The archetype of a Texan landscape; a sun-bleached, dust-filled desert, dotted sporadically with ‘homesteads’ and an almost unbearably dry, hot climate. But this image could not be further from the current conditions. Since early last week, the state has fallen victim to record-breaking cold temperatures.
In reality, there is a huge variety of climates in Texas, with some areas on the west coast containing hot deserts and areas further east having comparatively mild conditions. Either way, cold weather in Texas is not unheard of. There are certainly places within the state that do expect a yearly dose of cold weather and snow. Unless of course, the cold weather in question is temperatures of around 8 degrees Fahrenheit and windchill factors of -10 degrees Fahrenheit (-13 degrees Celsius and -23 degrees Celsius respectively). This type of weather is what can only be described as a damning consequence of Climate Change.
In short, the bout of arctic weather is down to the Jet Stream being weakened. Normally speaking, the Jet stream is what divides colder northern weather from more balmy southern climates, and does so by maintaining a temperature contrast on either side. But with rapidly melting ice and unnaturally warm temperatures in the Arctic, a mass of cold air has been pushed south, causing ‘freak weather’ in Texas.
But whilst the ice that is currently holding Texas in a bitter and crippling deadlock will eventually melt, the devastating economic effects it is having on Texans with a low income will surely last much longer. To put it quite plainly, only the very richest and whitest inhabitants of America’s second largest state have been able to heat and power their homes reliably in recent weeks.
This is just a brief explanation of situation. But to me it begs the question; when are people going to start taking climate change seriously?
For more information on how people have been affected;
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