Why The Weather’s Getting Weirder

The global temperature has increased, but so has the frequency of extreme weather events. What does it mean?

By Merom Arthur

In January, residents of Atlanta and other parts of the Southeast woke up to 1 to 2 inches of snow coating everything in sight. This was quite an abnormal incident. The last time a weather event of this nature occurred was in 2014, which was later called Snowmaggedon. The city froze.

 Spring then sprung earlier than normal, accompanied by warmer temperatures, and, therefore,  more pollen, which reached an all-time high. What could be causing these extreme changes? Evidence suggests that climate change has exerted an influence on increasing the weirdness of our weather. But it isn’t the sole factor.

The World Meteorological Organization defines “climate” as the average weather conditions for a particular location over a long period of time, ranging from months to thousands of years. In contrast, “weather” is the state of the atmosphere at a particular time, as defined by various meteorological elements like temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind and humidity. Extreme weather involves heat waves, droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and very high or low temperatures. Scientists and researchers have explored the connection between climate change and weather over the last several decades. 

Alexander Avramov, PhD, an environmental scientist at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University says of connecting climate and weather: “This seems quite an ambitious task. It kind of reminds me of the story when someone asked Albert Einstein to explain relativity in two sentences. Then again, relativity is a children’s toy compared to the complexity of the Earth’s climate system.”

Scientists have observed the average global temperature rising over the past centuries. The change is small, amounting to 2 degrees Fahrenheit, but, at the same time, extreme weather events, such as heat waves, have become more common. Is it right to assume that more weird weather events might become the norm because of global warming?

The Snowpocalypse of Atlanta

Just a couple of inches of snow brings the city of Atlanta to a standstill. 

Scientists have long debated whether certain phenomena, such as a polar vortex, are influenced by climate change, though it may seem counterintuitive to an outsider to link intense cold spells or snowstorms to global warming. A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air that swirls around the Earth’s poles, particularly the Arctic. It exists year-round but becomes stronger in the winter. Occasionally, this vortex weakens or becomes distorted, allowing frigid air to spill southward into parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, causing extreme cold snaps.

Some scientists suggest that climate change may be making these disruptions more frequent or severe, though the evidence is still debated, as it is part of a natural atmospheric pattern. For example, a study in Geophysical Research Letters by Jennifer Francis, an earth sciences researcher from Rutgers University, proposed that Arctic warming could destabilize the jet stream, pushing cold air further south and causing erratic weather patterns. This study was observational, however and subsequent modeling has struggled to firmly establish a causal mechanism. 

These events are difficult to predict, and current climate models are complex and evolving. Scientific consensus remains cautious about drawing a direct line between individual cold events and climate change, despite their frequency. Climate change may increase the likelihood of extreme weather overall, but attributing any single snowstorm to climate change is challenging. In the U.S., most people may not feel the drastic changes in climate as acutely as those living closer to the poles, making it harder to grasp the urgency without clear evidence. Still, education and preparation — such as improved city readiness, with salt trucks for instance — can make a meaningful difference as abnormal weather becomes more common.

Los Angeles Wildfires

Wildfires have long been a part of California’s ecology, but, in recent years, their scale and proximity to urban areas have raised alarms. The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires were particularly devastating, not only because of their size but also because they encroached on residential neighborhoods. 

These fires extending into populated zones increases health risks due to both immediate smoke exposure and long-term chemical contamination. Moreover, fire suppression efforts often involve additional pollutants. 

“What was not talked about a lot was that the chemicals sprayed to mitigate the fires from spreading contain a lot of heavy metals, so now there is a huge concern about what the soil contamination would be”, says Eri Saikawa, PhD, a professor of environmental ecience at Emory University. She noted that substantial air pollution is also created when biomass and toxic gases burn, as they did in the Los Angeles Fires.

Wildfires are difficult to manage, especially as warming temperatures and drier landscapes accelerate their frequency. They are often ignited by natural causes in remote areas and carry at least smoke and pollutants into cities. These pollutants can harm the lungs, trigger asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even impact heart health, mental well-being, and cognitive decline. The fires now carry both rural and urban signatures, with pollutants from burning vegetation mixing with those from human infrastructure like garbage and plastic. 

Maybe climate change doesn’t directly cause fires, but it increases the probability of them by creating more favorable conditions: dry landscapes, stronger winds, and carbon-fertilized forests with excess fuel. 

What’s Next? Prepare.

There is still much to unearth about how our climate operates. Currently, models and mechanisms have not yet allowed scientists to point to particular events and link them to climate change. Still, experts suggest that climate change is a factor that will normalize the occurrence of disastrous weather events like floods, snowstorms, and extreme temperatures. Wildfire season on the West Coast may become year-round, and the Southeast may experience increasingly snowier winters. 

Scientists are still searching for strategies to engage the public in climate change education and prevention. Social media activism has become an effective method, garnering more attention to the issue than ever before. Education on and implementation of evidence-based interventions for decreasing fossil fuel emission may also promote improvements, as could continued research and investment.

“We are currently writing a paper about the gaps of existing strategy implementation in mitigating fossil fuel emission in low-resource settings — so few have been written,” Saikawa says. She emphasized that, while infrastructure to combat air pollution exists, it is often underutilized. 

Her research in Guatemala reveals a stark example: widespread agricultural burning and household air pollution contribute significantly to poor air quality, yet simple, cost-effective mitigation tools remain unimplemented. In regions such as Mesoamerica, sugarcane burning and wildfire smoke have become pervasive, exacerbating respiratory health risks. The disconnect between available technology — such as air quality monitors — and local policy action underscores a larger global issue: knowing how to address environmental hazards, yet failing to act.

Experts encourage individuals in these extreme weather-prone areas to develop emergency plans, including identifying local risks, establishing clear communication methods, and preparing for both evacuation and shelter-in-place scenarios. The plan should include designated safe locations, evacuation routes, and an emergency supply kit with essentials like food, water, medications, and first-aid items. Special considerations should be made for vulnerable individuals, including children, older adults, and pets. A well-prepared plan enhances safety, minimizes confusion, and supports a faster recovery, should another extreme weather event come to pass.