| | Extreme Temperature Diary- Sunday January 25, 2026/ Main Topic: Climate Change Influences with Winter Storm Fern – Guy On Climate
Dear Diary. On a personal note, Atlanta only had a minor icing event from Winter Storm Fern, so my power never went out, therefore my reporting can continue for today. Yesterday I went into detail describing what Fern would do. Today we will list climate change influences that have gone into changing Fern from what it might have been without our long-term carbon pollution. I bet that my power would have gone out say if Atlanta had gotten down to 25°F instead of 30°F as happened last night, which was a positive effect from climate change.
Other climate change items did make Fern a nastier beast, though. Climate Central has cobbled together a list, which we will use as our main subject for today:
Climate Shift Index Alerts | Climate Central
The link between this weekend’s dangerous winter storm and climate changeA frigid, disruptive winter storm is taking shape for this weekend, Jan. 23–25. These kinds of events don’t happen despite a warming climate — they’re connected to it, especially when it comes to the ice and snow totals being forecast. Climate change doesn’t eliminate winter or Arctic outbreaks. Instead, it increases weather variability and raises the odds of extreme outcomes.
 Watch a video about the climate change connection to this winter storm.
A low-pressure system is tracking across the U.S., providing the moisture and lift needed for freezing rain, sleet, and snow — from Texas through the Deep South and Southeast, and up the East Coast. Warm, moisture-rich air from both the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, several thousand feet above the ground, is overrunning a shallow layer of bitter Arctic air at the surface — a classic setup for dangerous winter weather.
Climate influence:- Pacific waters south of the Baja California Peninsula are running 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit above average for late January — unusual warmth that’s been made 50 times more likely by carbon pollution.
- The Gulf of Mexico is also abnormally warm, up to 4 degrees Fahrenheit above normal conditions, made 10 to 30 times more likely by climate change.
- A warmer atmosphere is a thirstier atmosphere, capable of holding more moisture, and warmer oceans fuel greater evaporation, loading winter storms with additional moisture.
- When that moisture falls into Arctic air, precipitation totals can increase — whether it falls as rain, sleet, or snow.
Impacts: Kaitlyn Trudeau, a senior research associate for climate science at Climate Central, said:
“Judging climate change by a cold storm is like judging a baseball season by a single inning,” said Kaitlyn Trudeau. “But, climate change is having a tangible impact on this storm.“
Dr. Kristina Dahl, VP for Science at Climate Central, said:
“Warmer oceans and an atmosphere that holds more moisture are loading storms with extra energy and water. That doesn’t stop Arctic air from plunging south — it just means when cold air and abundant moisture collide, the impacts can be worse.”
Here are some “ETs” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
If temps follow the current NWS forecast, Washington DC will stay below freezing for at least eight days & nights. (Official reports are collected at DCA.)
Only one other stretch in the last 80+ years has been so prolonged: Dec 16-25, 1989 (10 days).
All-time record: Jan. 23-Feb 3, 1936 (12 days). — Bob Henson (@bhensonweather.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T18:40:27.813Z
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I am a climate scientist and this is correct.
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... — Katharine Hayhoe (@katharinehayhoe.com) 2026-01-24T18:38:01.772Z
It's cold outside and snowy, too! Is climate change a hoax?
Not at all. Winter still brings cold weather even as the planet warms.
In fact, warmer oceans + a rapidly warming Arctic can even increase the intensity of winter storms and heavy snowfall.
That's why I call it Global Weirding! — Katharine Hayhoe (@katharinehayhoe.com) 2026-01-25T20:41:09.019Z
Thanks for spreading scientific knowledge — Jonb3D.bsky.social (@jonb3d.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T20:54:24.280Z
exactly...
Trump has no idea why the arctic matters to everyone on Earth or its real value
❄️🧪💙📚
#scicomm
#climate
#science
@us.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/what-a-us-mi... — Paul Bierman (@paul-bierman.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T15:50:26.598Z
]
The consequences of dictator Trump’s war on #climate in 7 charts.
grist.org/politics/the... — Daryl Elliott (@darylelliott.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T18:48:05.456Z
]]Australia’s first Climate Risk Assessment spells out harsher, more frequent climate hazards and cascading emergencies – yet governments are still delaying serious action. A decade after Paris, progress is real but nowhere near fast enough, writes Peter Sainsbury.
#auspol #climate #environment — Pearls and Irritations (@johnmenadue.com) 2026-01-24T21:30:33.354774+00:00
"Climate inaction costs far more than action... #Climate objectives must not adapt to the budgetary context, but vice versa... otherwise we won't be able to cope with the impacts of climate change in France" - @clarasannicolo.bsky.social, @reseauactionclimat.org
#France 🇫🇷
#ClimateEmergency — Dr. Aaron Thierry (@thierryaaron.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T01:37:14.986Z
Our first joint article with the PhD researchers of my research group @rexklima.bsky.social has just been published! 🎉
"Explaining Attitudes Towards #Climate #Action in Germany: AfD vs. the Greens, the East vs. the West, Wind vs. Solar Energy" is now out.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... (1/4) — Manès Weisskircher (@manesweisskircher.bsky.social) 2026-01-23T08:48:33.647Z
"[E]ra of global water bankruptcy."
"Many regions are living beyond their hydrological means, and many critical water systems are already bankrupt."
"[R]ivers, lakes, and wetlands are degrading, groundwater resources are being depleted [..], and glaciers are retreating."
#Senegal #Water #Climate — Harms Committed (@harmscommitted.com) 2026-01-22T14:01:03.804Z
The fact of the matter is: a severe #IceStorm is developing across much of the country at this very moment, with potentially devastating and far-reaching consequences extending far beyond the region of maximum #ice concentration. Watch out for the #ice, and help your neighbors weather the storm. — Daniel Swain (@weatherwest.bsky.social) 2026-01-24T01:03:49.253Z
A week-plus in DC below freezing? Perhaps, as a prolonged winter storm moves into the central and eastern U.S. this weekend. Heavy snows will stretch from the Ohio Valley to New England, with dangerous ice from TX to NC.
@climateconnections.bsky.social
yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/01/wint... — Bob Henson (@bhensonweather.bsky.social) 2026-01-23T20:47:49.213Z
After record heat Sunday, get ready for a longggg cold snap. Honestly folks one of the longest #cold stretches I can remember starting Monday and lasting at least a full week! A reinforcing cold shot every few days. Lows dropping into the 20s, 30s and 40s from north to south #florida… 1/ — Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T14:38:41.676Z
I think if anyone were serious about climate philanthropy they would just buy this building and hire every single NCAR employee and call it a day — Colin Carlson (@colincarlson.bsky.social) 2026-01-23T20:06:04.083Z
Solar accounts for three-fifths of US electricity demand growth in 2025, despite Trump’s best efforts
reneweconomy.com.au/solar-accoun... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:39:16.422Z
— Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:48:27.801Z
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Exposing a week of Daily Telegraph distortions about green energy!
open.substack.com/pub/davidtok... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T14:45:13.173Z
Big energy, bigger risks — opening up India’s nuclear power telanganatoday.com/opinion-big-... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T17:04:12.235Z
Operator of Belgian #nuclear plants may need to spend €3 billion to dismantle them
www.brusselstimes.com/1912177/oper... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:50:01.397Z
Political parties took thousands from lobbying groups in Scotland. Campaigners say they are buying access to power. Britain Remade, which promotes causes including Scottish #nuclear power, was set up by Stonehaven to advocate for its clients’ policies.
www.theferret.scot/political-pa... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:22:51.680Z
Australia -The rise of battery storage, and why the grid is rapidly passing gas
reneweconomy.com.au/the-rise-of-... — Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:52:13.206Z
— Dr Paul Dorfman (@drpauldorfman.bsky.social) 2026-01-25T11:43:06.216Z
What Dennis says. Home generators—often seen as lifesavers in events like this—can be hazards. The 2021 TX cold wave unleashed what one physician called the “biggest epidemic of CO poisoning in recent [U.S.] history." At least 1400 Texans sought medical care.
www.texastribune.org/2021/04/29/t... — Bob Henson (@bhensonweather.bsky.social) 2026-01-21T21:12:45.660Z
‘A fraudulent scheme’: New Mexico sues Texas oil companies for walking away from leaking wells #Climate — Climate Tracker (@climate.skyfleet.blue) 2026-01-25T14:33:15.029Z
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