Winter storm doesn’t disprove climate change, despite Trump’s claim. Scientists explain why.

Image: When the Arctic polar vortex is especially strong and stable (left globe), it encourages the polar jet stream, down in the troposphere, to shift northward. The coldest polar air stays in the Arctic. When the vortex weakens, shifts, or splits (right globe), the polar jet stream often becomes extremely wavy, allowing warm air to flood into the Arctic and polar air to sink down into the mid-latitudes. Image credit: NOAA Climate.gov graphic, adapted from original by NOAA.gov – March 5, 2021. Article by Emma Li. CBS News – January 23, 2026.

President Trump cited a major winter storm forecast to impact about two-thirds of the United States as evidence to suggest that global warming does not exist, repeating a misleading claim that has been consistently debunked by climate experts. In a Truth Social post on Friday, he said, “Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???” […]

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Meteorologists blame a stretched polar vortex, moisture, lack of sea ice for dangerous winter blast – AP News

How cuts to federal climate funds could threaten polar vortex research – NPR

Arctic blast to wallop N. America—is climate change to blame? – Phys.org

What is the polar vortex? The phenomenon behind the cold weather. – USA Today

Trump says the big US winter storm is proof of climate hoax – here’s why he’s wrong – The Guardian