US Winter: Record Heat Wins Over Frigid Cold

The Lower 48 states experienced one of its warmest winters on record, with heat significantly outcompeting cold. This past meteorological winter, from December through February, has preliminarily been ranked as the second-warmest for the contiguous US, demonstrating the impact of climate change. While many in the East endured severe cold, numerous locations in the West and Southwest recorded their warmest winters, with a notable scarcity of snow cover, raising concerns for an upcoming drought and wildfire season.

Meteorologists have identified the smallest "cold pool" on record, a layer of air about 5,000 feet up cold enough to form snowflakes, as a significant indicator of hemispheric warming. This data, tracked since the 1940s, suggests winters are becoming less cold overall. The frigid air that did appear was concentrated, creating the perception of a colder winter than the national average indicated. Experts view this shrinking cold pool as conclusive evidence of wintertime warming in the Northern Hemisphere, driven by human-caused climate change.