For the entire Northern Hemisphere, there is evidence
of an increase in both storm frequency and intensity
during the cold
season since 1950,1 with storm tracks having shifted slightly towards the poles.2, 3 Extremely
heavy snowstorms increased in number
during the last century in northern and eastern parts
of the United States, but have been less frequent since 2000.11,15 Total seasonal snowfall has generally decreased in southern and some western areas, 16 increased in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes region, 16,17 and not
changed in other areas, such as the Sierra Nevada, although snow is melting earlier in the year and more precipitation is falling as rain versus snow.18 Very snowy winters have generally been decreasing in frequency in most regions over the last 10 to 20 years, although the Northeast has been seeing a normal number
of such winters.19
Heavier - than - normal snowfalls recently observed in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. in some years, with little snow in other years, are consistent with indications
of increased blocking (a large scale pressure pattern with little or no movement)
of the wintertime circulation
of the Northern Hemisphere.5 However, conclusions about trends in blocking have been found to depend on the method
of analysis, 6 so the assessment and attribution
of trends in blocking remains an active research area.
A reduced snow cover extent in the mountainous West
changes the peak river flow, as does timing
of increases in
heavy and extreme precipitation reported in the United States, which is best reflected
during the warm
season.