• Andrew Freedman, author ofAxios Generate

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https://www.axios.com/2023/03/09/climate-change-warm-winters-us

Axios on emailhttps://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5o2IV/1/Reproduced fromClimate Central. Map: Axios Visuals

Average winter temperatures across the United States have increased by 3.2°F since 1970, according to an analysis from Climate Central, a nonpartisan research and communications group.

• By comparison, average summertemperatures have increasedby 2.3°F in that time.

Why it matters:Warm winters can exacerbate drought (because there’s less snowmelt in the spring), wreak havoc on crops and gardens, and spell disaster fortowns built around skiing, snowboarding, and similar pursuits.

The big picture:Winter is the fastest-warming season for much of the continental U.S.

• About 80% of the country now has at least seven more winter days with above-normal temperatures compared to 1970, per Climate Central.
• Seasonal snowfall is declining in many cities — although heavy snowstorms can still happen when…