Arctic ice melt 'already affecting weather patterns where you live right now'

Soaring Arctic temperatures 'strongly linked' to recent extreme weather events, say scientists at cutting edge of climate change research

The dramatic melting of Arctic ice is already driving extreme weather that affects hundreds of millions of people across North America, Europe and Asia, leading climate scientists have told the Guardian.

Severe "snowmageddon" winters are now strongly linked to soaring polar temperatures, say researchers, with deadly summer heatwaves and torrential floods also probably linked. The scientists now fear the Arctic meltdown has kickstarted abrupt changes in the planet's swirling atmosphere, bringing extreme weather in heavily populated areas to the boil.