Winter getting shorter in 80% of major US cities, new data shows

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Sara Braun in New YorkFebruary 27, 2026 at 08:18 PM

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long article 4 min

A recent study by Climate Central reveals that winters are shortening in 80% of major US cities. Analyzing data from 195 cities, researchers compared the period of 1970-1997 to 1998-2025, defining winter as the coldest 90 consecutive days. The study found that winter-defining temperatures are arriving later and ending earlier, resulting in an average decrease of nine winter days across the country. The Southeast, Northeast, upper Midwest, and South regions have experienced the most significant reduction in winter days, with Alaska seeing the largest decrease. Despite this trend, some areas, particularly along the California coast and in the Ohio Valley, have seen winters lengthen. This data coincides with a particularly harsh winter in the Northeast, highlighting that shorter winters do not eliminate the possibility of intense winter storms.

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Key Player Opposition Context

Ohio Valley 30% California 30% Anchorage 40% Rhode Island 40% Juneau 40% University of Massachusetts Lowell 40% New York 40% Alaska 50% Mathew Barlow 60% Donald Trump 60% Climate Central 70% United States ×490%

Keywords

shorter winter 100% climate change 90% winter temperatures 70% snow and ice 60% climate crisis 60% climate science 50% precipitation intensity 50% nor'easter blizzard 40%