In the past few months, communities across the country have seen cycles of strange and extreme weather, leaving many confused and distressed. From freezing temperatures in the South to intense heat in the West, weather patterns have been unpredictable and often dangerous. In Maryland, for example, the weather has changed drastically within just a few days. One day it was 80 degrees, the next it was snowy, all followed by a tornado warning.

Similar situations have been happening across the country, showing how unusual recent weather has been. There are a few possible explanations for this. One is El Niño, a natural climate pattern that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific become warmer than normal. El Niño affects weather throughout the world, causing drastic changes and disasters.

However, some scientists speculate that El Niño doesn’t fully explain recent weather patterns. Many

experts believe that climate change is a major reason, saying that Earth’s climate is now “out of balance,” meaning rising temperatures are leading to more intense weather, breaking more than 300 extreme weather records in the past month alone.

The western United States has been hit especially hard with record-breaking heatwaves. Scientists say that these heatwaves would have been nearly impossible without climate change. Along with the environment and human health, these changes are also affecting people financially. With more storms, hail, and tornadoes, comes more property damage. This could lead to higher home insurance costs where severe weather is more common.

This extreme weather is also starting to affect people’s everyday lives. Schools and businesses may have to close due to unsafe conditions, interrupting learning and work. Farmers are also impacted since sudden temperature changes and storms ruin crops, making food more expensive. Emergency workers are dealing with more calls and disasters, thus putting extra stress on them, potentially putting themselves and the people they save in danger. As a result, communities need to invest more money into stronger buildings, better drainage systems, and improved emergency plans to stay safe.

While scientists are still studying how much El Niño and climate change each play a role, one thing is clear: extreme weather is happening more often and becoming more serious. Understanding the reasoning behind this will help increase future preparedeness.