Climate change skeptics have employed a cloak of confusion to cast doubt on the scientific consensus that change is in the air, not to mention the land and seas. Why people ignore the scientific community and put their trust in blustery radio talk show hosts and lawmakers who begin by saying “I’m not a scientist, but …” is one of the cultural and political mysteries of our time.

But after an October that had lots of early September in it — plus a touch of August — and another in a series of storms that might make sandbags standard issue in the Upper Valley, more people may be wondering if, to put it unscientifically, something’s up. An Associated Press story that ran in this newspaper recently did not allay such suspicions. “Winter Is Later, and It’s Shorter,’’ the headline said.

According to an AP analysis of records from 700 weather stations around the nation going back to 1895, the year’s first freeze has been moving later on the calendar. The average first freeze over the last decade came a week later than in the ’70s, for instance. And the AP reported that “the U.S. freeze season of 2016 was more than a month shorter than the freeze season of 1916.” Last year reportedly was “off the charts’’ nationwide: The average first freeze came two weeks later than the 20th century average, and the last frost of spring was nine days earlier.

Even the degree day chart in the Valley News’ weather section signals unusual times. As of Wednesday, the normal number of seasonal degree days, a measure of energy consumption as the weather cools, was at 748. Last year, a warm winter season, it was 606. This season it stood at 432.

What’s good for heating bills is bad for other things. State travel officers may not want the word to spread, but this year’s foliage season, which was put under siege by a late dry spell and fall beach weather, was decidedly meh, as many leaves crumpled and dropped to the ground before showing much color. Of course, there are more serious consequences than unimpressed tour bus crowds. Climate change will affect farms and the creatures around us; thus far it seems bad news for the moose population and good news for ticks. It may not be any picnic for the ski industry, either.

Amidst all this, the political climate has also changed, as the Trump administration works to undo climate measures enacted in the Obama years. Headlines from the Smithsonian Magazine’s “Running List of How Trump Is Changing the Environment” offer quite a compilation: “U.S. Pulls Out of Paris Climate Agreement,’’ “Interior Department Proposes Largest-Ever Oil and Gas Lease Auction,’’ “Trump EPA Poised to Scrap Clean Power Plan,’’ “Trump Budget Proposes Steep Cuts for the Environment,’’ and on and on.

For now, climate trends are moving one way and White House policy entirely in the other. To think that’s a good thing requires denial of evidence that’s as nearby as your own yard. And even if frost-free mornings seem pleasant for a day or a spell, the long-term costs of climate change could be undeniably large.