Abby Frey
What would your winter look like if the winter traditions you cherish, like skiing, ice skating and watching a peaceful snowfall, were at risk? Your favorite winter traditions may be under threat from climate change. Climate change affects winter temperatures and precipitation by decreasing the amount of cold days and increasing short periods of intense snowfall or freezing rain. What might be considered a beautiful winter day, with a temperature around 30 degrees Fahrenheit and light snowfall, may no longer be occurring in some parts of the world.
Climate change is causing temperatures to rise around the world due to the reliance of society on fossil fuels. The result of burning fossil fuels is carbon pollution, which warms our planet and does not allow terrestrial radiation to leave the atmosphere. As temperatures continue to rise, each season of the year is affected in different ways, but winters are warming more quickly than any other season. It is important to note that climate change does not eliminate all cold temperatures; there are still cold days, but they are occurring less frequently. In parts of the United States, winter is characterized by colder temperatures and snowfall, but those factors are changing in response to climate change. Many people celebrate the first snowfall that is brought about in the winter season, but this aspect of winter weather is also being affected. Due to warming temperatures, the amount of snowfall from January to March has decreased and this “would-be” snow falls as rain instead. Climate change increases the severity and frequency of extreme precipitation events, which are seen in the winter as intense periods of snowfall or freezing rain. These intense precipitation events may affect your ability to travel, participate in outdoor markets or activities, and anxiety during the holiday season.
Common winter traditions and activities that depend on outdoor conditions include skiing or snowboarding, ice skating, snowball fights, and sledding. A study projected that there will be a 50% reduction in winter recreation season length by 2050, which is concerning for those who rely on the winter recreation industry for personal, financial, or social well-being and health. In 2023, skiers and snowboarders in Utah were faced with a delayed ski season because of unnaturally warm weather. Several resorts throughout the state had to wait for temperatures to drop to prepare the human-made snow that is necessary to start off the season. Similar to skiing and snowboarding, ice skating is affected by climate change through increasing temperatures that melt ice at a faster rate but also by changing the quality of ice. Warmer winters promote the growth of thin, black ice that is less reliable for recreation and more dangerous for drivers and truckers.
All in all, climate change is changing the way we experience the winter season and the traditions and activities we associate with it. To keep our traditions, it is important to spread awareness of how climate change affects different aspects of winter and investigate how our personal choices can lead to a demand for change in the fossil fuel industry.
Citations
Di Liberto, T. (2024, October 24). Revisiting La Nina and winter snowfall. NOAA Climate.gov. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/revisiting-laninaandwintersnowfall#:~:text=Human%2Dcaused%20climate%20change%20is,necessarily%20mean%20less%20precipitation%2C%20though
Jag, J. (2023, November 7). Start of Utah’s ski season will be pushed back. The Salt Lake Tribune. https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2023/11/07/start-utahs-ski-season-will-be/
Rao, D., & The Week US. (2024, October 8). It's not just ice quantity that climate change affects. It's also quality. theweek. https://theweek.com/environment/lake-ice-quality-decreasing
Winter weather and the climate crisis: Explained. (2022, November 17). The Climate Reality Project. https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/winter-weather-and-climate-crisis-explained
Zook, D. (2019, December 4). Climate study suggests grim scenario for ski resorts. Protect Our Winters. https://protectourwinters.org/climate-study
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