The effects we're feeling in the South US are mostly from the La Nina[1], but there is actually something interesting happening with the Arctic ice this winter.

The effects we're feeling in the South US are mostly from the La Nina[1], but there is actually something interesting happening with the Arctic ice this winter. It's still below zero up there, but we might end up with a northern channel in about 4 years if it stays this warm. It isn't just about the ice that has formed, but the speed that it's forming. It's significantly slower than recent years[2]. This was caused in part from storms[3], so now the rapidly warming temperatures can cascade in the next years with darker water and thinner ice. Also, the methane crater explosions in Sibera can't be helping...[4] [1]http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/10/us/la-nina-arrives/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/10/us/la-nina-arrives/ [2]http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2016/11/Figure2a.png http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2016/11/Figure2a.png [3]https://robertscribbler.com/2016/11/18/arctic-storms-sparked-severe-polar-warming-sea-ice-melt-for-november-2016/ https://robertscribbler.com/2016/11/18/arctic-storms-sparked... [4]http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-exploding-permafrost-methane-craters-global-warming-2016-6 http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-exploding-permafrost-...