How global warming causes both extreme heat and cold weather zmescience.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from zmescience.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
How Unprecedented Was the February 2021 Texas Cold Snap? by James Doss-Gollin, David J Farnham, Upmanu Lall, Vijay Modi |March 16, 2021
Texas Guardsmen assist a motorist stuck on snow and ice on February 17, 2021 in Abilene, Texas. Photo: Texas Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Yvonne Ontiveros
Valentine’s Day brought Arctic air to the Central and Southern United States and with it, widespread disruption of highly vulnerable energy, electricity, and water systems. Millions lost power and the ability to heat their homes. Roads iced over, pipes burst, and failing water mains left many without safe drinking water.
Infrastructure failed along several modes. Parts and equipment (pumps, valves, pipes, wind turbine blades, etc.) that were not adequately designed and weatherized for these low temperatures malfunctioned. This equipment in turn caused critical energy, power generation and water systems to stop functioning. At the same time, soaring demand for energy (both e