How Climate Change Affects Winter

In recent years, climate change has become a major topic of discussion, inadvertently affecting Earth in many ways, just through the increase of the global temperature. As of 2021, Earth has experienced much more extreme weather, devastating wildfires, increasing ocean levels, and more, all due to climate change. With all of the information and outcomes of climate change in mind, how will global warming affect the upcoming 2021-2022 winter?

When many hear of climate change today, they immediately think about how the average global temperature is increasing. Relating this increase to winter, many will believe that this increase in temperature will directly affect future winters, making them warmer and wetter. Although the conclusion of future winters getting warmer is logical, it is a misconception. In reality, the increase in temperature actually inversely affects winters, making them colder and snowier. An example of winter becoming colder can be seen from the 2019-2020 winter, in which the polar vortex storm affected many parts of the US. In New Jersey, many places reached extremely cold temperatures, such as the Pequest area in Warren county reaching -1 degrees Fahrenheit (Melisurgo). Additionally, the February of 2021 was New Jersey’s snowiest February, with a recorded 36.9 inches of snowfall in northern New Jersey alone. Although southern New Jersey did not have as much snow, it still received approximately 23.5 inches of snow (Fallon).

Climate change is causing winters to become colder and snowier because of the stretching of the polar vortex. As mentioned before, climate change has increased the global temperature, but an effect of this increase is the melting of the polar ice caps. As a result of the ice caps melting, there is an unusual transfer of excess energy, in the form of heat, in the Arctic. For example, scientists have found that ice melting in the Barents and Kara seas has specifically led to the transfer of excess heat in the Arctic. Regardless, the excess heat impacts the winds above the North Pole, causing the polar vortex to expand (McGrath). This expansion of the polar vortex is what ultimately enables extreme cold and winter events to occur in the United States and other parts of the world.

The 2021-2022 winter is most likely going to be colder and snowier, compared to previous winters, due to the expansion of the polar vortex. One of the predictions for the upcoming winter that has already been proven correct is that winter was going to start early in November (Fallon). This prediction was correct as New Jersey has already experienced snow, and even hailing multiple times throughout the month of November. Therefore, the prediction that states the Northeast is expected to experience winter colder temperatures than normal, is most likely also going to be correct as well (Fallon). Overall, everyone should be prepared to experience a colder, snowier winter this year, that might even break some weather records.