Weather
Industry News
Winters across the United States aren’t disappearing, but they are changing, and one of the clearest signals is a steady decline in freezing days. A recent analysis by USA Today found that all but two of the 250 cities across the country that were analyzed have lost time below 32°F over the past 70 years, with the average drop coming in at about 19 fewer freezing days per year.
That shift effectively compresses the season. On average, freezing conditions now arrive about 11 days later in the fall and end roughly 26 days earlier in the spring. In some places, like Mono County, California, that adds up to nearly a month (30 days) less of true winter than in the mid-20th century.
For skiing and snowboarding, freezing days are a key piece of the puzzle. They influence when snow falls, how well it sticks, and how long it lasts. With fewer of them, conditions can become more variable from year to year. Some winters still deliver, but others lean warmer or more inconsistent.
On the mountain, that can look like:
- A higher chance of mixed precipitation events
- Shorter windows for early- and late-season operations
- Greater dependence on snowmaking when temperatures allow
- More fluctuation in snow quality over the course of a season
Even regions known for cold winters are seeing changes. Minnesota has lost around 16 freezing days on average, while parts of Colorado have lost about two weeks. Alongside that, the coldest days of the year have also trended warmer, which can influence snowpack and surface conditions. Some scientists project winter recreation seasons around the country will be cut by half by 2050.
Beyond skiing, fewer freezing days can ripple into other areas:
- Water resources: Snowpack, a key source of stored water in the West, can be affected by how long temperatures stay below freezing
- Winter recreation: Activities like ice fishing or pond hockey depend on consistent cold stretches
- Seasonal timing: Industries such as maple syrup production rely on specific freeze-thaw patterns
It’s important to note that winter weather still varies widely year to year due to natural patterns. Strong snow seasons will continue to happen. But over longer timeframes, the gradual reduction in freezing days is becoming a noticeable trend. For skiers and riders, it doesn’t mean winter is gone—it just means it may not always look or behave the way it once did.
