Climate Matters: Shorter and rarer cold snaps in a changing climate

Late winter has brought waves of extreme cold and record-low temperatures to the United States while the rest of the world is reaching unprecedented heat ceilings. This may become a familiar picture as cold snaps are getting rarer and shorter in a changing climate.

Climate trends show that the United States, like much of the globe, is warming and losing the worst of its winter chill.

In Columbia, cold snaps have already shrunk by almost two weeks in the last half-century. Climate Central analyzed the longest cold streaks out of the year over recorded history, showing dramatic decreases in their duration and frequency.

Cold snaps will not disappear entirely, some may even become more intense, but they will also increasingly occur out of season. Spring is arriving earlier, forcing premature seasonal changes that could be interrupted by an erratic cold snap.

An early spring means earlier planting, as farmers try to capitalize on an extended season for growing crops. But planting too early can be a hazard if a cold snap strikes in March or April. Wild plantlife is also at risk as trees may rise out of dormancy early just to be caught off guard by a freeze.

Shorter winters also cut into snow totals and associated runoff, with big implications for recreation for things like snowboarding. The environment also feels a strain from less available water from snowmelt.

Through February 2025, much of the northern United States has seen below-average snowfall and subsequent low river levels in the Missouri River Basin. A recent transition to spring warmth may hurt further snow chances this season but temperatures may trend near or below average in these regions in the coming months.