Q&A: What does all this snow mean for climate change?

Why are scientists worried about freezing temperatures in winter, is the beast from the east a freak event – and what is the polar vortex?

Q: Snow in winter. That feels reassuringly normal. Does this mean the climate has fixed itself?

A: Unfortunately not. In fact, many scientists are concerned this is a prelude to more extreme and less predictable weather.

Related: Arctic warming: scientists alarmed by 'crazy' temperature rises