CNN host Don Lemon tried and failed to get Jamie Rohme, the acting director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane center, to blame Hurricane Ian on climate change.
During an interview on Tuesday night, Lemon asked, “Can you tell us what this is and what effect climate change has on this?”
Rohme did not expound on the climate change part as he said, “We can come back and talk about climate change at a later time. I want to focus on the here and now.”
He went on to say he believes there will be no more “rapid intensification” of the storm.
However, Lemon asked again, “What effect does climate change have on this phenomenon? Because it seems these storms are intensifying.”
“I don’t think you can link climate change to any one event on the whole. On the cumulative, climate change may be making storms worse,” Rohme responded.
Lemon replied, “Listen, I grew up there and these storms are intensifying. Something is causing them to intensify.”
Watch the video below:
This is amazing. Don Lemon tries to blame Hurricane Ian on climate change. NOAA's hurricane director shuts him down. pic.twitter.com/svTjHtE8hl
— Alex Pfeiffer (@__Pfeiffer) September 28, 2022
Check out some of the reactions below:
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) September 28, 2022
Even the government climate propaganda outfit called NOAA admits that #HurricaneIan can't be blamed on climate.
— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) September 28, 2022
But CNN @DonLemon (from Baton Rouge vs. Florida's West Coast) imagines he knows better. https://t.co/JXIwQhUOYo
Nearly a Category 5 hurricane bearing down on Florida and all (rebranded?) CNN can think about is how to score political points by blaming Ian on climate change.
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) September 28, 2022
Most certainly a time for that discussion, but not when people are in harm's way. Disgrace. https://t.co/NLowGKC64i
I was born in Florida, went to the University of Florida…..I’m in Florida now. Does that make me an expert too? https://t.co/OMuTqv6fWV
— Andrew Wilkow (@WilkowMajority) September 28, 2022
Liberal @cnn host: "Is this because of climate change?"
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D. (@neoavatara) September 28, 2022
Science guy: "No."
Host: "WTF do you know, science guy? I SLEPT AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAST NIGHT!" https://t.co/HHuiLLVyX6
Chris Licht, call your office. https://t.co/JFNHtWk8k1
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) September 28, 2022
Lemon’s comments came as Florida was bracing for Hurricane Ian.
The Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday morning the storm had begun to make landfall with winds near Category 5 status.