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US Winter Warmest on Record Despite Cold Snaps
10 Mar
Summary
- The US experienced its second warmest winter on record.
- Western US largely missed winter, seeing record warmth.
- Nine states broke or tied records for warmest winters.
The continental United States recently concluded its second-warmest winter on record, according to federal meteorologists. From December through February, the Lower 48 states averaged 37.13 degrees Fahrenheit, a mere fraction of a degree shy of the record set two years ago. This record-setting warmth was significantly influenced by conditions west of the Mississippi River.
While regions in the East and Midwest experienced notable cold spells and blizzards, the western U.S. largely bypassed winter weather, recording substantial warmth. Nine states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Oregon, set new records or tied previous ones for the warmest winter. Comparatively, even the coldest state recorded only its 28th coldest winter.
In recent decades, winter temperatures in the continental U.S. have shown a significant warming trend. Over the past 50 years, winter in the Lower 48 states has warmed by nearly 4 degrees Fahrenheit, a more substantial increase than any other season. February of this year also ranked as the fourth-warmest on record nationally.
