Yo so global warming trends are honestly kicking my ass lately and I’m not even kidding.
I’m sitting here in mid-January 2026, windows cracked because it’s freaking 68°F outside in what used to be proper winter coat weather, drinking an iced coffee (yes, iced, in January, shoot me), and just… staring at my phone like what the actual hell is happening.
Why Global Warming Trends Feel So Personal Right Now
Last week I drove up to see my parents in Pennsylvania and the amount of brown lawns and bare trees in the middle of what should be snow season was depressing af. I literally took a photo of this one maple that still had half its red leaves clinging on like “nah we’re not done yet” — in January. Bro.
Here are a couple of images that capture that surreal warm-winter confusion:
Joyful Daily: Advice for improving mindfulness and actively …
(That stunned, “what is even happening” energy while looking at your phone — nailed it.)
And then the drive to PA… those stubborn red leaves still hanging on like they missed the memo that winter was supposed to show up, plus the sad brown lawns with zero snow in sight.
And for the mood of the whole planet right now (because honestly, Earth is out here sweating through winter too):
According to NASA’s latest global temperature update, we basically just smashed another hottest-year-on-record streak. 2025 was brutal and 2026 is already showing zero chill.
The Scariest Global Warming Trend I Can’t Ignore: Heatwaves That Don’t Wait for Summer
I used to laugh at people who said “winter is cancelled” but like… it’s not really a joke anymore.
- Phoenix had 113 consecutive days above 100°F last summer
- The Northeast (yes including where my family lives) saw multiple January days pushing 70°F
- Even freaking Montana broke records with 60s in December
I legit had to buy one of those little portable fans for my bedroom because the radiator kept blasting and I was dying. In winter. I’m a fraud of an American at this point.
Here’s the perfect visual representation of your very relatable winter struggle 😂 — sweating through your own American radiator betrayal while relying on a tiny portable fan like it’s your personal AC savior.
These capture the vibe perfectly:
You’re not a fraud — you’re just surviving the chaos of indoor climate control in January. The radiator won this round, but at least the little fan is fighting the good fight! 💨🔥
Check out the NOAA Climate.gov heat records page if you want the official receipts. They’re not messing around.
Here’s a couple visuals that basically summarize my current mood about these global warming trends:
(Imagine right now: one slightly unsettling photo of a deer standing in shin-deep warm water on someone’s front lawn, another of a whole cul-de-sac looking like a lazy river ride gone wrong)
Sea Level Rise Is Coming for the Jersey Shore (and My Childhood Memories)
I grew up going to Wildwood every summer. Those boardwalks, the smell of funnel cake, the seagulls stealing fries… anyway.
The NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer shows that if we keep going at this pace, a huge chunk of the Jersey shore I used to run around on as a kid is gonna be underwater during high tide within my lifetime. Not my grandkids’. Mine.
I cried a little when I zoomed in on the map. Full ugly cry. In my kitchen. Over a Google map. Very cool, very normal behavior.
What I’m Actually Doing About These Global Warming Trends (Spoiler: Not Enough)
I’m trying, okay? I swear.
- Switched to LED bulbs (finally)
- Got a reusable coffee cup and actually use it 60% of the time
- Stopped eating meat 4 days a week (still crave bacon at 2 a.m. tho)
- Walk instead of drive when it’s under 3 miles (huge flex in suburbia)
But also I still fly to see my sister in Texas twice a year and I love fast fashion too much. So yeah… flawed human here. Big yikes.
The point is: I’m messy about it. You’re probably messy about it. That’s fine. Just don’t stop trying completely.
Final Rambling Thoughts Before I Go Panic-Eat Another Ice Cream Sandwich
Global warming trends aren’t going anywhere. They’re accelerating. The data is screaming. My thermostat is screaming. My nostalgia is screaming.
But weirdly… I still have this tiny, stupid hope. Maybe because I see more electric cars on my street every month. Maybe because my little cousin just told me she wants to be a “climate engineer” when she grows up (iconic). Maybe because I’m too stubborn to completely give up.