No. The effect of the gulf stream is overstated. Wind at these latitudes travels prevailingly westerly. England and Ireland are downwind of the ocean, which m

No. The effect of the gulf stream is overstated. Wind at these latitudes travels prevailingly westerly. England and Ireland are downwind of the ocean, which maintains more stable temperature than the land. British Columbia and Seattle are also downwind of the ocean and also relatively mild. New England gets cold because it is downwind of the continent. Also because the Rocky Mountains diverts the jet stream, exposing New England to more severe polar weather. The severe climate shocks of the past few thousand years were the result of massive ice-dammed glacial lakes (like Lake Agassiz) breaking through the dam and releasing incredible quantities of freshwater into the northern oceans all at once.