Warming Climate Trend Continues

As we begin the month of December and get ready to close the book on this decade, we can't ignore the fact that over the past several decades our climate has continued to warm. The latest report from Climate Central shows that temperatures in Rockford have gone up by about half a degree each decade, for the last five decades. While that number may not seem like a lot, a warming climate has significant impacts on many across the world.

Think about this, as the temperature rises one degree it allows the atmosphere to hold 4% more water vapor at any given point. This means the possibility for heavier rainfall events locally, but also across the country. Billion dollar weather and climate disasters have already cost the U.S. more than $700 billion dollars since 2010. Alaska and the Arctic are warming much faster than other parts of the world and Arctic sea ice seasons have been melting to record low extents.

On the local level, this past decade has been the warmest decade for 222 of the 244 cities that Climate Central analyzed. It was noted that while some of the warming may be due to an intensifying urban heat island effect, it's likely not the reason for it all. 

On the national and global level the warming is even stronger. If the warming trend continues, it could surpass the Paris Agreement's limits of 1.5-2°C above preindustrial levels. The winter the consequences to communities who depend on winter tourism could be impacted.

months are the fastest warming months out of any season, with the three month span warming a little over four degrees since the 1970s in Rockford. While warmer winters may sound nice,