Latest Fact-Checks In Weather

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Social Media
stated on January 20, 2026 posts on social media

Trees can explode if temperatures drop to 20 degrees below zero.

Mostly False

By Madison Czopek • January 26, 2026

Social Media
stated on July 6, 2025 a TikTok video

The Trump administration “has defunded not only the National Weather Service but also what’s known as NOAA.”

Mostly False

By Amy Sherman, Ella Moore, Louis Jacobson • July 8, 2025

Sean Casten
stated on August 23, 2021 remarks at a press conference

Says the 1995 Chicago heat wave was “the largest single-day, non-war fatality in the United States” prior to 9/11, and “we are now expecting temperatures that hot in Chicago every summer.”

Mostly False

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • September 1, 2021

Rick Kriseman
stated on June 24, 2017 a "Tampa Bay Times" article

Says that compared to Rick Baker's time as mayor, Kriseman "had wet weather events that he did not experience" that caused sewage spills. Baker "went through significant periods of drought during his time as mayor."

Mostly False

By Allison Graves • August 10, 2017

Don Zimmerman
stated on April 27, 2015 an Austin City Council briefing

"You don't have to be as smart as a fifth-grader to know what causes the climate is the sun. The sun. I have people tell me, ‘Carbon dioxide warms the Earth.’ No, it doesn't. The sun warms the Earth."

Mostly False

By Asher Price • June 5, 2015

Dana Perino
stated on April 22, 2014 a broadcast of "The Five" on Fox News

"A lot of the problems with forest fires ... is because of bad policy (not to clear out the forests) that was put in place by environmentalists."

Mostly False

By Jon Greenberg • May 1, 2014

Senate Majority PAC
stated on March 26, 2014 a campaign ad

Says the Koch brothers "funded the fight to let flood insurance premiums soar ... Now they’re spending millions to buy a Senate seat for Bill Cassidy so he can fight for them."

Mostly False

By Louis Jacobson • April 8, 2014

Nathan Deal
stated on January 28, 2014 an interview

"We have been confronted with an unexpected storm that has hit the metropolitan area."

Mostly False

By Eric Stirgus, Nancy Badertscher • January 30, 2014

X posts
stated on January 7, 2014 posts on Twitter

It’s warmer on Mars than it is in parts of the United States and Canada during the polar vortex.

Mostly False

By Julie Kliegman • January 7, 2014

Jim Bridenstine
stated on June 11, 2013 a House floor speech

"This president spends 30 times as much money on global warming research as he does on weather forecasting and warning."

Mostly False

By Louis Jacobson • June 14, 2013

Environment New Jersey
stated on December 18, 2012 an online post about global warming

"Hurricane Sandy, the most destructive Atlantic storm ever."

Mostly False

By Caryn Shinske • January 6, 2013

Steve Lonegan
stated on December 18, 2012 a news release

"The price tag amounted to nearly $4,200 for every man, woman and child in the state."

Mostly False

By Caryn Shinske • December 23, 2012

Frank Lautenberg
stated on November 13, 2012 a speech on the Senate floor

Says because of Hurricane Sandy in Atlantic City "much of that boardwalk no longer exists -- just the pillars where the boardwalk used to be."

Mostly False

By Erin O'Neill • November 25, 2012

Michael J. Gardiner
stated on July 26, 2012 a debate

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks grounded commercial air traffic, "there was a temperature drop while the airplanes weren't flying, for the week afterwards."

Mostly False

By Tom Mooney • August 1, 2012

Rick Scott
stated on May 8, 2012 comments to the press

Citizens Property Insurance has "over $500 billion worth of risk, with less than $10 billion worth of surplus."

Mostly False

By Toluse Olorunnipa • June 13, 2012