Snow? Did you Miss it? What you may see less of over the years, According to Experts
Many residents are noticing less snow falling recently, leaving snowshoes, cross-country skis, and sleds lying in their closets unused.
Sarah Pregitzer, 70, from Grant, Michigan, joked on ABC News that she may never be able to use those skis again without breaking something.
We were constantly surrounded by snow back in 2002. It seemed as if summer hadn’t arrived,” Christine Smith, a resident of Canandaigua, New York, said. Compared to last year, I have only worn my boots twice.
KETV meteorologist Caitlin Harvey recalls once sledding for swim team practice instead of swimming inside. She remembers performing superstitions as a child to ensure snow days.
Throwing ice cubes around or dancing in the snow. However, I have not seen as many snow days in recent years. Snow days are always fun.
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Research group Climate Central claims climate change is resulting in the warming of the winter, the country’s fastest-warming season. More moisture is present, but the temperature is less freezing.
Whether this has an impact on snowfall is complicated, according to Rutgers University professor David Robinson, who claims to be known “as a snowman.”
Snow can fall only when the air temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the NOAA.
Despite cities nationwide warming, the coldest areas will still get snow — though once you go over that freezing point, there will be more rain than snow.
Temperature Central predicts that some areas will see more rainfall than snowfall because warmer air contains more moisture.
The coldest temperatures can cause heavy snowstorms in some regions. As Robinson pointed out, a snowstorm that is 30-degrees could distribute more snow than one that is 20-degrees, since more moisture can be involved.
Compared with early 1970s, 64% of Climate Central’s locations recorded less snow. An increase was also seen by 36% of the population.
According to Pregitzer, a native of West Michigan, when winter started as a child, it stayed and it was very cozy if you could survive it.
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Kaitlyn Trudeau, Senior Research Associate at Climate Central, says the change in snowfall has diverse implications for Americans.
Trudeau explained, “We’re going to lose much of that, not only the economic impact but also the cultural impact and impact on the environment.
Warmer weather and less snow lead to lower snowpacks and slower snowmelt in regions like the West and Northern Great Plains.
Throughout the year, snowpack provides a reliable source of drinking water, irrigation water, and more for many regions.
Some Western states get up to 75% of their water from snowmelt, according to past United States Department of the Interior data.
When wildfires, droughts, and risks to agricultural and food production are increased, Climate Central found that there is less snowpack and the snow melts earlier.
Currently, Nebraska is experiencing some of its driest months since records began, which contributes to Nebraska’s worsening fire season.
She told ABC News she hasn’t experienced many snowfalls in recent years because heavy eno.
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Harvey said the dry air near the surface has been able to push away any moisture, even rain or snow, in Omaha this year.
Trudeau says shorter seasons and less snow will also hurt the multi-billion-dollar winter recreation and tourism industries.
The absence of snow is causing mixed feelings in residents; some miss the silence or the thrill of winter sports, while others are relieved they no longer have to shiver in the cold.
An extra layer of weather worries is not something anyone wants,” Smith said. Despite that, Trudeau has been searching for a long snow season since he grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The chances of Trudeau living in an area where it snows a lot are slim, but I hope to one day be in one,” he stated. In my opinion, people are still unaware of the extent to which the impacts will affect them.”
However, Robinson suggests keeping the winter gear out for a while longer. Snowfall may become less frequent, but because of the complexities associated with snowfall, powerful storms can still surprise us.
Robinson pointed out that despite working with a warmer climate, we have mechanisms in place dynamics, if you will to create rare snowstorms that can really clobber people. Life grinds to a halt or becomes very dangerous when you are less prepared for that storm.”
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