The huge blizzards that seem to be hitting the Midwest, East Coast, and Northern Europe with increasing frequency may be a portent of climate change. The theory goes like this: a warming planet is generating more moisture that falls as snow across Siberia. The greater snowfall in Siberia creates a dome of cold air that alters the jet stream enough to push even more cold air into the northern latitudes.
Of course, more data and analysis is needed to support this theory. But it’s difficult to ignore the fact that winters have become weirdly intense in recent years. And colder, snowier winters are placing a strain on the infrastructures of places that are simply unaccustomed to such weather. If this theory is borne out by additional research, it might encourage national and local leaders to regard these storms as a trend rather than fluke occurrences.
