Even as the world breaks one temperature record after another and races toward critical warming thresholds, brutal waves of deadly cold can still arrive in bomb cyclones, bringing icy weather and deep snow — and adding fuel to the fire for those who deny that the climate crisis is real or significant. But some scientists say that climate change — and more specifically, rapid warming in the Arctic — may actually be making it more likely that frigid polar air will plunge south. Look no further than the densely populated U.S. Northeast this weekend for a real-time example of a long-term warming trend being interrupted by a massive, record-breaking cold snap. (Laura Paddison , Krystina Shveda a Jhasua Razo , CNN)