It was a striking week defined by drastic weather conditions, embodying the stark contrasts of fire and ice.
The week started with millions of people in the U.S. enduring severe cold and blizzard-like conditions, caused by a jet stream straying from its typical path—a phenomenon that has been occurring more frequently. Simultaneously, California faced devastating wildfires, with flames driven by fierce winds igniting in an area that had been experiencing prolonged drought. These fires became some of the worst ever recorded in Los Angeles.
To sum up the week, major weather monitoring agencies confirmed that 2024 is now officially the hottest year on record for the global temperature. Alarmingly, four out of six monitoring agencies noted that this is the first time the planet has surpassed a critical warming threshold that experts deem vital to curtailing the severe repercussions of climate change.
Scientists have labeled this tumultuous week as a clear manifestation of the climate crisis, warning that similar events are likely to occur in the future. “For the average individual, this signifies that the changes witnessed—such as harsher weather, escalating costs driven by climate impact, and threats to food and water security—aren’t just isolated events,” stated Victor Gensini, who teaches meteorology at Northern Illinois University. “These are becoming the standard unless immediate action is taken.”
Natalie Mahowald, head of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University, echoed these sentiments, expressing concern over the alarming recent weather patterns. “This past week’s unusual weather is a cause for concern,” she remarked. “I hope this isn’t a precursor to future events, as we have yet to fully witness the extent of climate change, especially if we don’t significantly cut CO2 emissions.”
The sequence of events throughout the week was as follows.
On Monday, frigid temperatures settled in first.
The Arctic is warming at a pace four times greater than the global average, leading to a diminished temperature difference between polar and equatorial regions. This shift, along with the reduction in sea ice—which normally absorbs heat—creates more energy that disrupts the polar vortex and alters the jet stream, causing more frequent and intense winter cold fronts even within a generally warming planet.
A blizzard struck, dropping an unprecedented amount of snow in some parts of Kansas, while ice caused havoc in eastern Kentucky. In Washington, a U.S. Olympian showcased skiing on the National Mall as farmers scrambled to protect their livestock from the harsh cold. Many rural roads became impassable, halting travel and leaving approximately 200 people, many of whom were homeless, seeking refuge in a Cincinnati roller rink to escape life-threatening temperatures.
On Tuesday, wildfires ravaged the West.
The Palisades Fire ignited in the Santa Monica mountains, spreading rapidly due to Santa Ana winds that gusted at speeds reaching 100 mph, which were far stronger than typical. These intense winds hindered aerial firefighting efforts, complicating the response to the blaze that encroached on the Getty Museum, leaving several celebrities, including Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore, with their homes destroyed—just days after they had walked the red carpet at the Golden Globes.
The Eaton Fire erupted in Altadena, resulting in two fatalities and forcing the closure of around 10 school districts. Climate change has created an environment susceptible to California’s intense wildfires; a series of atmospheric rivers brought significant rainfall, leading to rampant plant growth, only to be dried out swiftly by the ensuing drought, creating an abundance of fuel for fires.
On Wednesday, the firefighting effort in Los Angeles faced complications when the water system buckled, with some hydrants running dry due to high demand. The local authorities struggled to keep up, while the flames consumed at least 1,000 structures. The newly started Sunset Fire posed additional threats, necessitating mandatory evacuations in Hollywood, as political figures critiqued the management of water resources amid the crisis, despite experts asserting that this criticism was misleading.
As Thursday rolled around, calmer weather conditions aided firefighting crews in making progress against the blazes, though multiple fires remained active. The destruction was becoming visible. Recovery teams discovered a body amidst the wreckage of a beachfront residence in Malibu, while estimates of wildfire damages reached as high as $57 billion, with assessments still ongoing. Concurrently, another winter storm targeted the South, issuing warnings across at least 20 states that had recently faced similar conditions.
Finally, on Friday, major weather monitoring agencies made an alarming announcement that 2024 had officially become the hottest year on record since data collection began, surpassing 2023 significantly. It was particularly noteworthy that this was the first year in which the global average temperature exceeded the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold, set by the Paris climate agreement in 2015.
Barbara Hofer, a psychology professor emerita, pointed out the disturbing trend of extreme weather events impacting a larger segment of the population simultaneously. “The scale is evolving, and the losses are escalating,” she noted. Hofer emphasized that the increasing intensity of such experiences could lead some people to deny climate change or become desensitized in order to avoid confronting uncomfortable realities. However, she also highlighted that such incidents could inspire positive changes, albeit with challenges ahead, especially with the incoming administration promising to halt federal climate initiatives and overturn existing laws.
“Concerns over misinformation and the denial of climate change are critical issues we must tackle,” she cautioned.
