Pittsburgh Snow & Climate Change: Heavier Winters?

Intense Winter Storms adn a Warming Climate: Understanding the Paradox

Despite a recent blizzard that dumped nearly a foot of snow on Pittsburgh this weekend – just short of the record set during the 2010 “Snowmageddon” storm – experts emphasize that the long-term trend points toward warming winters and a changing climate. Temperatures are forecast too remain below freezing for the remainder of the week, a stark reminder of winter’s enduring power even as the planet warms.

Did you know? – The term “Snowmageddon” became popular during a series of severe snowstorms that impacted the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States in February 2010. It highlights the potential for extreme winter weather.

The Fastest-Warming season

The frigid conditions may belie a crucial fact: winter is the fastest-warming season on the East Coast. “global warming has not stopped,” stated a leading climate scientist, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the university of Colorado Boulder. “You’re always going to see variable weather patterns, and that’s what we’ve got right now.”

are Cold Snaps Becoming Rarer?

While climate change is generally causing cold snaps to become less frequent, it doesn’t mean they’ve disappeared entirely. “But that doesn’t mean there are none of them,” one professor of climate science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell explained.”Just because we’re getting fewer of them doesn’t mean that we’re done with winter wholly.”

The Intensification of Winter Storms

In a seeming paradox, scientists believe the largest winter storms – like the one that impacted a large portion of the U.S. this past weekend – are actually becoming more intense due to climate change. A warmer atmosphere can retain more moisture, leading to increased overall precipitation.

“There’s more water coming down,” the climate science professor elaborated. “If we also manage to get some old-fashioned cold, then you have the potential for more snow.” He further explained that “The upper limit on snow is higher, because you’ve increased the water side of it,” but added, “But you’re decreasing the temperature side, so getting that upper limit is harder.”

Pro tip – Check local and national weather services for updated forecasts and warnings during winter. Having a preparedness kit with essentials like food, water, and a flashlight is crucial.

Disrupting the Stratosphere

Researchers are also investigating whether climate change could indirectly amplify major winter storms by disrupting atmospheric circulation in the stratosphere. This disruption could potentially “sort of helping them stay cold – colder than they would otherwise be in a warming habitat.”

Preparedness and the “New Normal”

The combination of infrequent but powerful winter weather events could leave communities less prepared. “In terms of … how familiar people are with these events and how much cities have reasonably budgeted for snowplows and snow removal and ice and all that, it hits differently,” one expert noted. “If you’re unfamiliar with them, they hit harder.”

A Shift Towards Rain

Generally, snowfall is becoming less common as warmer

Reader question – How do you think communities can best adapt to the increasing variability of winter weather? Share yoru thoughts!