How Climate Change is Making Winter Storms Worse

The eastern U.S. is still digging out from a recent winter storm that brought heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. This storm was not just any ordinary winter weather event. It was made worse by climate change.

The Impact of the Storm

• Heavy Snowfall: Places hit hardest saw two feet of snow.
• Freezing Rain: Up to an inch of ice from freezing rain.
• Disruptions: Roads were shut down, and power was cut off in many areas.

The Role of Climate Change

It might seem strange that a warming climate could lead to heavier snowfalls. But it's true. Warmer air can hold more moisture.

• Moisture Increase: For every 1 degree Celsius the planet warms, the atmosphere can hold about 7 percent more moisture.
• Current Conditions: This storm happened in an atmosphere that is up to 5 degrees C warmer now than in past decades.
• Precipitation Increase: That means this storm had about 20 percent more precipitation than it would have without human-caused warming.

Future Snowfall Patterns

Some places in the U.S. might see more snow for a while as the planet gets warmer. This is especially true for areas prone to lake-effect snow.

• Lake-Effect Snow: Bodies of water take longer to freeze over in winter, which can lead to more snow.

Planning for the Future

The way climate change affects snowstorms means that old ways of planning for snow might not be enough anymore.

• Infrastructure Updates: Infrastructure and emergency planning standards, which were based on past snowfall records, may need to be updated.
• Changing Behavior: This is because the way snowstorms behave is changing.