Believe It Or Not, This Is One Of The Warmest Winters In History

It's freezing outside, so that must mean climate change isn't happening, right?

Wrong.

Or as Stephen Colbert once aptly put it:

Global warming isn't real because I was cold today! Also great news: World hunger is over because I just ate. — Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) November 19, 2014

Believe it or not, a recent report from the National Climate Data Center reveals that this has been the sixth warmest winter in recorded history.

If you're somewhere on the East Coast of the United States, this might seem extremely far-fetched.

It's currently completely frigid in New York City, for example, and several other cities had record low temperatures on Friday.

Not to mention, Boston is caked in snow right now.

NYC right now....F U WINTER. #antarctica pic.twitter.com/efgBRqx0Cl — sweet dee (@DDreynolds) February 20, 2015

Winter #ONEderland in NYC pic.twitter.com/Cvd91Gb4MG — Eric Mueller (@eric_right_now) February 20, 2015

RT @CBSNews: Today, Boston could record in ONE month more snow than Chicago's ever had in a winter pic.twitter.com/d3E4ibmzeN — David Wessel (@davidmwessel) February 15, 2015

Yet, just because it's cold in many parts of the United States doesn't mean that's also the case around the globe. The world actually just had the second warmest January on record.

Furthermore, some argue the massive amounts of snow seen in places like Boston can actually be attributed to climate change, as it increases precipitation.

Moreover, while people in the American Northeast are shivering on their commutes to work, people in the Pacific Northwest are enjoying sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the 60s.

Seattle, for example, has hit record-breaking high temperatures for this time of year.

Weird winter! Current temperatures across the U.S. Yes, #Seattle is warmer than #Miami. Just for you @Brian7News. pic.twitter.com/TscreDuE3q — Colleen Conway (@colleenaconway) February 20, 2015

Winter is the new Spring in Seattle pic.twitter.com/BCLjkR1flS — Adam Mertz (@AJMertz) February 17, 2015

Last year was the hottest in recorded history, and it appears that trend is continuing.

Hence, while some insist on denying climate change is actually happening, the evidence continues to mount against them.

It's imperative that we make a more concerted effort to take care of our planet and be more sustainable, or we'll undoubtedly suffer the consequences.

Citations: This Winter Is One Of The Warmest On Record (Popular Science), If its Winter you wouldnt know it in Seattle (CBS News), January second warmest on record globally (USA Today), 2014 Breaks Heat Record Challenging Global Warming Skeptics (The New York Times), Polar vortex brings more historic cold in eastern US (Washington Post), Global warming could make blizzards worse (Washington Post), What the massive snowfall in Boston tells us about global warming (Washington Post), Boston mayor to snow daredevils Chill out (USA Today), How cold is it in New York City (New York Daily News), Obama attacks Republican I am not a scientist climate change denial in address (The Guardian )