Donald Trump has since been voted out and the next winter storm is brewing over California.
Meteorologists expect two meters of snow, although the state is actually known for sun and summer temperatures.
The western and northern United States have already felt the storm, 900,000 homes were temporarily without power, roads were closed, flights were canceled, a firefighter died during a mission in Michigan when he was hit by a falling power line.
The situation is very different on the southern east coast, local weather services reported temperature records for Baltimore and Washington, where 27 degrees Celsius were measured.
Heat in India, hardly any ice in Antarctica
Elsewhere, too, the weather is violently capricious: in Venice it is so dry that the gondolas that are so typical of the Italian city get stuck in the silt of the canals.
A heat wave with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius is rolling in India, and that in February – unusually early.
Meanwhile, there is less sea ice in the Antarctic than at any time since weather records began.
There are already signs that this year could be the hottest in human history.
Especially if the El Niño weather phenomenon returns as expected and continues to drive up global temperatures.
Extreme weather around the world: is this the climate crisis?
Perhaps you are also familiar with the eternal reminders that unusual weather conditions existed before humans began dumping massive amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
It is clear that not every storm, every flood can be traced back to climate change.
However, the probability of extreme weather is increasing.
This is climate crisis.
The topics of the week
Germany's culture war over cars: from fetish to enemy image
Fans and opponents of the car are increasingly facing each other irreconcilably: The dispute over the expansion of freeways and a speed limit could even blow up the traffic light coalition.
The SPIEGEL cover story.
Railway in crisis "Too old, too full, too broken"
For decades, only savings were made, now rails, switches, signal boxes are dilapidated.
Transport Minister Wissing wants to spend tens of billions on the renovation.
does he get the money
CO₂ emissions from weapons and explosions: climate killer war
100 million tons of additional CO₂: A Dutch researcher measures the climate damage in Ukraine - and demands compensation from Putin.
Why his results are already helpful for Kiev.
Billionaire Andrew Forrest: "I can't take no for an answer"
Andrew Forrest, 61, became a billionaire with iron ore - now he wants to produce green hydrogen in huge quantities to make the industry climate-friendly.
Here he explains why this works better than donations from the super-rich, no matter how large.
Debt relief for Cape Verde: A climate deal that could become a role model
Island states like Cape Verde suffer particularly badly from the consequences of climate change.
A new approach is intended to bring salvation: the country will have its debts waived if it puts the money into a climate fund.
Criticism from the SPD: is Olaf Scholz a climate chancellor?
»No«
SPD member Tim Vollert founded a climate network in the SPD together with other Jusos in 2020.
He is harsh on the chancellor's climate policy.
Stay Confident.
Your Julia Köppe
