(CNN) When winter storms bring extreme cold, snow and ice as far south as Texas and Louisiana, power outages from downed lines are expected. Exactly what role climate change played in bringing frigid arctic air to the country's midsection is a matter of scientific debate. Is this deep freeze connected to climate change? Circling the region is a jet stream, a band of winds that blow west to east and provide a barrier of sorts between cold, arctic air and the warmer mid-latitudes. Texas' power grid -- at least so far -- has shown it is equipped to handle the cooling demands of a scorching Texas summer, when millions of air-conditioning units hum to make life indoors bearable.

Source: CNN February 20, 2021 21:00 UTC