Climate change will make snowfall worse in some areas of the United States.

Question

"Experts predict climate change could actually make snow worse in some areas of the U.S. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. is seeing less snowfall than in the 1970s."

Answer 1

Hello! I found the video associated with this claim (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLTY5DbSEj8), and they --  an expert meteorologist and a news anchor --  discussed about how some people believe that the fact we have snow is reason enough to believe that climate change isn't real. After all, parts of Lake Erie were 60% warmer. However, a warmer atmosphere can hold more water, like how a warm cup of tea can hold more sugar than a cup of iced tea. Therefore, the cold air flowing above these warmer bodies of water can cause weird climate changes because climate change is not just global warming but also global weird weather patterns. Thus, I believe this claim to be true.

Comments

I agree with your analysis, I think it was smart to point out that having more snow is not an indication for climate change being real, and the reasoning behind it as that is a large aspect of the arguments of people denying climate change.

Answer 2

This is true that climate change can make snow worse in certain areas. According to the Environmental Defense Fund this is due to "Overall, a warming atmosphere means more evaporation from both land and sea, so there’s more moisture in the air" and "In areas that do get precipitation, they get more of it: more rain (and flooding) when temps are above freezing, and when temperatures (less frequently) drop below freezing, there’s a greater chance of snowstorms that break records." So overall, although the average amount of snow is decreasing in the united states, some places are getting more snow then ever due to climate change. 

https://www.edf.org/warming-world-why-so-much-snow 

Comments

This is a strong fact check, you used a reputable government source increasing the credibility of your fact check.

Answer 3

I’ve seen reports from credible sources that rising global temperatures can lead to more intense snowfall in certain places. This might sound confusing, but it happens because warmer air can hold more moisture, which can then fall as heavier snow when conditions are right. The original claim mentioned that some parts of the U.S. could see worse snowfall even though overall snowfall has decreased since the 1970s. According to this CBS News segment (https://www.cbsnews.com/video/how-climate-change-make-snowfall-worse-parts-us/, certain regions that are particularly around large bodies of water can experience “lake-effect” snowfall that becomes more intense as those bodies of water stay warmer. This doesn’t mean everywhere will get more snow. In fact, many parts of the U.S. are seeing less snowfall over time. But the changes in climate can shift where and when intense storms show up, creating these strange patterns that might look like worse snow in some areas.