Il est facile de se demander de manière anecdotique si les hivers sont plus chauds, plus doux ou autrement affectés par le changement climatique, mais où aux États-Unis les chutes de neige annuelles ont-elles le plus changé ? Pour trouver des réponses, regardez les données. Dans un rapport de 2020 intitulé "The Case of the Shifting Snow", des chercheurs de l'organisation de communication sur le climat à but non lucratif Climate Central ont identifié comment les modèles de chutes de neige ont changé dans 143 villes américaines qui reçoivent des chutes de neige annuelles d'au moins 5 pouces.
À l'aide des données du système d'information climatique appliquée, ces chercheurs ont comparé les chutes de neige annuelles et saisonnières des villes sur deux décennies :1970 à 1979 et 2010 à 2019. Il a exclu toutes les villes pour lesquelles il manquait plus de deux ans de données au cours de ces deux décennies de l'année. et a exclu de l'analyse saisonnière toutes les villes qui manquaient de plus de 20 % de données pour n'importe quelle saison au cours de la période d'étude.
Dans cette histoire, Stacker met en évidence les changements de chutes de neige dans 100 de ces 143 villes, qui ont toutes une population supérieure à 15 000 (identifiée à l'aide des données du recensement de 2018). Les villes sont classées ici en fonction de leur variation en pourcentage des chutes de neige, de la ville qui a enregistré le plus de gains de neige au cours de cette période de 50 ans à la ville qui a enregistré le plus de pertes de neige. Celles-ci vont de villes absolument enneigées comme Buffalo et Utica à New York à des endroits du sud et du nord-ouest presque sans neige. Certaines de ces villes ont des économies qui dépendent assez explicitement des chutes de neige annuelles dans leurs régions :dans les stations de ski, les propriétaires d'entreprise se démènent pour compenser la différence de neige naturelle.
Laquelle de ces villes est la plus proche de vous ? Les emplacements avec d'énormes augmentations et diminutions peuvent vous surprendre. Dans l'ensemble, 37 villes de cette liste ont enregistré plus de chutes de neige dans les années 2010 que dans les années 1970, tandis que 62 villes ont enregistré davantage de chutes de neige dans les années 1970.
1 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 14,7 pouces (66,22 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 22,2 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 36,9 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :1,7 pouces
--- Hiver :12,9 pouces
--- Printemps :4,9 pouces
La ville de New York est entourée et traversée par différents plans d'eau, ce qui pourrait signifier que divers changements climatiques sont accentués par la neige à effet océanique et même la nucléation de la glace due au trafic aérien intense. Heureusement, la majeure partie du métro de New York est souterraine, mais le trafic de surface est bloqué par chaque grosse chute de neige et ralentit la ville.
2 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :12,74 pouces (51,04 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :24,96 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :37,7 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :2,3 pouces
--- Hiver :11,2 pouces
--- Printemps :4,3 pouces
L'une des histoires les plus célèbres de Newark, dans le New Jersey, implique le sénateur Cory Booker, autrefois maire, qui aimait aider les habitants de sa ville à pelleter la neige. C'était une action au pôle Nord que de nombreux électeurs ont adorée, mais beaucoup d'autres ont estimé qu'il s'agissait d'une inadéquation de la délégation de leur chef. Objectivement, le pelletage est le pire, donc une augmentation de plus de 12 pouces par an pourrait signifier un brillant avenir pour les politiciens épris de pelletage.
3 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 42,58 pouces (42,58 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 4,11 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 5,86 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,3 pouce
--- Hiver :1,1 pouce
--- Printemps :-1,5 pouce
Odessa, au Texas, est le célèbre décor de la version originale du livre et du film de "Friday Night Lights", où une infime quantité de chutes de neige annuelles a augmenté de plus de 40% depuis les années 1970. Pour les villes situées dans des zones où les chutes de neige sont rares, il suffit généralement d'immobiliser toute la zone sans le bon équipement, ni même un approvisionnement en sel ou en sable pour les routes.
4 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :10,65 pouces (38,45 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :27,7 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :38,35 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :1,8 cm
--- Hiver :16 cm
--- Printemps :11,8 cm
L'augmentation de près de 40 % des chutes de neige à Allentown, en Pennsylvanie, équivaut à plus de 10 pouces, ce qui est suffisant pour modifier la rapidité avec laquelle les voitures sont exposées au sel pendant et pour causer une usure supplémentaire des structures publiques. Heureusement, faisant partie de l'extrémité est bien peuplée de la Pennsylvanie, la ville est probablement prête à entreprendre le déneigement plus que d'autres endroits.
5 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :7,96 pouces (36,89 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :21,58 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :29,54 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,4 pouce
--- Hiver :6,3 pouces
--- Printemps :0,3 pouce
À deux pas d'Allentown, en Pennsylvanie, Philadelphie a globalement moins de chutes de neige et une augmentation légèrement inférieure d'une année à l'autre. Philadelphie est l'une des plus anciennes villes des États-Unis et a été la première capitale, et le tourisme joue un rôle important dans son économie. Espérons que le trafic de chaque écolier dans un rayon de 100 miles faisant un pèlerinage à la Liberty Bell suffira à compenser les pertes de revenus en hiver.
6 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :19,75 pouces (36,05 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 54,78 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 74,53 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :0,1 pouce
--- Hiver :25,6 pouces
--- Printemps :1,6 pouce
Youngstown, dans l'Ohio, de The Rust Belt, est peut-être mieux connu aujourd'hui comme l'homonyme d'un groupe de garçons de deuxième niveau dont les membres se sont nommés d'après leur ville natale. Youngstown n'est pas loin du lac Érié et a connu des chutes de neige assez élevées pendant longtemps, mais une augmentation de 36 % signifie près de 20 pouces de plus par an. C'est plus que suffisant pour gêner les gens ou même les piéger chez eux si suffisamment de chutes en même temps.
7 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 6,54 pouces (34,84 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 18,77 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 25,31 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,5 pouces
--- Hiver :5,8 pouces
--- Printemps :2,8 pouces
Wilmington, Delaware, est le lieu de naissance de l'actrice Aubrey Plaza, et malgré une réputation de crime, la ville est plus sûre que jamais. Un temps plus froid et plus neigeux peut arrêter le crime de la même manière que le temps chaud peut l'exacerber, alors peut-être que Wilmington ressent la fraîcheur de plus d'une façon. Le saut de près de 35% jusqu'à 25 pouces de chutes de neige annuelles est probablement augmenté par le côté côtier de la ville. Le Delaware a une côte est abritée qui est alimentée par l'océan Atlantique et par plusieurs rivières qui coulent près de Wilmington.
8 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :2,42 pouces (33,38 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :7,25 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :9,67 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :0 pouce
--- Hiver :-0,3 pouce
--- Printemps :-3,7 pouces
Norfolk, en Virginie, a été fondée près de la colonie originale de Jamestown au tout début des années 1600. C'est une autre ville entourée de plans d'eau qui peuvent créer un effet de neige, apportant des précipitations. En raison de son emplacement, Norfolk connaît une élévation du niveau de la mer et une augmentation des inondations, faisant même d'un petit changement dans la quantité de chutes de neige (plus de 33 %, soit près de 2,5 pouces localement) une grande nuisance.
9 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :10,9 pouces (31,34 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :34,78 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :45,68 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,5 pouces
--- Hiver :12,7 pouces
--- Printemps :1,7 pouces
Sioux Falls, dans le Dakota du Sud, est déjà une ville préparée pour l'hiver, avec des festivals locaux comme le Winterfest et le Sno Jam Comedy Festival. Mais une augmentation de 31% - jusqu'à près de 46 pouces - des chutes de neige annuelles est toujours un grand changement et obligerait la ville ou l'État à débourser plus d'argent pour les ressources. Heureusement, la mise en place de l'infrastructure signifie que ces coûts sont probablement minimes par rapport à certains des endroits les plus chauds et les plus secs de cette liste.
10 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 5,16 pouces (30,48 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 16,93 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 22,09 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,9 pouces
--- Hiver :4,2 pouces
--- Printemps :1,5 pouces
Avec une augmentation de plus de 30 % des chutes de neige, la côte de Baltimore connaît un resserrement du trafic lié à la neige encore plus important. Il a déjà les pires conducteurs du pays selon Allstate, et les habitudes locales de stationnement double et triple ne peuvent qu'être plus frustrantes dans la neige. Triple garez votre voiture et prenez le bus à la place.
11 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :14,28 pouces (25,16 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 56,76 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :71,04 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :1,7 pouces
--- Hiver :10,1 pouces
--- Printemps :2,5 pouces
À plus de 6 000 pieds au-dessus du niveau de la mer, Cheyenne, Wyoming, froide et clairsemée, est plus élevée que la Mile-High City de Denver. Ses chutes de neige annuelles ont augmenté de plus de 25 % - jusqu'à 71 pouces par an - ce qui pourrait être une aubaine pour les stations de ski et de snowboard environnantes, mais reste pénible dans une ville ordinaire où les gens vont travailler et vivent leur vie quotidienne.
12 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :7,89 pouces (22,59 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :34,92 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :42,81 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,6 pouces
--- Hiver :13,2 pouces
--- Printemps :-2,3 pouces
Waterloo, Iowa, est une petite ville au milieu de l'État qui est relativement enclavée et protégée des effets de l'eau sur la neige. Malgré tout, les chutes de neige ont augmenté de près de 23 %, passant d'un peu moins de 35 pouces dans les années 1970 à un peu moins de 43 pouces aujourd'hui. C'est beaucoup plus de neige à enlever.
13 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :12,23 pouces (22,48 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :54,41 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :66,64 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,8 pouces
--- Hiver :11,5 pouces
--- Printemps :4 pouces
Snowy Wausau, Wisconsin, a connu une augmentation de 22,5 % des chutes de neige annuelles, ce qui pourrait être une bonne chose pour le domaine skiable voisin de Granite Peak, mais c'est juste plus de neige pour les gens de la ville. Cela peut présenter un problème unique ou une opportunité. En février, le registre du crime local a rapporté que la police avait reçu un appel d'une femme ayant une dispute anodine avec le voisin de son frère qui "a ensuite pris une souffleuse à neige et a soufflé de la neige d'un fossé dans la cour du frère de l'appelant".
14 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,21 pouces (21,65 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :5,59 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :6,8 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-23 mm
--- Hiver :13 mm
--- Printemps :-13 mm
La capitale Little Rock, Arkansas, reçoit si peu de neige chaque année qu'une augmentation d'environ un pouce en fait l'une des bosses proportionnellement les plus importantes de la liste. D'un peu moins de 6 pouces dans les années 1970 à un peu moins de 7 pouces aujourd'hui, soit un changement d'un peu plus de 1 pouce, cela signifie près de 22 % de chutes de neige en plus.
15 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :7,1 pouces (21,02 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :33,77 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :40,87 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,7 pouces
--- Hiver :10 pouces
--- Printemps :0,7 pouces
Providence, Rhode Island, abrite un mélange éclectique de personnes côtières historiquement ouvrières, d'étudiants universitaires d'élite et d'une sélection sauvage d'artistes et d'interprètes. La proximité de la ville avec l'eau - en fait, la proximité de l'ensemble de l'État du Rhode Island avec l'eau - aggrave la neige en raison de l'effet océanique.
16 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :9,06 pouces (20,8 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 43,55 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :52,61 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-2,5 cm
--- Hiver :36,8 cm
--- Printemps :7,1 cm
L'augmentation des chutes de neige de près de 21 % à Boston représente 9 pouces de neige chaque année. Dans l'une des plus anciennes villes du pays, le réseau routier est déjà chaotique et ressemble plus aux villes de la côte Est les plus européennes qu'aux lignes droites nettes du reste des États-Unis. Au moins, le Big Dig est enfin terminé.
17 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :12,48 pouces (17,69 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :70,53 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :83,01 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :9,5 cm
--- Hiver :29,9 cm
--- Printemps :-3,8 cm
Bangor, dans le Maine, est célèbre comme l'un des nombreux décors privilégiés par la légende de l'horreur et star de Twitter Stephen King. Cette petite ville n'est pas sur la côte, mais fait partie du même groupe climatique qui laisse tomber des tonnes de neige sur les Maritimes du Canada. La neige de Bangor a augmenté de près de 18 %, mais en pouces locaux, c'est plus d'un pied chaque année.
18 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 16,02 pouces (16,02 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 42,76 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 49,61 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,7 pouces
--- Hiver :12,3 pouces
--- Printemps :2,9 pouces
Mansfield, Massachusetts a historiquement connu de fortes chutes de neige, suffisamment pour que les habitants de cette petite ville soient confrontés à une interdiction de stationnement de nuit dans le quartier des affaires du centre-ville de décembre à avril chaque année afin de garder les rues entièrement dégagées pour les chasse-neige. Mais la neige à Mansfield commence tôt et s'accumule plus qu'avant ces dernières années; en 2018, la première chute de neige de l'hiver a frappé avant Thanksgiving.
Remarque :ceci a été mis à jour pour refléter Mansfield, Massachusetts, une version originale faisant référence à Mansfield, Texas.
19 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :12,89 pouces (14,71 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :87,63 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :100,52 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,4 pouces
--- Hiver :26,3 pouces
--- Printemps :6,5 pouces
Comme son nom l'indique, Erie, en Pennsylvanie, se trouve sur la côte du lac Érié, dans le coin nord-ouest de l'État. Comme à proximité de Buffalo, New York, la neige à effet de lac tombe puissamment sur Érié chaque année, augmentant de près de 15% à plus de 100 pouces par an. C'est aussi haut que le plafond de la plupart des chambres et certainement assez pour couvrir toutes les portes d'entrée, sauf les plus surdimensionnées.
20 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :9,25 pouces (13,96 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :66,25 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :75,5 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :4,3 pouces
--- Hiver :11 pouces
--- Printemps :-3,9 pouces
Great Falls, Montana, a connu une augmentation des chutes de neige annuelles de près de 14 %. D'un peu plus de 66 pouces par an, la ville reçoit désormais plus de 75 pouces par an :suffisamment pour couvrir complètement une personne de 6 pieds 2 pouces avec un pouce complet à revendre.
21 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :5,98 pouces (13,67 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 43,75 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 49,73 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,1 pouce
--- Hiver :5,6 pouces
--- Printemps :-0,3 pouce
Le froid glacial de Bismarck, dans le Dakota du Nord, la capitale de l'État, a connu une augmentation de près de 14 % de son taux de chutes de neige annuelles. Cela signifie que la neige est passée d'un peu moins de 44 pouces à un peu moins de 50 pouces par an. À Bismarck, cela signifie probablement plus de jours où il fait plus chaud que par le passé, suffisamment chaud pour qu'il neige, ce qui est contre-intuitif.
22 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :3,5 pouces (13,34 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :26,23 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :29,73 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,6 pouces
--- Hiver :8,5 pouces
--- Printemps :2,1 pouces
Idaho Falls, Idaho, se situe entre les montagnes et l'étendue plus sèche du nord aride du Midwest, avec une quantité modérée de neige qui reflète cela. Les chutes de neige à Idaho Falls ont augmenté de plus de 13 %, passant d'un peu plus de 26 pouces à un peu moins de 30 pouces.
23 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :9,97 pouces (12,73 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :78,34 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :88,31 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,7 pouces
--- Hiver :4,7 pouces
--- Printemps :5,8 pouces
Duluth, Minnesota, reçoit une grande quantité de neige chaque année, et ce nombre n'a fait qu'augmenter, passant d'un peu plus de 78 pouces à un peu plus de 88 pouces aujourd'hui, ce qui se traduit par une augmentation globale d'un peu moins de 13 %. Comme dans d'autres endroits glacials, l'augmentation est probablement due au fait que la température a augmenté dans la bonne fourchette pour la neige plus de jours chaque hiver.
24 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,64 pouce (11,77 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :13,93 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :15,57 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,4 pouces
--- Hiver :-1 pouces
--- Printemps :2,3 pouces
Washington DC ne reçoit pas beaucoup de neige, mais rien de plus qu'un dribble à la fois peut être un gros problème dans une ville qui n'est pas habituée à la neige et qui est le siège de notre gouvernement fédéral. Comme il ne fait partie d'aucun état particulier, sa réponse à la neige est spécifiquement locale. La combinaison de certains des pires trafics aux États-Unis et de l'absence de représentation de district au Congrès est un double coup dur pour les futurs jours de neige.
25 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :4,81 pouces (10,79 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 44,56 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :49,37 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,6 pouces
--- Hiver :7 pouces
--- Printemps :-1,8 pouces
Pittsburgh possède un stade de sport professionnel de longue date qui porte bien son nom pour les trois rivières qui traversent la ville, qui est suffisamment proche des Grands Lacs pour recevoir près de 50 pouces de neige à effet de lac par an. Cela représente une augmentation de plus de 10 % depuis 1970. Pour une ville qui possède des ponts qui traversent les rivières et qui est l'un des meilleurs endroits pour faire du vélo, plus de neige ne peut que signifier plus de glace dangereuse et des conditions routières peu propices aux vélos.
26 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,16 pouce (10,65 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :10,89 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :12,05 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,3 pouces
--- Hiver :-2,4 pouces
--- Printemps :-1,4 pouces
L'ancienne capitale de la Confédération, Richmond, en Virginie, reçoit très peu de neige chaque année, au point qu'une augmentation d'un pouce signifie une augmentation de près de 11 %. En d'autres termes, les chutes de neige totales sont passées d'un peu moins de 11 pouces à plus de 12 pouces aujourd'hui.
27 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 4,33 pouces (9,51 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 45,55 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 49,88 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,3 pouces
--- Hiver :10,5 pouces
--- Printemps :-2 pouces
Detroit fait la une des journaux à la fois pour son dépeuplement dramatique depuis l'effondrement de son économie il y a des décennies, et pour les scènes artistiques et de démarrage dynamiques et revitalisantes qui tentent de ramener la ville. Mais avec des routes vides destinées à accueillir une population plusieurs fois plus importante, la ville est peinte dans un coin pour les ressources de déneigement. Même une légère augmentation des chutes de neige annuelles pourrait signifier de gros problèmes pour Motor City.
28 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 : 3,45 pouces (7,26 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 47,55 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 51 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :1,7 pouces
--- Hiver :6,8 pouces
--- Printemps :1,2 pouces
Hartford, dans le Connecticut, avait la réputation d'être l'une des villes les plus dangereuses d'Amérique, mais la criminalité en général et les meurtres en particulier ont chuté ces dernières années, donnant aux habitants l'espoir que la ville a franchi un cap. La quantité de chutes de neige a augmenté d'un peu plus de 7 % dans l'étude ACIS, passant d'un peu moins de 48 pouces à 51 pouces aujourd'hui.
29 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :4 pouces (7,09 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 56,43 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :60,43 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-3,4 pouces
--- Hiver :11,4 pouces
--- Printemps :2,5 pouces
Green Bay, dans le Wisconsin, a un climat froid mais un esprit chaleureux, avec une population de taille moyenne qui se rallie autour de sa propriété partagée des Packers de Green Bay de la Ligue nationale de football. Avec une augmentation de seulement 7 % des chutes de neige, Green Bay bascule doucement au-dessus du seuil de 60 pouces. Pour un groupe de personnes qui passent l'hiver sur les gradins, le changement est minime.
30 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :2,68 pouces (6,1 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 43,91 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 : 46,59 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-1,6 pouces
--- Hiver :5,3 pouces
--- Printemps :4,9 pouces
Essayez d'imaginer le film classique "Fargo" de Joel et Ethan Coen sans la neige omniprésente - la couverture physique et auditive est une si grande partie de l'atmosphère du film. En effet, les chutes de neige à Fargo, dans le Dakota, ont légèrement augmenté, passant d'un peu moins de 44 pouces par an à un peu moins de 47 pouces aujourd'hui. Soit une augmentation totale d'un peu plus de 6 %. On ne sait pas si cela signifie quelque chose pour le soldat mort.
31 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,17 pouces (5,66 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :20,68 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :21,85 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-2,7 pouces
--- Hiver :-1,5 pouces
--- Printemps :2,4 pouces
Les chutes de neige faibles à modérées à Harrisonburg, en Virginie, ont très peu changé au fil des décennies. D'un peu moins de 21 pouces par an dans les années 1970, ce nombre est passé à un peu moins de 22 pouces aujourd'hui, soit une augmentation légèrement inférieure à 6 %.
32 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,87 pouce (3,55 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 : 52,68 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :54,55 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-18 cm
--- Hiver :0,2 pouce
--- Printemps :0,1 pouce
Chutes de neige à Minneapolis-St. Paul, ou plus communément connue sous le nom de Twin Cities, est restée assez stable, avec une augmentation d'environ 3,5 % depuis les années 1970, soit moins de 2 pouces de neige chaque année. La différence entre 52 pouces et 54 pouces par an est minime, tout comme l'impact, mais les villes jumelles sont assez isolées des facteurs qui ont accéléré le changement dans d'autres régions.
33 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,7 pouces (2,47 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :68,75 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :70,45 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-4,5 pouces
--- Hiver :19 pouces
--- Printemps :-2 pouces
Anchorage, en Alaska, est de loin la plus grande ville de l'État, près de 10 fois plus grande que la deuxième plus grande ville de Fairbanks et 30 fois plus grande que Sitka, quatrième. En raison de son emplacement dans l'État, Anchorage est beaucoup plus doux que la moitié nord presque vide, voire les deux tiers, de l'État. Ses habitants vivent au quotidien plus comme les Minnesotans que les communautés principalement autochtones de l'Alaska ou même militaires plus au nord.
34 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :1,14 pouces (2,39 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :47,78 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :48,92 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :0,1 pouce
--- Hiver :11,6 pouces
--- Printemps :-3,9 pouces
Scenic Madison, Wisconsin, est entourée et entrecoupée de quatre lacs différents, mais ses chutes de neige annuelles sont restées presque les mêmes, avec une augmentation d'un peu plus de 2 %, ce qui représente environ 1 pouce de neige. C'est comme d'habitude dans la capitale de taille moyenne qui est la deuxième plus grande du Wisconsin, mais elle est toujours prête et émet des alertes d'urgence en cas de neige si nécessaire.
35 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :0,39 pouces (1,3 %)
- Chutes de neige moyennes annuelles, 1970-1979 :29,93 pouces
- Chutes de neige moyennes annuelles, 2010-2019 :30,32 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-0,4 pouces
--- Hiver :3,2 pouces
--- Printemps :-1,3 pouces
Les gens de Columbus, Ohio, plaisantent en disant que d'autres pensent qu'ils viennent de partout ailleurs dans l'Ohio, peut-être parce que plusieurs villes de l'État commencent par un "C". Columbus reçoit une quantité moyenne de neige qui a très peu changé, passant d'un peu moins de 30 pouces à un peu plus de 30 pouces, ce qui représente un changement à peine détectable d'un peu plus de 1 % au fil des décennies.
36 / 100
- Variation moyenne annuelle des chutes de neige, 1970-2010 :0,22 pouce (0,86 %)
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 1970-1979 :25,55 pouces
- Chute de neige moyenne annuelle, 2010-2019 :25,77 pouces
- Changements saisonniers :
--- Automne :-2,2 pouces
--- Hiver :-5,3 pouces
--- Printemps :-2,3 pouces
Annual snowfall in Lafayette, Indiana, hasn’t changed, staying almost completely still between 25.5 inches and 26 inches. That means the total change is less than 1%. Lafayette is very near the neighboring home of Purdue University, which is located in West Lafayette.
37 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:0.28 inches (0.62%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:45.43 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:45.71 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.5 inches
--- Winter:4.5 inches
--- Spring:2.1 inches
If people have heard of La Crosse, Wisconsin, it’s usually for winter sports since the area is home to great skiing and snowmobiling. Just 71 miles north of La Crosse, Eau Claire, is home to a branch of the University of Wisconsin higher education system. Both have experienced an almost negligible change in snowfall, from just below 45.5 inches to just above 45.5 inches. The total difference is just over 0.50%.
38 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:0 inches (0%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:14.99 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:14.99 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.8 inches
--- Winter:-2.8 inches
--- Spring:-1.9 inches
Asheville, North Carolina, has a special distinction as the only city on the ACIS list with a nonexistent difference down to the nearest hundredth of an inch, or a percent. Its snowfall has stayed steady at 14.99 inches per year.
39 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.01 inches (-0.08%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:12.53 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:12.52 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.5 inches
--- Winter:-3.6 inches
--- Spring:1 inches
Bowling Green, Kentucky, receives very little snow and has experienced very little change in annual accumulation, from about 12.5 inches to 12.5 inches again, with a tiny hundredth of a change that amounts to a fraction more than 0% change.
40 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.39 inches (-0.33%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:119.83 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:119.44 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.3 inches
--- Winter:15.1 inches
--- Spring:-3.3 inches
Utica, New York, is the unsung middle child to fellow snow-riddled Empire State cities Buffalo and Rochester. Utica’s annual snowfall hasn’t really changed, staying at exactly the extraordinary measurement where it began. That means nearly 120 inches annually in the 1970s and just a few tenths of an inch less today, for a total change of -0.33%.
Note:Utica and Syracuse share a National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) market and thus have identical snowfall data.
41 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.39 inches (-0.33%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:119.83 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:119.44 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.3 inches
--- Winter:15.1 inches
--- Spring:-3.3 inches
Like Utica, Syracuse, New York, experiences extraordinary snowfall that virtually hasn’t changed—from almost 120 inches to just over 119 inches per year, making a total change of less than 0.50%. That’s literally 10 feet of snowfall each year: a number that’s hard to even imagine if you haven’t experienced it.
Note:Utica and Syracuse share a NOAA market and thus have identical snowfall data.
42 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.13 inches (-0.36%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:36.5 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:36.37 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.3 inches
--- Winter:2.3 inches
--- Spring:-1.8 inches
Fort Wayne, in northern Indiana, receives a moderate amount of snow annually that has changed very little. In the 1970s, that number was 36.5 inches. Today, it’s about one-tenth of an inch less, meaning it’s changed -0.36%.
43 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.31 inches (-0.62%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:50.01 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:49.7 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.5 inches
--- Winter:4.3 inches
--- Spring:-2.5 inches
Canton, Ohio’s, medium snowfall hasn’t changed, going from 50 inches in the 1970s to just under 50 inches today. That’s a total reduction of just over 0.50%. Canton made news in the past decade for legalizing open consumption of alcohol, joining so-called “party cities” like New Orleans. The combination of high snowfall and outdoor consumption seems, well, like a super smart idea, of course.
44 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.55 inches (-0.95%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:57.96 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:57.41 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.2 inches
--- Winter:12.5 inches
--- Spring:-5.1 inches
Beleaguered Flint, Michigan, has big problems that have most recently included the poisonous local water supply, so in a sense, it’s a relief that its climate is basically the same with no bad news. The local snowfall has decreased from just under 58 inches to just over 57 inches, a change of just under 1%.
45 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.03 inches (-1.23%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:84.04 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:83.01 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:1.5 inches
--- Winter:0.5 inches
--- Spring:0.9 inches
Binghamton, New York, receives quite a bit of snow that has neither increased nor decreased annually. From almost exactly 84 inches to almost exactly 83 inches today is a total decrease of about 1%. In December 2019, Winter Storm Ezekiel dropped about a foot of snow on Binghamton and left residents digging out on their snow day.
46 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.43 inches (-1.38%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:31.12 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:30.69 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.1 inches
--- Winter:1.8 inches
--- Spring:-1.9 inches
Snowfall in Peoria hasn't changed much in the past 50 years; like in other parts of Illinois and neighboring midwest states, this city faces winter storms combining snow, wind, and freezing rain. One such storm in January 2019 set a record in the city, with 10.7 inches of snow recorded in a single day.
Note:this has been updated to reflect Peoria, Illinois, an original version referred to Peoria, Arizona.
47 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.24 inches (-1.62%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:76.56 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:75.32 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.5 inches
--- Winter:5.3 inches
--- Spring:-1.3 inches
Portland, Maine, is the largest city in the state, and a growing destination for food tourists seeking authentic lobster rolls and even lobster benedict. The climate is quite cold and snowy, but there’s been almost no change since the 1970s. With almost 77 inches of snowfall then and just over 75 inches now, the change is about 1.5%.
48 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.95 inches (-3%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:65.07 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:63.12 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-4.4 inches
--- Winter:11 inches
--- Spring:-8.8 inches
Billings, Montana, receives a large amount of snow because of its close proximity to the mountainous areas in the south and west of the state. That number, however, has fallen 3% from just over 65 inches to just over 63 inches annually. Billings has made the news in recent decades for its role in the fracking boom.
49 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.82 inches (-3.1%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:26.46 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:25.64 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.4 inches
--- Winter:3.7 inches
--- Spring:-1 inches
Mild and seasonal Cincinnati receives a low to moderate amount of snow that has not really changed. In the 1970s, the city received just over 26 inches, and in the 2010s, it received just under 26, making for a change of just more than 3%. And while Skyline Chili might sound like a winter food, it’s popular, especially with tourists, year-round.
50 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.57 inches (-3.59%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:15.86 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:15.29 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.8 inches
--- Winter:-4.9 inches
--- Spring:-0.9 inches
Lynchburg, Virginia, has dubious distinctions like being the only major Virginia city never captured by the Union army, and the current home of televangelist and archconservative Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. Lynchburg receives a small amount of snow that has decreased a bit, from just under 16 inches to just over 15 inches, representing a change of just under 4%.
51 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.81 inches (-3.88%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:72.47 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:69.66 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.7 inches
--- Winter:5 inches
--- Spring:1.2 inches
Like the rest of the far Northeast, Concord receives quite a bit of snow, and this number has barely changed at all since the 1970s. From more than 72 inches annually then, Concord now receives just under 70 inches, making the change just under 4%.
52 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.03 inches (-4.07%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:49.85 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:47.82 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.7 inches
--- Winter:15 inches
--- Spring:-7.5 inches
Struggling Saginaw, Michigan, has seen a declining population and has experienced high crime in the past decade. One thing that has hardly changed at all, however, is the snowfall, which has fallen 4% from about 50 inches to about 48 inches annually. This is partly because of Saginaw’s inland location that experiences less lake-effect weather.
53 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.69 inches (-4.43%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:38.12 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:36.43 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.3 inches
--- Winter:8.2 inches
--- Spring:-4.3 inches
Des Moines receives a moderate amount of snow that has decreased slightly throughout the years. With a change from just over 38 inches to just over 36 inches, that’s a change of just over 4%. The Des Moines Register released a list of words only Iowans know how to pronounce, including Des Moines (duh-moyn), which means “the monks” in French.
54 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-3 inches (-4.81%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:62.41 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:59.41 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-4 inches
--- Winter:-2.9 inches
--- Spring:-1.2 inches
Manchester, New Hampshire, is the home of fictional president Josiah Bartlet, whose insistence on folksy self-reliance despite his London School of Economics education is one of the interesting tensions on “The West Wing.” Manchester receives a fair amount of snow that has changed little, dropping just under 5% from about 62 inches to about 59 inches.
55 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.79 inches (-5.39%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:51.76 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:48.97 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.8 inches
--- Winter:3.9 inches
--- Spring:-4 inches
Missoula, Montana, receives quite a bit of snow, and that number has gone down a bit in recent decades. In the 1970s, Missoula received just under 52 inches of snow per year. Today, that number has fallen 5% to under 50 inches per year.
56 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.61 inches (-6.37%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:40.97 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:38.36 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.9 inches
--- Winter:4.3 inches
--- Spring:-4.3 inches
Snowfall in Rockford, Illinois, is somewhere between that of Chicago to the east and Champaign to the south, with little change since the 1970s. It has experienced just under 41 inches of snowfall per year then and just over 38 inches today. Regardless of snowfall measurements, Rockford loves a four-wheel-drive vehicle year-round, and the nearby Belvidere Assembly Plant has made various models of cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles throughout the years.
57 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-4.01 inches (-7.03%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:57.07 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:53.06 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.6 inches
--- Winter:3.5 inches
--- Spring:0.3 inches
Cleveland’s place in northern Ohio puts it closer to the lake-effect weather experienced by other Great Lakes cities in the Midwest and Northeast. That means its snowfall has gone from 57 inches in the 1970s to just over 53 inches today, for a decrease of 7%.
58 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.44 inches (-8.45%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:28.87 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:26.43 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.5 inches
--- Winter:-2 inches
--- Spring:0.7 inches
Indianapolis’ low to moderate annual snowfall has decreased since the 1970s. From just under 29 inches then, the number has fallen about 8.5% to just over 26 inches. Indianapolis is very, very flat and spread out, meaning it’s probably still easy to get around on wide streets even during a relatively heavy snowfall.
59 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-7.85 inches (-8.46%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:92.8 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:84.95 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.4 inches
--- Winter:1.9 inches
--- Spring:-1 inches
Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Emily Post Institute are both based in Burlington, Vermont, a college town with about 40,000 residents that’s nonetheless the largest city in the state. Its plentiful annual snowfall has dropped just over 8%, from almost 93 inches to just under 85 inches. It’s not a big change, but Burlington is surrounded by ski and snowboard resorts, and is even home to the global headquarters for Burton Snowboards.
60 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-3.76 inches (-9.16%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:41.05 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:37.29 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1 inches
--- Winter:2.1 inches
--- Spring:-1.2 inches
The famous home of Cpl. Max Klinger and Casey’s Mud Hens receives a moderate amount of snow that’s gone down more than 9% since the 1970s. That’s a difference from 41 inches to 37 inches, which could mean starting spring training a few days earlier.
61 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-10.08 inches (-9.38%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:107.42 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:97.34 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:1.6 inches
--- Winter:-3.7 inches
--- Spring:-0.3 inches
Rochester, New York, is nationally famous for its wild photos of 20-foot snowdrifts and the largest numbers on the snowfall map. Now, Rochester is facing the fact that its regularly huge annual snowfall has dropped below 100 inches per year. The number has dropped to just over 9%, from more than 107 inches in the 1970s to just over 97 inches now.
62 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-4.58 inches (-9.39%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:48.76 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:44.18 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.2 inches
--- Winter:7.1 inches
--- Spring:-7.8 inches
Dubuque, Iowa, is a midsize boomtown of sorts, just over the Mississippi River from the tiny, longtime home of Ulysses S. Grant in far northwestern Illinois. The snowfall there has declined from a plentiful 49 inches per year to just over 44 inches, representing a whole reduction of just over 9%. With colleges, new businesses, and a rapidly growing economy, Dubuque is unlikely to notice.
63 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.78 inches (-10.34%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:17.21 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:15.43 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.1 inches
--- Winter:0.5 inches
--- Spring:-2.4 inches
Situated in northern Texas, Amarillo’s climate is more like cities in nearby Arkansas than the bulk of Texas cities below it. The total yearly snowfall of more than 17 inches in the 1970s, has dropped 10% to about 15.5 inches. It’s not much of a change, and likely is being replaced by rainfall on slightly warmer winter days.
64 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.68 inches (-10.88%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:6.25 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:5.57 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0 inches
--- Winter:-2 inches
--- Spring:0.8 inches
The tiny annual snowfall in Jonesboro, Arkansas, has gone down nearly 11%, from just over 6 inches to just over 5.5 inches. The city, and Arkansas in general, is a big draw for outdoorsy tourism like fishing and camping, and a fraction of an inch less snow per year isn’t likely to make any difference.
65 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-0.89 inches (-13.09%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:6.8 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:5.91 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.3 inches
--- Winter:-0.4 inches
--- Spring:-2.7 inches
North Carolina’s research triangle receives almost no snow, and that tiny number has gone down quite a bit, relatively speaking. In the 1970s, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, received just under 7 inches. Today, that number has fallen to just under 6 inches, for a total percentage change of more than 13%.
66 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-7.51 inches (-15.04%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:49.92 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:42.41 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.7 inches
--- Winter:0.8 inches
--- Spring:1.2 inches
Spokane, Washington, is in the far eastern part of the state, about as far from Seattle as you can get. Instead of a wet and mild climate, the eastern part of Washington includes the Selkirk Mountains and the start of the Rocky Mountains, giving it a colder and snowier version, relatively speaking. Spokane’s snowfall has decreased 15%, from nearly 50 inches per year in the 1970s to just over 42 inches.
67 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-3.08 inches (-15.22%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:20.23 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:17.15 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-4.9 inches
--- Winter:-3.8 inches
--- Spring:-3.9 inches
Roanoke, Virginia, not to be confused with the Roanoke Colony down the coast in North Carolina, has experienced less snowfall from the little bit it received in the 1970s. The amount fell 15% from just over 20 inches to 17 inches. Both Roanoke and the colony share proximity to the Roanoke River, and the city is home to several corporate headquarters and large employers that keep the economy humming.
68 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-3.2 inches (-15.57%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:20.55 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:17.35 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.4 inches
--- Winter:0.8 inches
--- Spring:-1.5 inches
Idaho’s capital of Boise receives little snow, falling from just under 21 inches annually to just over 17 inches, for a change of 16%. The city of Boise is vibrant with entertainment and culture, but surrounding potato farmers might be worried since potatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures and swinging temperatures in general, and their growing area is on the move due to climate change.
69 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-11.51 inches (-16.46%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:69.91 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:58.4 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-6 inches
--- Winter:-10.9 inches
--- Spring:-1.9 inches
The capital of New York has a pretty large amount of annual snowfall compared to anywhere but the state’s own Buffalo. Since the 1970s, Albany’s snowfall has dropped about 16.5% from nearly 70 inches to just under 59 inches. It’s likely making up for it with unseasonably warm days and rainfall instead of snow, which can be wild and icy when the temperature dips.
70 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-9.92 inches (-17.6%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:56.35 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:46.43 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.2 inches
--- Winter:1.8 inches
--- Spring:-4 inches
Lakefront Milwaukee has experienced a dramatic and surprising nearly 18% drop in snowfall, from over 56 inches per year in the 1970s to just over 46 inches. The largest city in Wisconsin has a diverse economy and population that’s changed considerably since the city’s peak in 1960, and today there’s a broad mix of activities, businesses, and attractions that will keep it going through any reduction in winter fun.
71 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-16.29 inches (-17.79%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:91.57 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:75.28 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-6.8 inches
--- Winter:-0.2 inches
--- Spring:-18.7 inches
Small, mountainous Casper, Wyoming, is the second-largest city in the state with approximately 55,000 residents. The annual snowfall has declined nearly 18%, from almost 92 inches per year to just over 75 inches. Casper has a built-out selection of local historical and outdoor attractions that mean this change in snowfall isn’t likely to make or break the tourism industry, but the climate is so arid otherwise that a loss in precipitation could be a big deal.
72 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-6.53 inches (-19.44%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:33.59 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:27.06 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.8 inches
--- Winter:-3 inches
--- Spring:-1.8 inches
Dayton is another of Ohio’s surprisingly large number of thriving medium-sized cities, with a unique footprint of the aerospace industry, research, and a major military base. There’s a medium amount of snowfall but it’s reduced nearly 20%, from just under 34 inches to just over 27 inches. That likely means there are more rainy days during the wintertime, which can cause flooding and icing when the cold returns.
73 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-21.97 inches (-19.8%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:110.98 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:89.01 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-3.9 inches
--- Winter:-1.6 inches
--- Spring:0.6 inches
For many, Buffalo, New York, has been the unofficial capital of extreme snowfall, mentioned on the news and shown in dramatic photos of entirely covered houses. In fact, it’s because of Buffalo’s extremely high annual snowfall that a nearly 20% decline is so dramatic, meaning the total has fallen from nearly 111 inches per year to 89 inches.
74 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.96 inches (-20.37%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:9.62 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:7.66 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.3 inches
--- Winter:-1.9 inches
--- Spring:-1.5 inches
Writer John Paul Brammer was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has mentioned the appeal of the midsize city’s low housing costs and plentiful public bathrooms. Extremely low snowfall numbers can be added to that list of potential benefits. Tulsa’s snowfall has dropped even further since the 1970s, from nearly 10 inches to 8 inches, representing a decrease of more than 20%. The drying up of precipitation is no joke, though:Oklahoma was the epicenter of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.
75 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-19.93 inches (-21.73%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:91.7 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:71.77 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-4.5 inches
--- Winter:-7.2 inches
--- Spring:-8.8 inches
Mid-size South Bend, Indiana, has been under a microscope for months because of the presidential candidacy of former mayor Pete Buttigieg, but it’s been in the national public imagination for many decades because of the University of Notre Dame. Northern Indiana has very few geographical features, meaning a change of nearly 22%, from 92 inches to 72 inches of snowfall each year, is notable but not life-changing.
76 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-6.71 inches (-22.69%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:29.57 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:22.86 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-3.5 inches
--- Winter:-5.2 inches
--- Spring:-1.4 inches
Just a few hours south of Chicago, the university town Champaign, Illinois, receives a lot less snow than the Windy City, and has experienced a very similar drop in snowfall of nearly 23%. The drop from almost 30 inches down to about 23 likely makes little day-to-day difference in a spacious, scenic little city with mostly wide, clear roads between it and neighboring Urbana, Illinois.
77 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-25.36 inches (-22.95%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:110.49 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:85.13 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-13.1 inches
--- Winter:3.9 inches
--- Spring:-33.7 inches
Arizona’s climate is largely considered to be hot and dry, and while that’s true for part of the state, Flagstaff, Arizona, has some of the largest annual snowfall numbers of anywhere in the entire United States. Flagstaff is nearly 7,000-feet-above sea level, just 10 minutes from Arizona’s highest mountain, and 75 miles south of Grand Canyon National Park. A reduction in snowfall of nearly 23% might hurt some specific kinds of tourism, but Flagstaff is a year-round magnet for the outdoorsy.
78 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-8.75 inches (-23.03%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:38 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:29.25 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.5 inches
--- Winter:-9.9 inches
--- Spring:0.2 inches
Clarksburg-Weston, West Virginia, is a tiny paired city whose economy has shifted from manufacturing and coal to technology and criminal justice. This Appalachian enclave has seen a drop of just over 23% in its annual snowfall, from 38 inches down to just over 29 inches. In the big picture, there is concern about climate, of course—but in the small picture, it’s nice to be able to safely get in and out of even the hilliest driveway.
79 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-12.96 inches (-23.3%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:55.62 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:42.66 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.7 inches
--- Winter:-3.7 inches
--- Spring:-6.7 inches
Chicago’s famous winter of 1979 was so bad that the newly appointed mayor became a single-termer after residents thought he’d bungled the blizzard response. Now, the city’s snowfall has slowed more than 23% to just under 43 inches annually, which is a 13-inch drop from the 1970s number. Indeed, the winters are warmer, rainier, and with far more extreme temperature swings from day to day.
80 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.08 inches (-23.8%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:8.74 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:6.66 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.1 inches
--- Winter:-0.3 inches
--- Spring:-0.6 inches
While accumulation may be unusual, Seattle’s overall amount of snowfall has gone down nearly 24% from almost 9 inches to 6.5 inches. Indeed, it seems to be making up the difference with rainstorms on unseasonably warm winter days. Forbes’ weather columnist Marshall Shepherd, who holds a doctorate in physical meteorology, explained the ocean and Puget Sound contribute to Seattle’s very mild winters compared with other cities at similar latitudes.
81 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-8.54 inches (-25.1%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:34.02 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:25.48 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-4.6 inches
--- Winter:1.4 inches
--- Spring:-4.4 inches
Temperate and wind-swept Omaha, Nebraska, received more than 34 inches of snow in the 1970s but that has dropped to about 25.5 inches today, meaning a total drop of 25%. Nebraska relies on major agricultural business for its economy, and changes in precipitation, even in the wintertime, represent a trend that worries a state so dedicated to growing corn that members of its university’s sports teams are known as Cornhuskers.
82 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-17.67 inches (-27.18%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:65.01 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:47.34 inches
- Seasonal changes:Data not available
Denver’s location within Colorado means it’s actually an hour-plus drive to many famed ski locales. But the Mile-High City’s annual snowfall reduction by more than 27% is emblematic of what’s happening to the state as a whole, and its residents are organizing to slow the effect climate change has on the state’s snowpack—and its huge snow sports economy.
83 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-7.04 inches (-27.71%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:25.41 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:18.37 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.1 inches
--- Winter:-5.1 inches
--- Spring:-3.1 inches
While Kansas is often referred to as a flyover state, its capital city of Topeka has an eventful history, is seeking talented professionals to live there, and is offering incentives to do it. From a climate standpoint, the city receives a medium amount of snow that’s dropped into more of a low zone, going from more than 25 inches annually in the 1970s to just over 18 inches today, for a total percentage change of 28%.
84 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-11.44 inches (-29.56%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:38.7 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:27.26 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.1 inches
--- Winter:-10.9 inches
--- Spring:-1.2 inches
Charleston, West Virginia, is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, and the state gets enough cold weather and snow each year to support several ski resorts that cater to travelers from nearby Washington D.C. Losing nearly 30% of its annual snowfall is bad news for these places, but for people in Charleston, it might just mean an easier drive to work every day.
85 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-8.56 inches (-30.38%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:28.18 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:19.62 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-2.1 inches
--- Winter:0.1 inches
--- Spring:-3.4 inches
The idea that Reno, Nevada, receives nearly 20 inches of snow a year, down from more than 28 inches in the 1970s, might seem like a huge surprise—but remember that the city is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, just miles from Lake Tahoe. Indeed, for the local economies that rely on snowy tourism dollars, the dramatic reduction in snowfall has huge implications.
86 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-7.82 inches (-30.96%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:25.26 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:17.44 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.5 inches
--- Winter:-5.9 inches
--- Spring:-3.7 inches
Yakima, Washington, is named for the Yakama Nation, a native tribe that now lives on a reservation to the south and west of the city. It’s drier than other parts of the state because of its position relative to nearby mountains, which creates something called a rain shadow. But Yakima’s heavier snowfall is also related to the nearby mountains, and it’s dropped nearly 31%, from 25 inches per year to 17.5 inches today.
87 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-20.2 inches (-30.98%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:65.2 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:45 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.2 inches
--- Winter:-0.1 inches
--- Spring:-12.1 inches
Snowfall in working-class Lansing, Michigan, has dropped from more than 65 inches in the 1970s to 45 inches today, representing a drop of 31%. Central Michigan is an area where almost everyone drives, and more than 40,000 students crowd into East Lansing each year to attend Michigan State University. Less snow means less cold, but with muddy, rainy milder days instead.
88 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-14.58 inches (-31.06%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:46.94 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:32.36 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-6.4 inches
--- Winter:-2.2 inches
--- Spring:-11.9 inches
Any reduction in snow in Colorado has a direct impact on the state’s enormous tourist and winter sports industries. For Colorado Springs, Colorado, the effects could be less, because the city is two hours or more from even the closest ski resort. While the city receives an annual snowfall of 32 inches now compared to the 47 inches it averaged annually in the 1970s, the nearest ski town of Eldora receives an astonishing 118 inches.
89 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-8.29 inches (-31.56%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:26.27 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:17.98 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1.9 inches
--- Winter:-6.4 inches
--- Spring:-2.5 inches
Snowfall in St. Louis has decreased more than 31% from 26 inches to just under 18 inches. In cities like St. Louis that are middling between cold and warm, the warming and more fluctuating climate likely means more fluke warm days when it can rain instead of snow, and overall warmer winters marked by big swings of colder or warmer temperatures from day to day.
90 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-3.93 inches (-32.78%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:11.99 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:8.06 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-3.2 inches
--- Winter:-3.8 inches
--- Spring:-0.9 inches
Although the temperatures in Fayetteville, Arkansas don't dip below freezing often, snow is piling up in this city more now than in the past century. In the winter of 2019-2020, this city was one of the first southern cities to see snow, getting that winter weather before December even began.
Note:this has been updated to reflect Fayetteville, Arkansas, an original version referred to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
91 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.06 inches (-33.07%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:6.23 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:4.17 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.7 inches
--- Winter:-3 inches
--- Spring:0.1 inches
Wichita Falls, Texas, is very near a large and economy-boosting military base, with a dry and warm climate ideal for the constant stream of air traffic from the Air Force trainees. Even so, the already low average snowfall has decreased from 6 inches to just over 4 inches, meaning a change of more than 33%.
92 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-1.99 inches (-34.13%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:5.83 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:3.84 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.3 inches
--- Winter:-2.5 inches
--- Spring:-1.1 inches
Abilene, Texas, is a city that’s thriving partly because of an associated Air Force base that is the city’s largest employer. Texas band and one-hit wonder Fastball has a song named after neighboring Sweetwater, Texas, located just 41 miles west of Abilene. The area receives just under 4 inches of annual snowfall today, down from 6 inches in the 1970s, for a drop of more than 34%.
93 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-10.35 inches (-35.07%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:29.51 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:19.16 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-3.8 inches
--- Winter:-8.3 inches
--- Spring:-3.9 inches
Columbia, Missouri, is home to the University of Missouri and has a climate that changes drastically with the seasons, from very hot summers to frigid winters. The local annual snowfall has dropped more than 35%, from 30 inches to 19 inches. This type of climate means more rain during the winter on days that used to be cold enough for snow.
94 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.77 inches (-38.53%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:7.19 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:4.42 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0 inches
--- Winter:-1.5 inches
--- Spring:-2.2 inches
The Charlotte Hornets has been majority owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan since 2010. The city is the largest in North Carolina and the 16th largest in the United States. Charlotte is warm and has very little snow—a number that started low and has only gotten lower. Beginning at 7 inches, the annual snowfall has decreased almost 39% to 4.5 inches per year.
95 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.91 inches (-39.54%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:7.36 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:4.45 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.1 inches
--- Winter:-2 inches
--- Spring:-0.3 inches
Jackson, Tennessee, is a small city with a superstar-grade fiber-optic network, a handful of local colleges and universities, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Jackson’s annual snowfall of just over 7 inches in the 1970s has fallen to 4.5 inches today, for a total drop of almost 40%.
96 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-4.76 inches (-41.57%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:11.45 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:6.69 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-3.6 inches
--- Winter:-3.8 inches
--- Spring:-1.5 inches
In the far north of Texas, Lubbock has that same slightly more temperate Oklahoma weather and a low annual snowfall as a result. The annual snow has dropped precipitously, from 11.5 inches in the 1970s to just under 7 inches, a decrease of nearly 42%.
97 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-8.13 inches (-41.99%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:19.36 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:11.23 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.9 inches
--- Winter:-4.2 inches
--- Spring:-4.2 inches
Evansville, Indiana, is a small city with very little snow relative to the rest of the surrounding Midwest. That number has fallen dramatically, however, from just under 20 inches in the 1970s to 11 inches today. The total decrease of annual average snowfall for the city is 42%, one of the largest declines on the list.
98 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-6.93 inches (-50.29%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:13.78 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:6.85 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-0.3 inches
--- Winter:-3.3 inches
--- Spring:-4 inches
Much of New Mexico is covered by mountains and temperate forests. The reduction of annual snowfall by more than 50%—from nearly 14 inches of snow to just under 7 inches—could hit these landscapes hard, especially when the rest of the state is so dry. This could be a related phenomenon to the rise in drought conditions in the west, too.
99 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-2.97 inches (-51.83%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:5.73 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:2.76 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:-1 inches
--- Winter:-4.1 inches
--- Spring:-2.8 inches
In El Paso, Texas, winter has almost dried up completely for its residents— from nearly 6 inches of annual snow to just under 3 inches. This means rare snow days are even rarer, representing the same shift that’s dragging the climate up and increasing extreme weather around the world. The gentle snowfall will likely be replaced with more common local storms and tornadoes.
100 / 100
- Annual average change in snowfall, 1970s–2010s:-6.78 inches (-52.07%)
- Annual average snowfall, 1970–1979:13.02 inches
- Annual average snowfall, 2010–2019:6.24 inches
- Seasonal changes:
--- Fall:0.3 inches
--- Winter:-8.6 inches
--- Spring:-3.5 inches
Knoxville, Tennessee, has the dubious distinction of having the most dramatic reduction in snowfall on the ACIS list, with a drop of more than 52%, from 13 inches in the 1970s to 6 inches annually today. Day to day, having less snow might seem nice and certainly be convenient, but it represents a gradual decline in regional climate that will have a ripple effect on what grows and what survives.
