Seasonal snowfall plays a very important role in our climate from
keeping our planet cool, to impacting water resources. But it can also
be an indicator of how our climate is changing. It is no secret that
our planet is warming. Even though there are areas of the world that
may end up a little cooler than normal throughout the year, the planet
as a whole (land and sea) continues to warm.
2019 was the second hottest year on record,
dating back over 140 years. How the climate is changing is having an
effect on seasonal and regional snowfall across the country.
As the air temperature warms it is able to hold more water vapor
(moisture) in the atmosphere. In fact, for every one degree temperature
rise the atmosphere can hold four percent more moisture. In the colder
regions of the country this may lead to more snowfall during the Winter
months. While snowfall may increase in some regions of the country, it
is also decreasing in other regions of the country. The research team
at Climate Central looked at the three seasons of Fall, Winter and
Spring and just how the snowfall has been changing during those seasons.
In Fall, the country has had an 80 percent decrease in snow since 1970
with clear signs of decreasing snow across the Northwest, Alaska, and
the Ohio Valley. During the Winter months, it is an overall decrease of
46 percent across the country, and in Spring a 66 percent decrease.
The biggest impact that climate change is having is on what researchers
with Climate Central call the 'shoulder' seasons of Spring and Fall.
Within the last 50 years, 1970-2019, overall snowfall before the start
of Meteorological Winter, December 1st, decreased in every region of the
country. After Meteorological Spring, March 1st, snowfall also
decreased in every region with the exception of the Northeast and the
East North Central regions. Significant snowfall can be very costly,
but the decline in snowfall can impact not only our economy, but also
the climate, agricultural and water resources. You can find out more on
how the seasonal snowfall is changing by
clicking here.
Seasonal snowfall plays a very important role in our climate from
keeping our planet cool, to impacting water resources. But it can also
be an indicator of how our climate is changing. It is no secret that
our planet is warming. Even though there are areas of the world that
may end up a little cooler than normal throughout the year, the planet
as a whole (land and sea) continues to warm. 2019 was the second hottest year on record,
dating back over 140 years. How the climate is changing is having an
effect on seasonal and regional snowfall across the country.
As the air temperature warms it is able to hold more water vapor
(moisture) in the atmosphere. In fact, for every one degree temperature
rise the atmosphere can hold four percent more moisture. In the colder
regions of the country this may lead to more snowfall during the Winter
months. While snowfall may increase in some regions of the country, it
is also decreasing in other regions of the country. The research team
at Climate Central looked at the three seasons of Fall, Winter and
Spring and just how the snowfall has been changing during those seasons.
In Fall, the country has had an 80 percent decrease in snow since 1970
with clear signs of decreasing snow across the Northwest, Alaska, and
the Ohio Valley. During the Winter months, it is an overall decrease of
46 percent across the country, and in Spring a 66 percent decrease.
The biggest impact that climate change is having is on what researchers
with Climate Central call the 'shoulder' seasons of Spring and Fall.
Within the last 50 years, 1970-2019, overall snowfall before the start
of Meteorological Winter, December 1st, decreased in every region of the
country. After Meteorological Spring, March 1st, snowfall also
decreased in every region with the exception of the Northeast and the
East North Central regions. Significant snowfall can be very costly,
but the decline in snowfall can impact not only our economy, but also
the climate, agricultural and water resources. You can find out more on
how the seasonal snowfall is changing by clicking here.
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