EXTREME COLD First things first, we need to be very clear about something here: There is a difference between climate and weather. Weather refers to atmospheric conditions in the short term, including changes in temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, and visibility. Climate is the average of weather patterns over a longer period of time – usually 30 or more years. Weather always has—and always will—fluctuate. There are warm days, mild days, cool days, and even some very cold days. There are dry periods and wet periods. And this will continue to be the case. When we talk about climate, we are talking about long-term trends and expectations. Some skeptics, however, like to point to cold snaps as evidence against climate change. In many instances, they couldn’t be more wrong. 15