The Facts
In what the US National Weather Service is calling an "epic, generational" onslaught of arctic air, record low temperatures and high winds from Canada barrelled into the northeast United States Friday.
NBC climate reporter Bill Karins tweeted that Northern Maine will become "one of the coldest locations on the planet," facing -30°F (-34°C) temperatures. Wind chills are expected to make it feel as cold as -40°F (-40°C) in New Hampshire and Vermont and -100°F (-73°C) on Mount Washington.
The Spin
Narrative A
As is playing out with this weather system, short bursts of extreme cold do not mean global warming is a myth. In fact, after decades of human-caused warming, "weather weirding" is playing out across the world. Don't dismiss climate change — it could even be contributing to extreme polar plunges like these.
Narrative B
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.