The bitter winter of Connecticut
Minara Helen: Following the vernal equinox on Friday (March 20), spring has officially arrived in the Northern Hemisphere. In the U.S. state of Connecticut, the bitter winter has now ended, making it time to review the past few months’ weather—and examine whether climate change played a role.
This winter proved especially harsh for Connecticut residents. Data from the Hartford area show that the average temperature dropped to 27.9°F, compared to 32.6°F last year—making it the coldest winter in the region since 2015.
Snowfall was also significantly higher. As of March 23, Hartford recorded 52.7 inches of snow, the highest since 2017. During the same period last year, snowfall totaled just 21.7 inches.
Dr. Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at the nonprofit Climate Central, said, “If it felt like a particularly cold winter, that perception is absolutely correct.”
In Connecticut, winters have been warming faster than spring, summer, or fall. Compared to 1970, average winter temperatures have risen by about 5°F. However, Dr. Dahl explained that climate change does not mean extreme cold will disappear entirely—though such intense cold spells and heavy snowfall events are expected to become less frequent over time.
This winter saw multiple surges of Arctic air sweeping into the region. Scientists suggest that unstable behavior in the jet stream may be responsible.
Climate change is believed to be making the jet stream more erratic, sometimes pulling frigid polar air southward, and at other times bringing unusual warmth. However, Dr. Dahl noted that this theory remains debated among scientists, with some hesitant to attribute it directly to long-term climate change.
While Connecticut and the East Coast experienced what felt like a “once-in-a-decade” winter, the western United States saw a stark contrast. Many western cities recorded unusually warm temperatures, with little to no winter-like conditions.
As global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, the flow of cold air from polar regions is becoming less consistently intense than it was in the early 20th century. At the same time, warmer air holds more moisture—meaning a few major storms can now produce above-average seasonal snowfall, as seen this winter.
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