This winter has been brutally cold, snowy and icy for millions of Americans — yet winters are getting shorter across most U.S. cities amid climate change.
- That's per a new analysis based on temperatures rather than calendar dates from Climate Central, a climate research group.
Driving the news: Compared to the 1970-1997 period, winters are now shorter in 80% of the 245 U.S. cities analyzed in the report.
- Among those 195 cities, winter lasts for nine fewer days on average.
How it works: Climate Central defined "winter" as the coldest 90 days of the year in a row during the 1970-1997 period, then compared the frequency of those temperatures during the 1998-2025 period.
- That temperature-based approach is different from the way seasons are traditionally defined by calendar dates.
What they're saying: "The temperatures that have historically defined winter are now starting later and/or ending earlier in most U.S. cities," Climate Central says.
By the numbers: Winter has shortened the most in Juneau (62 days) and Anchorage (49 days), "consistent with exceptionally rapid warming in Alaska and other high-latitude locations," per the report.
- Among continental U.S. cities, Miami's winters have shortened the most (38 days).
Yes, but: Temperature-defined winter has gotten longer in some places — particularly along the California coast.
- Eureka's winters are now 50 days longer, while those in Monterey are 46 days longer.
- Yet many communities out West are dealing with a significant snow drought this winter, with big implications for tourism and water supplies.
