A strong winter storm brought heavy snow to portions of the Western region on Monday, while temperatures in the central U.S. were unusually warm. In Wisconsin, individuals were seen playing golf and in Iowa, people were able to take pleasant walks with their dogs as some flowers began to bloom. However, gusty winds in multiple states also increased the threat of wildfires.

What was the reason for it taking place?

Three things explained the weird weather in much of the U.S.

The powerful gusts of wind form a barrier that traps warm air rising from the south, while cold air descends from the north. The jet stream is constantly changing its position. Lately, it has been located far north, causing warmer than usual temperatures in the typically icy Upper Midwest.

According to Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, the current orientation is not typical of winter weather.

In the study of meteorology, it is extremely difficult to directly link a specific event to a particular cause. An example of this is how global warming impacts the location of the jet stream.

However, human activities that emit heat-trapping gases, such as carbon dioxide, are contributing to the phenomenon of climate change, resulting in higher than average global temperatures. In January 2024, the first month of the year set a new record for being the warmest, surpassing the previous record set in 2020, according to the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The average temperature in January was 2.74 degrees Fahrenheit higher than levels before the Industrial Revolution.

Another factor that comes into play is a meteorological phenomenon known as El Niño, which can result in the jet stream being positioned further north than usual.

Cities located on the East Coast, such as Washington and New York, can anticipate above average temperatures by the middle of the week.

The warmer than usual weather is spreading to the southern regions, potentially bringing temperatures in the 80s and 90s. In Dallas-Fort Worth, temperatures are expected to reach at least the low 90s, which could set a new daily record.

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The previous version of this article incorrectly stated that El Niño carries warm air from the Gulf of Mexico towards the north.

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Source: wral.com