battered the southern US and parts of Europe could be a counterintuitive effect of the climate crisis https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/feb/17/arctic-heating-winter-storms-climate-change
“The current conditions in Texas are historical, certainly generational,” said @judah47. “But this can’t be hand-waved away as if it’s entirely natural. This is happening not in spite of climate change, it’s in part due to climate change.”
'Cold air is normally concentrated around the north pole in the polar vortex, an area of low pressure that circulates in a tight formation in the stratosphere during winter. This rotation is likened by scientists to a spinning top, one that can meander if it is interfered with.'
“I’d say the situation this winter is consistent with research that has connected what’s happening in the Arctic with extreme weather patterns in the mid latitudes,” said Jennifer Francis
There is no consensus among scientists over the interaction between Arctic heat and cold weather further south – Francis calls the topic an “active area of research”.
“We still have a lot to learn on this,” said Francis. “I think this year will be studied for a long time.”
“We still have a lot to learn on this,” said Francis. “I think this year will be studied for a long time.”
Texas flunks climate change test as its energy grid freezes solid https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-power-outage-storm-climate-change/
"This is a large-scale emergency," said Julie McNamara, a senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "We're seeing the consequences of insufficiently considering climate impact on the grid."
The polar vortex, a weather pattern that originates in the Arctic, is increasingly descending to lower latitudes. Scientists say global warming caused by humans is partly responsible for shifts that bring glacial weather to more southern climes and keep it around longer.
There was a "snownado" in Texas, in case you're wondering how climate change is going
Conditions became dire over the weekend in Texas, where an unprecedented wave of winter weather has crashed upon the typically warm state. https://www.mic.com/p/there-was-a-snownado-in-texas-in-case-youre-wondering-how-climate-change-is-going-62191241
Conditions became dire over the weekend in Texas, where an unprecedented wave of winter weather has crashed upon the typically warm state. https://www.mic.com/p/there-was-a-snownado-in-texas-in-case-youre-wondering-how-climate-change-is-going-62191241
"It's hard to blame Texas for these outcomes. The state never assumed that it would experience such a widespread, ongoing cold spell, and its infrastructure simply was not built to withstand these types of temperatures."
"snownado alley" 
But the sad fact is these weather events are becoming more and more common, and climate change is to thank.
Failure to act could result in Texas becoming a “snownado alley” — and that is a fate that the state’s infrastructure is not prepared to survive.
But the sad fact is these weather events are becoming more and more common, and climate change is to thank.
Failure to act could result in Texas becoming a “snownado alley” — and that is a fate that the state’s infrastructure is not prepared to survive.
How one Texas storm exposed an energy grid unprepared for climate change
"Texas crisis is a wake-up call that exposes how the U.S. electric infrastructure may not be fully prepared to absorb steep climate-related spikes in demand for power." https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/one-texas-storm-exposed-energy-grid-unprepared-climate-change-rcna289
"Texas crisis is a wake-up call that exposes how the U.S. electric infrastructure may not be fully prepared to absorb steep climate-related spikes in demand for power." https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/one-texas-storm-exposed-energy-grid-unprepared-climate-change-rcna289
(Similar cold snap happened December 1989)
"We are in a nonstationary world. Climate change means that it is not stationary," Craig said. "The last 40 years might not be reflective of what's coming down the pike the next 40 years."
"We are in a nonstationary world. Climate change means that it is not stationary," Craig said. "The last 40 years might not be reflective of what's coming down the pike the next 40 years."
A Glimpse of America’s Future: Climate Change Means Trouble for Power Grids
Systems are designed to handle spikes in demand, but the wild and unpredictable weather linked to global warming will very likely push grids beyond their limits. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/climate/texas-power-grid-failures.html
Systems are designed to handle spikes in demand, but the wild and unpredictable weather linked to global warming will very likely push grids beyond their limits. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/climate/texas-power-grid-failures.html
(Similar Texas cold snap happened in December 1989)
"But as climate change accelerates, many electric grids will face extreme weather events that go far beyond the historical conditions those systems were designed for, putting them at risk of catastrophic failure."
"But as climate change accelerates, many electric grids will face extreme weather events that go far beyond the historical conditions those systems were designed for, putting them at risk of catastrophic failure."
"grid operators in Texas have also long known that electricity demand can spike in the winter... But this week’s winter storms, which buried the state in snow and ice, and led to record-cold temperatures, surpassed all expectations — and pushed the grid to its breaking point."
