MOBILE, Ala. — Alabama has been blanketed by an extraordinary snowfall, with Mobile recording 7.5 inches—its highest total in over a century—and other parts of the state seeing accumulations rarely experienced in the Deep South. While residents marveled at snow-covered beaches along the Gulf Coast, scientists pointed to climate change as a potential factor behind this anomalous event.
Snowstorms require two key ingredients: cold air and moisture. Although global temperatures are rising, climate change can paradoxically intensify snowstorms under certain conditions. Warmer air holds more moisture, fueling storms with increased precipitation. If temperatures remain cold enough to snow, this added moisture can lead to heavier snowfall.
Additionally, Arctic warming—occurring nearly four times faster than the global average—has been linked to disruptions in the polar vortex, a swirling body of cold air typically confined to the Arctic. This warming weakens the jet stream, a high-altitude wind current that normally keeps polar air contained. As a result, frigid Arctic air can plunge southward into regions like Alabama, creating conditions for extreme winter weather.
Natural variability also plays a role. The current El Niño has intensified Gulf moisture, further fueling the storm system. Warmer ocean temperatures amplify this effect by providing additional energy and moisture for storm development.
While such events remain rare in Alabama, they underscore how climate change is reshaping weather patterns worldwide. Experts warn that as Arctic warming continues, disruptions to atmospheric circulation may increase the frequency of extreme cold spells and heavy snowstorms in unexpected places.