NBC News - How climate change is making white Christmas a rare event
The traditional image of a white Christmas, popularized by movies and songs, is becoming increasingly rare due to climate change. Warmer than average temperatures are being experienced across the U.S., reducing the likelihood of snow during the holiday season. Historically, the highest chances of a white Christmas were in regions like the Upper Midwest, Adirondacks, Northern New England, and high elevations in the Rockies and Sierra Mountains. However, climate change is driving up temperatures nationwide. In 2022, only 17% of the lower 48 states experienced a white Christmas, the lowest since records began in 2003. Major cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City have not seen snow on Christmas Day since 2009. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that nearly 80% of locations are experiencing less snow and more rain, highlighting the impact of climate change on traditional weather patterns.
Key Points:
- Climate change is reducing the likelihood of a white Christmas in the U.S.
- In 2022, only 17% of the lower 48 states had snow on Christmas, the lowest since 2003.
- Major cities in the north haven't seen Christmas snow since 2009.
- Nearly 80% of locations are getting less snow and more rain due to climate change.
- Traditional snowy Christmas imagery is becoming less common.
Details:
1. 🎬 Hollywood's White Christmas Dream
- Hollywood movies like 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'Home Alone', and 'Elf' have cemented the image of a white Christmas in American culture.
- Songs such as 'White Christmas' and 'Silver Bells' have historically associated snow with the Christmas season in the American psyche.
- The traditional concept of a white Christmas is becoming less common due to warmer than average temperatures across the United States.
2. 🌡️ Climate Change: The Warming Winters
- Climate change is significantly affecting winter temperatures, leading to warmer winters.
- Regions with historically high chances of a white Christmas, such as the Upper Midwest, Adirondacks, Northern New England, and high elevations in the Rockies and Sierra Mountain ranges, are experiencing reduced snowfall and warmer temperatures.
- A study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that winter temperatures have increased by an average of 3°F over the past century in these regions.
- The warming trend is attributed to increased greenhouse gas emissions, which trap heat in the atmosphere, altering weather patterns and reducing snowfall.
- This change impacts local ecosystems, winter sports industries, and water resources, as snowpack levels decrease, affecting water supply during warmer months.
3. ❄️ The Vanishing White Christmas in America
- Only about 17% of the lower 48 states experienced a white Christmas last year, the lowest since measurements began in 2003.
- Major northern cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City did not have snow on Christmas.
- Historically, the average percentage of the lower 48 states experiencing a white Christmas was around 37% in the early 2000s, indicating a significant decline.
- Climate change is a contributing factor to the decreasing frequency of white Christmases, affecting snowfall patterns across the country.