President Trump's recent claim that a winter storm disproves climate change is a misleading attempt to conflate short-term weather trends with long-term climate changes. The unusually cold air spilling into the US is an example of weather, not climate - as Dr. Steven Decker, director of Rutgers University's Meteorology Undergraduate Program, points out.
Climate scientists say that global warming and climate change are two distinct concepts. While weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, climate is the average temperature trend over a long period, often decades or centuries. The US Geological Survey defines global warming as "the overall rise in global temperatures due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." In other words, climate change is about the long-term increase in global temperatures, not just one extreme weather event.
Dr. Daniel L. Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, explains that heavy ice accumulations are more likely to occur when there's warm air next to cold Arctic air. This requires substantial amounts of warmer-than-freezing temperatures in the atmosphere for precipitation to melt instead of falling as snow.
Despite Mr. Trump's claim, historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the eastern US has seen a winter warming trend over the past century. In fact, 2025 was ranked as the third-warmest year since 1850 by NOAA.
Additionally, most of the western US is experiencing record-warm winter temperatures, according to a database created by the University of California, Merced. Climate scientists like Dr. Swain point out that Mr. Trump's description of this weekend's winter storm forecast was not entirely accurate - it may have seen record-breaking ice accumulations in some areas.
In conclusion, President Trump's claim is another example of misinformation about climate change. The science is clear: global warming and climate change are real phenomena with evidence from multiple lines of research. While extreme weather events can occur, they do not disprove the long-term trend of rising global temperatures.
Climate scientists say that global warming and climate change are two distinct concepts. While weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, climate is the average temperature trend over a long period, often decades or centuries. The US Geological Survey defines global warming as "the overall rise in global temperatures due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." In other words, climate change is about the long-term increase in global temperatures, not just one extreme weather event.
Dr. Daniel L. Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, explains that heavy ice accumulations are more likely to occur when there's warm air next to cold Arctic air. This requires substantial amounts of warmer-than-freezing temperatures in the atmosphere for precipitation to melt instead of falling as snow.
Despite Mr. Trump's claim, historical data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that the eastern US has seen a winter warming trend over the past century. In fact, 2025 was ranked as the third-warmest year since 1850 by NOAA.
Additionally, most of the western US is experiencing record-warm winter temperatures, according to a database created by the University of California, Merced. Climate scientists like Dr. Swain point out that Mr. Trump's description of this weekend's winter storm forecast was not entirely accurate - it may have seen record-breaking ice accumulations in some areas.
In conclusion, President Trump's claim is another example of misinformation about climate change. The science is clear: global warming and climate change are real phenomena with evidence from multiple lines of research. While extreme weather events can occur, they do not disprove the long-term trend of rising global temperatures.
I feel like we're stuck in a loop where folks like Trump try to spin short-term weather events into denial about climate change 
. Newsflash: just 'cause it's cold one day doesn't mean the planet's not warming up overall 
. We need to separate weather from climate, and it's getting really frustrating when people make it sound like they're equal 
. The data is clear: the past century has seen a significant winter warming trend in the eastern US, and 2025 was already ranked as one of the top three warmest years on record 
. Let's focus on facts, folks! 
so what's the point of Trump claiming this? like, he knows it's not true right? 
I mean, I get it, weather can be unpredictable but this winter storm thingy was like, super extreme for its time of year... I guess some people just don't want to acknowledge the science 
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. Climate change is a real thing, and we need to be taking action to address it ASAP 
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. and btw, record-warm winters in california? no surprise there . climate change is real, folks, don't @ me 
. Like, just because there was a super cold winter storm in the US doesn't mean climate change isn't real 
. We should be learning about this stuff, not trying to debunk it 
anyway, the data from NOAA is straight fire, i mean who needs facts when you can just deny them? 
= Long-term temperature trend (decades/centuries)
, not just one extreme weather event. It's about the long game, not just a blip on the radar 
: NOAA shows a winter warming trend in the eastern US over the past century. And let's be real, record-warm temps are happening all over the West 
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. Climate change science is clear: global warming and climate change are real. Let's focus on understanding the trends, not just one weather event 
. It's not that hard to grasp.
. The science is clear: global warming and climate change are real phenomena with evidence from multiple lines of research. So let's not fall for this misinformation nonsense 
. can we please just stick to the science? 
. And record-warm temperatures in the west? That's not just a coincidence, folks 
. Let's focus on learnin' from science rather than tryin' to spin it for our own gain 
.