Lucy Wallace, a recent transplant from San Diego, had been forewarned about the bone-chilling winters of her new hometown, Minneapolis. Taking the advice to heart, she invested in a $900 winter coat, two pairs of boots, and even metal spikes for her running shoes to navigate the icy sidewalks. However, she found herself both bewildered and relieved when she experienced record-breaking warm temperatures during the winter holiday week, resulting in a rare snowless season in much of the upper Midwest.
“I spent a fortune on a new wardrobe and winter gear that I haven’t even used yet,” exclaimed Ms. Wallace, 35, who happily ran five miles on Christmas Day wearing nothing but a T-shirt. “Here I am, dressed for San Diego in December, in Minneapolis.”
According to the National Weather Service, the Minneapolis area experienced its warmest Christmas Day on record, with temperatures reaching a high of 54 degrees. Across the region, people found themselves facing days that felt more like a mild autumn rather than the usual winter chill. This unexpected warmth posed challenges for activities such as ice fishing, as lakes were covered by thin ice caps, making it dangerous for enthusiasts.
The unusual weather also disrupted traditional holiday plans. Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, expressed her sympathy on Threads, a local online platform, for Minnesota families who rely on using their porches as extra freezers during Christmas entertaining when temperatures are nearly 50 degrees outside.
While warm or snowless Christmases are not entirely unprecedented in Minnesota, climate change is likely to make such occurrences increasingly common, according to Jessica Hellmann, director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Hellmann explained that experiencing 50-degree weather in December can be disorienting and serves as a tangible reminder of the impact of climate change on people accustomed to living in a specific climate.
In northern Minnesota, emergency personnel have issued warnings for people to stay off lakes due to the unusually thin layer of ice. Recent incidents, such as a Cessna plane breaking through the ice on Upper Red Lake and a 67-year-old man found dead after his ATV cracked through thin ice in Becker County, highlight the dangers posed by the warm weather.
Ted Bonde, president of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Fishing Association, expressed frustration at the delayed start of ice-fishing competitions in the state. Winter anglers eagerly wait for the cold weather to set in, but with the current warm temperatures, their plans have been put on hold. Mr. Bonde believes that once the weather changes, there will be a rush to partake in winter sports and activities.
Milwaukee is also experiencing an exceptionally warm December, with seven days recording temperatures above 50 degrees so far this month. If this trend continues, it will be the city’s warmest December and warmest year on record. The lack of snow and unseasonably warm weather is disappointing for winter sports enthusiasts like Cameron Miller, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Milwaukee, who laments the abysmal conditions for cross-country skiing.
While the warm weather has its perks, such as extended playground visits and easier running conditions, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey acknowledges the unsettling feeling of experiencing a snowless Christmas in a city known for its wintry landscapes. Mr. Frey, who prioritizes combating climate change, points out that any enjoyment of the warmth is overshadowed by concerns about the future.
The unseasonable warmth is expected to shift eastward, with temperatures climbing above normal across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions. Mild temperatures are also forecasted for the East Coast, with the Mid-Atlantic reaching the 50s and the Carolinas seeing temperatures in the 60s.
While scientists hesitate to attribute a single weather event to climate change, there is no denying that winters in the United States have become milder in recent years. As a result of this year’s unusually warm winter, the Minnesota Ice Festival, which features a massive maze of ice and snow, had to be canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Despite the disappointment, there is one silver lining to this peculiar winter. Mayor Frey jokes about the lack of complaints usually received about snow plowing, thanks to the minimal snowfall. The city’s plow drivers have been efficient and effective, utilizing a new strategy that has clearly paid off.
As the effects of climate change continue to reshape weather patterns, communities in the upper Midwest, like Minneapolis, are left grappling with the disconcerting realities of warmer winters and uncertain futures.
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