On Friday, February 2, 2024, the nation's most beloved groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted an early spring. This means that instead of six more weeks of cold, harsh winter weather, spring is soon upon us. I was thrilled to see the news, however, it had me thinking: was winter even that bad this year? Of course, we had relatively frigid temperatures and harsh winds, but where were the piles and piles of snow? When it did eventually snow, rain came along shortly after to wash away the evidence. I reflected on this change and noticed I reached for my winter coat less, being outside was cold, though more bearable. However brutal winter can be, I only seem to crave it more and more each year. As years pass, I question how long the mild winter weather will last: a few more years? A few more decades? Forever? Although I do not consider myself to be a scientist, I still assume that the reason for this odd winter behavior can be connected to climate change. According to CNN, there has been a temperature increase of 3.8 degrees Fahrenheit in 97% of the country since 1970 (Raffa 2023). This may seem like an inadequate number, I mean, how much power can 3.8 degrees really hold on our country? That seemingly insignificant number does a lot more damage than it looks; winter is crucial to plants, animals, insects, freshwater, food sources, and winter recreation. With the rising temperatures each year, it appears that these sectors will continuously become damaged. According to a study by the International Olympic Committee, the change in weather has the ability to cause the ski season to “start up to a month later and finish up to three months earlier,” (Raffa 2023). To add, the bitter temperatures of winter allow crops to grow properly in the spring, however, the US Department of Agriculture believes that the decrease of cold weather in California, which is home to where 40% of fruits and nuts are grown in the US, could drop by 25% by the end of the 21st century. This can be correlated to increased food prices and the ultimate rise in food insecurity (Raffa 2023). Some may consider the climate crisis to be non-existant or dramatic in relation to our own personal timeline. However, as seasons come and go, it is hard to ignore this critical issue. It seems to be right in my face, right in everyone's face, all you have to do is pay attention to it.
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