Climate change and snow
Have you seen a snow warning? Snow warnings are on the rise! Or are they? Well… climate change research shows that this increased snow fall is a result of anthropogenic forces in some areas! Blizzards are a combination of snow fall with heavy winds! Ultimately, this causes low visibility, heavy snowfall, and makes it exceptionally cold! to review, climate change is characterized by an increase in average global temperature. This means that it should snow less right? Yes, but also no.
Snow fall is generally a local whether event. Altough, Research suggests that climate change will show a reduction in annual mean snowfall in most areas due to the average temperature, yet places that do not receive it will begin to1! This is why areas like Florida and Texas which usually don’t have such events, are experiencing them! Although the general snowfall is expected to decrease, areas that do not usually receive it will be in for a surprise. This will lead to economic and ecological issues as the infrastructure and plants/animals in these areas are not used to it!
Weak polar vortex
One of the reasons associated with these areas that are receiving cold weather and snow is due to a weaker polar vortex. Ultimately, this is due to what we are seeing as a reduction in ice in the Arctic2. A weaker major air current on the globe exists, known as the polar vortex. This reduction in strength causes the vortex to dip down further than previously allowed. To compliment this, It has been identified that these cold events will be brought on and become more severe due to a weaker polar vortex3.
Snow fall in Japan
Scientists in Japan investigating the impact climate change has on heavy, wet snowfall found it to be a very complex issue. The scientists reported that there will definitely be a difference as time progresses and climate change worsens, yet the actual event of snowfall is area dependent and centers around many complex factors4.
Ultimately what this means
This corroborates with our initial understanding that increased snowfall and resulting blizzards will be area dependent surrounded by complex geographic attributes along with global air circulation.
Snow warning in the news!
- https://www.netnewsledger.com/2025/02/06/snow-squall-warning-in-effect-for-nipigon-and-rossport-treacherous-travel-conditions-ahead/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q0j3yzy4ko
- https://www.newsweek.com/winter-weather-advisory-5-states-forecast-snow-rain-2026731′
References:
1) O’Gorman PA. 2014. Contrasting responses of mean and extreme snowfall to climate change. Nature. 512(7515):416–418. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13625.
2) Kim B-M, Son S-W, Min S-K, Jeong J-H, Kim S-J, Zhang X, Shim T, Yoon J-H. 2014. Weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex by Arctic sea-ice loss. Nature Communications. 5(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5646.
3) Huang J, Hitchcock P, Maycock AC, McKenna CM, Tian W. 2021. Northern hemisphere cold air outbreaks are more likely to be severe during weak polar vortex conditions. Communications Earth & Environment. 2(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00215-6.
4) Ohba M, Sugimoto S. 2020. Impacts of climate change on heavy wet snowfall in Japan. Climate Dynamics. 54(5-6):3151–3164. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05163-z.