As we embrace the arrival of spring, a noticeable trend is emerging – cities are heating up. The warming trend during this season is becoming more prevalent, with an increasing number of cities experiencing temperatures higher than normal. Since the 1970s, four out of every five cities have encountered at least an extra week of warmer-than-usual weather.
Data analyzed by Climate Central from 241 cities nationwide reveals that spring temperatures have risen by an average of 2.4 degrees in 234 of them since the 1970s, representing a staggering 97% increase. Notably, in 71 cities, spring temperatures have surged by 3 degrees or more.
The cities that have experienced the most significant warming are predominantly located in the South, including Reno, Nevada (6.8 degrees), El Paso, Texas (6.4 degrees), Las Vegas, Nevada (6.1 degrees), Tucson, Arizona (5.8 degrees), and Albany, Georgia (5.3 degrees). The southern region, particularly the Southwest, has witnessed the most substantial warming during spring, with an average of 19 days warmer than usual in recent seasons.
However, this warming trend is not limited to spring alone. The United States is witnessing warmer seasons across the board, a phenomenon attributed to global warming induced by heat-trapping greenhouse gases.
Implications of Early Spring Warming:
1. **Worsening Wildfire Season**: Early spring warming can exacerbate wildfire risk by extending the wildfire season. Studies by Climate Central indicate that fire weather conditions have become more prolonged and severe nationwide since 1973, with spring emerging as the fastest-growing fire weather season in almost every region, especially in the Southwest and West.
2. **Diminishing Snowpack**: The elongation of spring encroaches on winter conditions, leading to reduced snow accumulation. Below-average temperatures often result in diminished mountain snowpack, which serves as a crucial water source for Western rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers, ultimately straining water supplies and triggering drought conditions. Moreover, early snowmelt, attributed to warmer springs, can negatively impact hydropower generation, agriculture, and drinking water resources, as highlighted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
3. **Prolonged Seasonal Allergies**: An early onset of spring can prolong the growing season for plants, increasing the release of allergy-triggering pollen. Research by the National Phenology Network indicates that the early blooming of springtime flora in the southern and central U.S. exacerbates allergic reactions for a significant portion of the population, including one-quarter of adults and one-in-five children in the U.S., according to the CDC.
4. **Increase in Disease-Carrying Pest Population**: Warmer winters and extended shoulder seasons provide optimal conditions for the proliferation of disease-carrying pests like ticks and mosquitoes. These insects pose a threat to both humans and pets, with a longer
