A massive snowstorm blanketed much of the U.S. in snow and ice over the weekend. At least 12 deaths have been attributed to the storm, and more than one million are without power. 

As of Monday afternoon, Bonito Lake, New Mexico received 31 inches of snowfall, the most in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. Napanoch, N.Y. received the second highest total of 30 inches while Jennerstown, P.A.. received 24.7 inches. The agency notes that snowfall totals can lag by a few days, as it takes time for stations to report their data.

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The storm broke records in many parts of the country. In New York City, Central Park saw 11.4 inches of snow in Sunday’s storm, the most ever recorded, while Dayton, Oh. where 12.4 inches of snow fell in one day broke its record established during the Blizzard of 1978. Cities in Pennsylvania also set records—Harrisburg recorded 14 inches of snow, breaking a one-day record of 5.4 inches set in 1988. Meanwhile Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, which received 11.2 and 9.3 inches of snow respectively, also broke one-day snowfall records set in 2014 and 2000.

Though snowy conditions are subsiding, the impacts of the storm will linger in the coming days—especially as many regions that saw snowfall are beginning the week with single-digit temperatures. At the peak of the storm on Sunday, one million households were left without power—particularly in southern states that rarely see heavy snowfall like Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky. It could be days—or even weeks—before some areas see power restored. In Mississippi, utility company Tippah Electric Power said there was “catastrophic damage” and that it could be “weeks instead of days” to restore everyone. The storm also brought widespread travel disruptions—the number of cancelled flights rivaled the early days of the pandemic.

Ahead of the storm, President Donald Trump used the storm as an opportunity to express his long held skepticism on climate change. “Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social on Friday. “Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???”

But a winter snow storm doesn’t disprove that the planet is, overall, warming. And climate change could help drive record levels of precipitation like snow.

On average, climate change is leading to shorter and milder winters. But research shows that climate change can make some extreme weather events—including heat waves, heavy rainfall, severe floods, droughts, extreme wildfires, and hurricanes—more intense and more frequent.

Global warming from greenhouse gasses is contributing to a rise in global average temperatures. A warmer atmosphere can carry more moisture, which then is released as precipitation.

During the wintertime, that could mean some regions see storms that dump rain instead of snow as temperatures rise above freezing, while others simply see more heavy snowfall.  

For the first few days of the World Economic Forum in Davos, politicians, civil society leaders, and business executives waited in nervous anticipation of President Donald Trump’s address to the conference—and any potential signal that he might try to make good on his promise to annex Greenland. 

Trump’s speech came and went, but it wasn’t the most significant moment of the week-long confab. Instead, the biggest splash may have come the day before from the U.S.’s northern ally turned rival Canada. In a speech bound for the history books, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described a “rupture” in the world order and called for middle powers like Canada to stand up to bullies. He described the emergence of new coalitions of the willing to address issues aligned with their interests and values—rather than all nations following signals from the U.S. as they have been. “We’re pursuing variable geometry, in other words,” said Carney, “different coalitions for different issues based on common values and interests.”

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This reshaping will touch every aspect of the economy—and importantly it will have profound effects for energy and climate. 

The most obvious impact is the divergent approach to energy technologies. In Davos, Trump Administration officials touted fossil fuels while panning renewables. “Economically, it’s been a failure,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said of global investment in renewable energy in a fireside chat. That stance will come as no surprise to anyone who has even loosely followed Trump’s approach to energy, but in Davos the contrast to the rest of the world’s thinking was striking.  

Ursula Von Der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, said the European Union would double down on nuclear and renewables to free the bloc from “manipulation” by other countries—a group which might now reasonably be interpreted to include the U.S. “Homegrown, reliable, resilient, and cheaper energy will drive our economic growth and secure our independence,” she told a plenary session. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would welcome more Chinese investment in key sectors—presumably including renewable energy where the country is a key player. The week before Davos, Carney traveled to China and agreed to all but eliminate Canada’s steep tariffs on Chinese EVs, opening his country to China’s cheap and popular automobiles to the detriment of U.S. automakers.

The U.S., however, has allies in its push to entrench fossil fuels. The CEO of Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, touted continued demand for oil as he made a case to leaders at Davos for the long-term future of his country’s key export. (Though it is also investing in renewable energy.) 

Climate change wasn’t exactly the main subject for top government officials this week, with pressing geopolitical concerns taking up most of the oxygen. But it’s easy to see how Carney’s coalition of the willing approach might unfold once leaders return from Davos and, one day, turn their attention to cutting global emissions. Indeed, before becoming Canada’s prime minister, Carney had championed the idea of “carbon clubs,” where countries would join together to reduce emissions—with trade penalties for laggards outside the club. This year, the E.U.’s border carbon adjustment mechanism—which taxes emissions from some products at the border—took effect. Other countries like Brazil are considering related policies. 

The response to Trump’s energy posturing from the executives gathered in Davos was mixed. Behind the scenes, many insisted that their sustainability work would continue regardless of the Trump Administration—even as they avoid talking about it publicly. The long-term signal remains clear, they argue. But there’s no question that at the very least this new global realignment increases the complexity of managing energy and climate work. 

When the dust settles on this moment of chaotic and rapid change, the international climate regime will look dramatically different with new alliances and international relationships. The U.S. won’t necessarily be alone, but it may find that standing apart comes at a cost. 

To get this story in your inbox, subscribe to the TIME CO2 Leadership Report newsletter here.

This story is supported by a partnership with Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. TIME is solely responsible for the content.

Record cold temperatures are expected to hit parts of the United States this week. Arctic air amassing in northern Canada is expected to surge into the central U.S. late this week and into the weekend, sending temperatures plummeting from the East Coast to as far south as Texas. 

As of Jan. 22, 43 states across the U.S. are facing weather advisories, watches, or warnings, according to CNN. The National Weather Service issues an extreme cold watch when dangerous cold temperatures or chill are possible, but uncertain, when temperatures are expected to go below 32°F for a long period of time. An extreme cold warning is issued when dangerous cold conditions or wind chill values are expected or occurring, while an advisory is issued for dangerously cold conditions that are not expected to reach warning criteria.

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Extreme cold could be dangerous—and life threatening. Exposed skin risks frostbite if outside for too long, while not dressing properly for the temperatures can lead to hypothermia, shock or even cardiorespiratory failure in those who are immunocompromised. But there are ways you can protect yourself from extreme cold temperatures.  

Read more: How Climate Change Impacts Winter Weather

If you’re inside, make sure you’re warming up in a safe way. Asefeh Faraz Covelli, associate professor in the family nurse practitioner program at The George Washington University School of Nursing, says that during cold spells most of the injuries she sees come from unsafe heating methods. Don’t use your oven or camp stoves to heat your home, and follow safety rules for space heaters: plug them into wall outlets rather than extension cords and keep them off carpets. Generators are also common culprits for house fires, Faraz Covelli says. “That’s the other big thing we see when temperatures fall, so ensure that the generators are used outdoors and far from windows.”

If you’re venturing outdoors, dressing properly is key. “Dressing in layers, wearing loose fitting layered clothing is the best to trap heat and stay dry,” says Faraz Covelli. A hooded coat or hat will help prevent heat from leaving through your head, while swapping gloves for mittens will keep your fingers cozy. 

Read more: How to Dress Warmly for Cold Weather, According to Science

To keep warm, it’s important not to sweat or get your clothes wet. “Sweat is liquid, and liquid gets into your garments, and that decreases the insulation value,” says Gordon Giesbrecht, professor emeritus at University of Manitoba whose research focused on human responses to extreme environments. That’s why layers are important for keeping your temperature regulated, he notes. “As you start to feel warm you can open up your jacket.”

If you can, limit your time outdoors to the middle of the day, when it tends to be warmest. Monitor your body temperature for symptoms of hypothermia or frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when your core body temperature drops below 95.0°F. “If you shiver for a couple of minutes, it’s not a big deal. But if you’re shivering for 10 or 15 minutes, that is a warning sign that you are maybe losing the battle there and your core temperature is starting to decrease,” says Giesbrecht. The first sign of frostbite, on the other hand, is numbness. “You feel numb because your nerves and receptors are so cold they’re not working properly,” says Giesbrecht. 

Read more: How to Help Your Body Adjust to Colder Weather

If you feel any of these symptoms coming on, the solutions are the same: move your body to produce more heat and get to a warmer environment.

But more common than hypothermia or frostbite are injuries from slipping on ice, experts caution. Move a little slower when you’re walking outside, take small steps in icy areas, and keep your hands out of your pockets to better catch yourself if you do fall. 

But if you can, Giesbrecht says that the easiest way to stay safe from the cold is to avoid it entirely. “The best thing you can do is just stay inside for that day.” 

If you’ve found yourself drained by your electricity bill this winter, you’re not alone. Electricity costs have been steadily rising for years now, outpacing inflation. The average monthly residential electricity bill increased from about $121 in 2021 to $156 in 2025, a nearly 30% rise. And from last January to October alone, electricity bills rose 12.7%. 

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Brace yourself: things are likely only going to get more expensive. The average U.S. household is projected to spend nearly $1,000 this winter to heat its home, according to data from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA). The rising costs come as more Americans are finding themselves unable to afford their utility bills. NEADA estimates that up to four million households experienced utility disconnections in 2025, nearly 500,000 more than in 2024. Meanwhile, total funding for federal heating assistance is on the decline—falling from $6.1 billion in 2023 to about $4 billion in 2025.

Here are five reasons why your electricity bill might be higher than normal.

Inflation

Since the pandemic, electricity prices have been getting more expensive—just like almost everything else. 

“Consumer electricity prices have been growing at a much faster rate than the rate of inflation in the general economy, which is important because the rate of inflation and general economy has been pretty high,” says Christopher Knittel, faculty director of the MIT Climate Policy Center.

Read more: How to Lower Your Electricity Bill

Rising inflation also means that maintaining the nation’s electricity grid costs more than it used to. “Anything that’s being built or installed right now costs more than it did just five years ago,” says Kenny Stein, vice president of policy at the Institute for Energy Research. 

Aging Infrastructure

Much of the country’s electricity infrastructure was built in the 1960s and 1970s and some 70% of transmission lines are over 25 years old and approaching the end of their life cycle. 

Across the country, the grid is in major need of upgrades—the cost of which is showing up in your bill. “That’s a very expensive process and is required for safety reasons, but those costs of doing that have to be passed on to rate payers in the form of higher electricity prices,” says Knittel. 

Tariffs

Many of these upgrades may rely on steel and aluminum. But tariffs on these key materials, initially put in place during the first Trump Administration and carried on during President Biden’s term, raise the cost of equipment and construction. Last year, President Trump raised the tariff rate from 25% to 50%, and expanded it to include more than 400 additional product categories.

“Every time you put tariffs on aluminum or steel, that raises electricity costs. If you think about building or repairing pylons, building power plants, building anything, [it] takes a lot of aluminum and steel,” says Stein. “All those tariffs are going to filter through the cost of electricity.”

Climate Change

From hurricanes to wildfires, extreme weather events can impact electricity prices. Many states are working to modernize their grids in advance. In California, for example, increased wildfire spending from 2019 to 2024 added about 4 cents per kilowatt hour to annual rates, according to a report from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Failing to make changes ahead of time can lead to costly repairs in the event of a natural disaster. 

Read more: Electric Bills Could Reshape U.S. Climate Politics

A report from Payless Power, a Texas electricity company, found that increasingly hotter summers have contributed to a 400% increase in utility rates since the mid-1970s. The report found that the average American household paid about $784 for electricity during the summer of 2025—6% higher than 2024. 

Data Centers

Demand for electricity has been skyrocketing in the U.S.—and it’s only expected to go up. That’s due in large part to a rising number of data centers cropping up in neighborhoods around the country. Data centers accounted for 4% of total U.S. electricity use in 2024, and their energy demand is expected to more than double by 2030.

“The elephant in the room, of course, is data centers, and they are certainly expanding and consuming a lot more electricity. So it’s hard to imagine that they’re not pushing up prices to some level at least,” says Knittel. Areas near new data centers saw an increase in electricity costs of as much as 267% compared to five years ago, according to a Bloomberg News analysis from September. 

However, it can take time for big changes like a new data center to be reflected on your bill, says Stein: “Rate increases filter down to consumers over the course of years, so the rate increases we’re seeing today are the result of investment decisions or policy actions taken two, three, or five years ago.”

Stein warns that electricity rate hikes, painful as they are, are often needed to keep the electricity grid reliable—even more so now with increased demand. 

“In the 2000 or 2010s, because electricity demand was not increasing, you could get away with skipping some of the investments,” he says. “But now that demand is increasing you can’t play those games anymore, and some states are in worse shape than others because they’ve under invested.”