Winter Is Getting Hot
According to Climate Central, winter temperatures are rising more quickly than in the balance of the year’s seasons. This means shorter periods when the US is very cold, lower home heating prices, and faster snow melting than before. That, in turn, damages the revenue of businesses that rely on cold weather and snowfall.
*Cold Weather Challenges
Climate Central reports, “Winters have warmed in 235 U.S. locations from 1970 to 2024 — by 4°F on average.” It adds that the coldest days are not as cold. The measurement period starts December 1.
The cost to heat a home in the US in the winter varies by type of energy source. Natural gas costs about $1,000. The cost of electricity is about $1,500. Propane costs about $2,100, and oil over $2,600. The other major variable, of course, is where a home is located. All these futures are higher in the northern tier of states.
Tourism Money
EcoWest reports that US winter sports and tourism revenue is about $12 billion. Several winter sports areas have gone bankrupt in the last two years.
Finally, there is human health. The CDC estimates that 17,000 Americans have died from the cold since 1979, based on death certificates. Since the cause of death may not be accurate, those figures could be higher.
As winter gets warmer, the side effects seem mostly positive.
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