Winters are getting shorter in 80% of major US cities, with the season now lasting nine days fewer on average than in the 1970-1997 period, according to new data from Climate Central. The independent climate science group analysed 195 cities and found that the coldest 90 consecutive days of the year are arriving later and ending earlier than in the 20th century.
The largest decreases in winter days were observed in the south-east, north-east, upper midwest and south of the US. Juneau and Anchorage in Alaska saw the most dramatic reductions, with winters shortening by 62 and 49 days respectively. However, about 15% of cities experienced longer winters, particularly along the California coast and in the Ohio valley.
The findings coincide with one of the most brutal winters in recent memory, including a historic nor'easter blizzard that dumped over 2ft of snow in parts of the north-east and more than 3ft in Rhode Island. The storm caused power outages for hundreds of thousands and forced travel bans in several states.
Mathew Barlow, professor of climate science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, noted that a shorter winter does not mean no winter, and that greater precipitation intensity is expected as the climate warms. The recent storms have been cited by climate change deniers, including Donald Trump, who questioned global warming. However, research suggests that the stretching of the polar vortex, potentially accelerated by global heating, contributed to the extreme weather.
Warmer, shorter winters have significant consequences, including reduced water supply and decreased summer crop yields. The data underscores the ongoing impact of the climate crisis, even as the Trump administration has moved to dismantle environmental protections, including revoking the EPA's endangerment finding that allowed regulation of climate-heating pollution.
