In places like Chicago, Ill., and Minneapolis, Minn., the months of December, January, February – and sometimes even March – are often characterized by frigid temperatures and piles of dirt-spattered snow.
This year has been a little different. Sure, cold temperatures have stopped by. However, they don’t seem to be clinging like usual.
For example, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit all had warmer than typical temperatures Tuesday. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Monday marked day of “widespread all-time record-breaking warmth,” in the U.S.
It’s something that’s been happening all season. Earlier in the month, the NOAA said that record warm temperatures were recorded on the East Coast. According to Axios, this meteorological winter in Minneapolis is the warmest winter on record, with an average temperature close to 30 degrees from Dec. 1 through Feb. 25.
Those temperatures push it ahead of the 1877-78 season, also known as “the year without a winter.”
“This rise in temperatures is not isolated to any one part of the world,” said a report from Vox. “It’s happening everywhere, like in the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s summer, and in the Northern Hemisphere, where it’s winter. Even the oceans are at never-before-seen temperatures, which portends more danger for corals and could fuel more intense hurricanes and typhoons. As temperatures rise, ocean waters warm, providing fuel for storms. It’s a mix that makes hurricanes more intense and unpredictable.”
Data from the World Metrological Association indicates that 2023 was the warmest year on record, globally. So far this year, the Copernicus Climate Change Service has also determined that last month was the warmest January on record.
In the Windy City, temperatures were expected to hit a record high of 77 degrees Tuesday and then fall to more seasonably-familiar figures this week as thunderstorms roll in. Then, they’re expected to rise back up over the weekend.
“Temperatures across portions of the Northern Plains have plummeted nearly 50-60 degrees behind the front in a stark reminder that meteorological winter is still with us for two more days,” said the NOAA. A similar scenario will play out further south across the portions of the Southern Plains and Midwest today, as widespread record warmth (including some all time records) are forecast ahead of the front before falling off into the 40's and 50’s tomorrow.”
This year, the El Nino weather pattern has been impacting temperatures and other weather incidents. Another weather pattern, La Nina is soon expected to take over.