It was a week that highlighted the extremes of the climate crisis. Across the U.S., millions endured a rollercoaster of weather calamities. From bitter cold and blizzards to raging wildfires and record-breaking heat, the week revealed how climate change is reshaping the planet.
The week began with frigid air and blizzard conditions gripping much of the country, as the jet stream veered off course more frequently than ever. Soon after, California faced its worst-ever wildfires, fueled by months of drought and powerful winds. By week’s end, major weather agencies confirmed 2024 as the hottest year on record, with alarming implications for the planet’s future.
Scientists say this is a preview of what’s to come. Extreme weather events are no longer anomalies but part of a new normal driven by climate change.
Monday: A Deep Freeze Grips the Nation
The week started with Arctic cold descending across the U.S., as the polar vortex and jet stream warped due to climate change. Scientists explain that warming in the Arctic, occurring four times faster than the global average, destabilizes these systems, sending blasts of intense cold farther south.
Blizzards dumped more snow in parts of Kansas than typically seen in an entire year. Ice-coated trees downed power lines in Kentucky, while a U.S. Olympian took to skiing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In Cincinnati, about 200 people, many homeless, sought shelter at a roller rink to escape frostbite as temperatures plummeted.
Farmers scrambled to protect livestock, navigating icy rural roads to deliver feed and water. Travel ground to a halt as states warned against venturing out on treacherous snow and ice-covered roads.
Tuesday: Fire Ignites in California
While the East battled snow, the West was ablaze. The Palisades Fire erupted in the Santa Monica Mountains, driven by Santa Ana winds gusting up to 100 mph—so strong that firefighting aircraft were grounded. By day’s end, the fire reached near the Getty Museum, and several celebrities, including Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore, lost their homes.
Simultaneously, the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, claiming two lives and forcing the closure of 10 school districts. Experts point to climate change as a key factor behind California’s megafires. Atmospheric rivers in previous months spurred plant growth, but a sudden drought left the vegetation dry and primed for flames.
Wednesday: Infrastructure Fails Amid Fires
In Los Angeles, water systems struggled under the demands of fighting the Palisades Fire. Hydrants in Pacific Palisades ran dry as three 1-million-gallon tanks could not be refilled quickly enough. At least 1,000 buildings were engulfed in flames.
Another blaze, the Sunset Fire, ignited near the Hollywood Hills, prompting mandatory evacuations in Hollywood. Amid the chaos, President-elect Donald Trump criticized local water management policies. Experts, however, dismissed his claims as misinformation, emphasizing that unrelated issues were being conflated during a crisis.
Thursday: A Brief Respite
By Thursday afternoon, calmer winds allowed firefighters to make some progress, but at least five fires remained active, with several still burning out of control. In Malibu, recovery crews found a body in the rubble of a beachfront home, highlighting the human toll of the disaster.
AccuWeather estimated that wildfire damage could exceed $57 billion, though much of the destruction remains to be assessed. Meanwhile, the South braced for another winter storm, with warnings covering 20 states—many of which had already been battered earlier in the week.
Friday: A Record-Breaking Year
To close the week, major weather agencies confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 2023. Perhaps more alarming, it marked the first year Earth’s global average temperature exceeded the critical 1.5°C (2.7°F) threshold established by the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Scientists warn that exceeding this limit increases the likelihood of severe climate impacts, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events. “The scale of these events is affecting so many more people all at one time,” said Barbara Hofer, professor emerita of psychology at Middlebury College. “The losses are mounting.”
A Call for Action Amid Denial
The cascading effects of climate change can push some people to denial or apathy, Hofer noted. For others, such events might spur action. However, she fears progress could stall under the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to roll back climate policies and halt federal action on the issue.
“I worry about the denial, the misinformation, and the forces feeding that denial,” Hofer said. “That’s what we have to address.”
As the week of fire and ice fades, it leaves behind stark reminders of a climate crisis that demands urgent action. For millions of Americans, the events of this week are not just a warning but a call to prepare for a future defined by greater extremes.
