Record-Warm Winter Hits U.S.: Experts Blame Human-Caused Climate Change and El Nino
Winter in the US was the warmest in 130 years, with little snow, early spring, and record-breaking temperatures, mostly due to climate change.
Across the United States, winter came and went without the usual chill and snow that many areas typically experience. From Burlington, Vermont to Portland, Maine, temperatures never dipped below zero, leaving some states calling this winter "the lost winter." The lack of snow and unseasonably warm temperatures had unexpected consequences, such as mosquitos biting in Michigan and the Great Lakes being essentially ice-free. These unusual conditions have been officially confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the warmest U.S. winter on record.
Unseasonably Early Spring
According to the National Phenology Network, spring leaves arrived three to four weeks earlier than the 1991-2020 average in a wide swath of the country. The long-term warming trend, combined with the effects of El Nino, resulted in the absence of a traditional winter in the United States. Meteorologist Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground, emphasized the extraordinary nature of this winter, recounting his own experience of being bitten by a mosquito in Michigan, which he described as "crazy."
Record-Breaking Temperatures
NOAA confirmed that the winter of 2023-2024 was the warmest in nearly 130 years of record-keeping for the United States. The average temperature for the Lower 48 states was 37.6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.1 degrees Celsius), which is a significant 5.4 degrees (3 degrees Celsius) above the average. This record marks the latest in a series of broken temperature records, attributed to human-caused climate change from the burning of coal, oil, and gas.
Impact of Warming
As a result of climate change, winter temperatures in the United States have warmed faster than the global average over the past 45 years. While this warming trend continues, the rate of additional warming has slowed slightly since 2000, according to NOAA data. Winter weather expert Judah Cohen attributed this phenomenon to Arctic Amplification, which has led to the Arctic warming at a much faster rate than the rest of the globe. This has subsequently altered weather patterns in the United States, contributing to the diminishing presence of cold air.
Consequences of Warm Winters
Warm winters can have a range of impacts, including earlier and more abundant pest seasons, prolonged allergy seasons, and disruptions to the timing of natural phenomena such as blooming patterns for trees and flowers. Additionally, the early arrival of spring can have consequences for migratory birds, affecting their access to food sources. These changes in natural rhythms can have cascading effects on ecosystems.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, experts anticipate that California may experience a shift back to more typical winter weather patterns, with atmospheric rivers and snowstorms helping to replenish snowpacks and reservoirs. However, the broader trend of warming winters and their ecological impacts raises concerns about the continued effects of climate change on natural systems.
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