Why is it Snowing so Much More this Year

By: Amital Sarna

As we’ve all seen this year, there’s been huge amounts of snow and two massive snowstorms. The question is: why? What has happened to the Earth to cause this uptick in snow recently? 

You might think that there would actually be less snow due to global warming, but this hasn’t been the case. 

Due to the warming atmosphere, there’s been more evaporation, which causes more rain and, in below-freezing weather, more snow. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, this “lays the foundation for more snow: When there’s more moisture in the air, that moisture can fall as snow when conditions are right, making snowstorms more intense.” 

According to Climate Central, almost two-thirds of places have seen snow decrease since the 1970s, while 36% of places have actually seen an increase. 

Also, since each warmer degree holds 4% more moisture, it makes it more likely to snow or rain, depending on the weather. 

The environmental news agency Allegheny Front explained how this dynamic happens: “In fact, it may seem like a paradox, but [Professor of Environmental Science Matt] Barlow said that scientists think the biggest winter storms — like the one that hit a large swath of the U.S. this past weekend — are becoming more intense due to climate change. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water, so that increases precipitation overall.”