The Trump administration’s proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling comes as scientists say climate change may be related to the devastatingly freezing weather currently engulfing wide swaths of the United States. Some scientists say the melting of the Arctic and the weakening the jet stream could be allowing more cold air to escape the Arctic and engulf lower latitudes, such as Europe and parts of North America. A brutal cold is setting in across the East Coast and Midwest today, with wind chill temperatures expected to dip as low as negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit in New York and negative 25 degrees Fahrenheit in Boston over the weekend. The freeze comes after a winter storm dubbed a “bomb cyclone” dumped more than a foot of snow across eight different states, closing schools, forcing the cancellation of thousands of flights and knocking out power for tens of thousands of people. At least 17 people have died from the weather so far this week. The National Guard has been mobilized in multiple states. In Boston, the blizzard not only blanketed the city in more than a foot of snow, it also caused frigid water from the Boston Harbor to surge into the city’s streets. This is Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker speaking Thursday.

Gov. Charlie Baker: “And if a foot of snow wasn’t enough, the forecast predicts single-digit temperatures to move in on Friday. That means the snow from this storm will freeze quickly, and bitter cold temperatures will return. Make sure you’re prepared, especially in the event you lose power, and stay safe while our road crews and first responders work through this snowstorm.”