The frigid temperatures, massive snow and deadly ice storm taking shape east of the Rockies might seem to conflict with life on a rapidly warming planet. But all of these things still happen, even with climate change, and some of them could be even more severe than before when the conditions are right.Bone-chilling cold is becoming less common and severe as the world warms — cold comfort for millions of people about to experience a prolonged period of frigid temperatures. Winter is the fastest-warming season in the US, and even this winter so far, warm temperature records have been outnumbering cold records in the Lower 48 states.This is largely because many states in the West are having their warmest winter on record, with ski areas in Colorado and other typical skiing meccas in that region starved for snow.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRelatively few cold temperature records have been set so far when compared to the warm records out West, said Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at the research nonprofit Climate Central. But there is no denying that this weather is unusually cold, she said, describing it as more like the winters that the Midwest and Northeast were accustomed to experiencing a few decades ago.Climate Central researchers looked at trends in the coldest temperature of the year in cities across the US, showing that they have been increasing rapidly with climate change. For example, in Minneapolis, the lowest temperature of the year has increased by around 12 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970.Snow-scarce mountains in Avon, Colorado, last week. – Brittany Peterson/APAnd in Cleveland, the coldest temperature of the year has gone up by 11.2 degrees since 1970, the research shows. This means winters just haven’t been getting as cold as they used to, making this cold snap rarer, though it remains to be …
