Over the past few months, communities throughout the country have seen a wave 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, many times, dangerous. In Maryland, for example, the weather has changed drastically within just a few days. One day it was almost 80 degrees, the next, snow, and shortly after, tornado warnings. 

Situations like this have been happening across the country, showing just how unusual recent weather patterns have been. There are a few possible explanations for this. One is El Niño, a natural climate pattern that happens when ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal. El Niño can affect the weather all over the world, causing unexpected temperature changes and storms.

However, some scientists speculate that El Niño doesn’t fully explain how severe things have been lately. Many experts believe that climate change is a major reason behind these extreme conditions, with some saying that Earth’s climate is now “out of balance,” meaning rising temperatures are making weather events more intense. More than 300 extreme weather records were broken in just the past month.

The western United States has been hit especially hard, with record-breaking heatwaves. Some scientists even say that these heatwaves would have been nearly impossible without climate change. Temperatures in the Southwest reached levels that are not normal for March, which is concerning for both the environment and people’s health. These changes are also affecting people financially. With more storms, hail, and tornadoes, there is more damage to homes. This could lead to higher home insurance costs, especially in places like Minnesota, where severe weather is becoming more common. 

Even though 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 why this is happening is important so people can be better prepared in the future.