Winter has gone missing across the Midwest and Great Lakes, and time is running out to find it. Dozens of cities are on track for one of the warmest winters on record, making snow and ice rare commodities.
Several cities are missing feet of snow compared to a typical winter, ice on the Great Lakes is near record-low levels and the springlike temperatures have even spawned rare wintertime severe thunderstorms.
A classic El Niño pattern coupled with the effects of a warming climate are to blame for this “non-winter” winter, said Pete Boulay, a climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Winter has become the fastest-warming season for nearly 75% of the US and snowfall is declining around the globe as temperatures rise because of human-caused climate change.
What I want to know is is this the new normal? I’ll go ahead and assume it is, but I don’t see anyone saying that.
From what I understand, this is a continually escalating situation taking the planet well past habitability. We’ve tumbled over tipping point.
Yes, climate change models predict the Midwest becoming more comfortable. Don’t get me wrong it’s still bad overall but the Midwest will likely benefit from its climate change in terms of being a relatively comfortable place to ride the storm.
Imagine you have traveled on a high plateau with a beautiful view of the land. Now you are on a downhill trail to the woodland base of said plateau and some lone trees are now growing next to the trail. “Every now and then a big tree blocks my view of the beautiful landscape” you complain. “Should I assume this is the new normal” you wonder. Unbeknownst to you just a bit further the trail will enter the forest.