US Cities See Winters Shrink by Over a Week on Average
New data reveals that winters are getting shorter in 80% of major US cities, with an average reduction of 9 days since the 1970s, as the climate crisis progresses.
Researchers have uncovered a troubling trend in the United States: winters are getting significantly shorter across the majority of major cities. According to new data from Climate Central, an independent climate science and communication group, winters have shrunk by an average of 9 days in 195 US cities since 1970-1997.
The findings are particularly notable given the harsh and long-lasting winter weather many Americans have experienced in recent months, with above-average snowfall and ice causing widespread disruptions. However, the data paints a clear picture: winters are on the decline in 80% of the cities analyzed, even as individual seasons may fluctuate.
The shrinking of winter seasons is a direct consequence of the climate crisis and the ongoing global temperature rise. As documented by the UN's landmark climate report, the Earth's warming is triggering widespread changes to weather patterns and seasonal norms around the world.
In the case of the United States, the data shows winters are starting later and ending earlier on average, with the traditional cold season slowly giving way to milder conditions. This has significant implications for agriculture, wildlife, and the daily lives of millions of Americans who have long planned their lives and activities around the reliable arrival of winter.
"The data is clear - winters are getting shorter, and that's a direct result of human-caused climate change," said Dr. Alyson Fleming, a climate scientist at Climate Central. "This trend will only continue unless we take swift and decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and start to bend the curve on global temperature rise."
The researchers analyzed temperature data from 1970 to 2022 across 195 US cities to determine the changing length of winter seasons. They defined winter as the period between the first and last sub-freezing days of the year, marking the bookends of the coldest time of year.
While some cities have seen winters shrink by more than 2 weeks, the average reduction across all 195 locations is 9 days. The Northeast and Midwest have been hit particularly hard, with many cities in those regions seeing their winters contract by over a week.
"These findings should serve as a wakeup call," said Fleming. "The climate crisis is transforming the rhythms of nature that we've come to expect and rely on. Shortening winters is just one of many troubling trends we're observing, and it's crucial that we act now to address the root causes."
Source: The Guardian
