Scientists are divided over whether climate change is fueling extreme cold events

[DonViejo]

Is the cold wave that froze Texas this week a unique event or a sign of what’s to come?

By Umair Irfan Feb 18, 2021, 9:50am EST

Winter Storm Uri scattered bitter cold, snow, and ice this week across a huge swath of the United States, including places that rarely see such extreme low temperatures.

States like Texas with milder winters were caught off guard by the chill, which led to a massive spike in energy demand and a huge drop in available electricity as the infrastructure around natural gas, coal, nuclear, and wind energy froze up. Tuesday was the coldest day in North Texas in 72 years, with the Dallas-Fort Worth area reaching a record low temperature of minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit this week.

The cold weather has triggered a wave of blackouts across Texas, leaving millions of residents shivering in the dark. In some places, Texans have been without power for days.

Public officials and utility customers want to know why the Texas power grid wasn’t better prepared. And to get ahead of the next extreme event like this, it’s also important to ask what the chances are of something like this happening again.

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https://www.vox.com/22287295/texas-winter-storm-blackout-extreme-cold-climate-change-uri-polar-vortex-arctic-dallas-houston