For These 9 States, Winter Never Really Arrived

In the era of climate change, winter is the fastest warming season for much of the United States – and this past winter has been a clear demonstration of the trend. The meteorological winter begins on December 1st and ends on February 28th, and new data published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that temperatures over this most recent three-month period were well above average.

From December 2025 through February 2026, the average temperature across the continental U.S. was 37.1°F, the second-highest of any winter season since record keeping began in 1895, and 4.9°F warmer than a typical winter in the 20th century. Unseasonably high temperatures were even more common in certain parts of the country. Nine states, which collectively cover nearly 1.1 million square miles – or more than one-third of the total area of the Lower 48 – just had their warmest winter in history. 

Using data from NOAA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states where December 2025 through February 2026 now stands as the warmest winter since record keeping began in 1895. Supplemental data on average winter temperatures in the 20th century by state are also from NOAA. For each state on this list, we identified the number of counties that reported all-time high average winter temperatures this year, as well as the highest record-breaking temperature in these places. States are listed in alphabetical order. 

Among the states on this list, average temperatures between December 2025 and February 2026 range from 29.9°F to 53.1°F – and are anywhere from 5.5°F to 9.5°F warmer than the average winter temperature in the 20th century. These nine states are located across the South, Southwest, and West, and in each of them, multiple counties also reported record-breaking average temperatures this past winter. 

1. Arizona

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 49.3°F (7.0°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Arizona, 1901-2000: 42.3°F 
• Counties in Arizona reporting warmest winter on record: 15 of 15 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Arizona, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Yuma County
• Avg. winter temperature in Yuma County: 61.00°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (6.7°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

2. Colorado

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 33.6°F (8.1°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Colorado, 1901-2000: 25.5°F 
• Counties in Colorado reporting warmest winter on record: 49 of 64 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Colorado, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Baca County
• Avg. winter temperature in Baca County: 41.00°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (8.0°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

3. Nevada

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 39.3°F (7.6°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Nevada, 1901-2000: 31.7°F 
• Counties in Nevada reporting warmest winter on record: 13 of 17 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Nevada, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Clark County
• Avg. winter temperature in Clark County: 51.9°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (6.9°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

4. New Mexico

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 42.1°F (6.9°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in New Mexico, 1901-2000: 35.3°F 
• Counties in New Mexico reporting warmest winter on record: 31 of 33 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in New Mexico, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Luna County
• Avg. winter temperature in Luna County: 50.3°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (7.8°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

5. Oklahoma

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 44.4°F (5.5°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Oklahoma, 1901-2000: 38.9°F 
• Counties in Oklahoma reporting warmest winter on record: 36 of 77 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Oklahoma, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Harmon County
• Avg. winter temperature in Harmon County: 47.4°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (7.4°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

6. Oregon

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 38.7°F (6.6°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Oregon, 1901-2000: 32.1°F 
• Counties in Oregon reporting warmest winter on record: 4 of 36 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Oregon, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Morrow County
• Avg. winter temperature in Morrow County: 40.5°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (8.0°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

7. Texas

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 53.1°F (5.9°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Texas, 1901-2000: 47.3°F 
• Counties in Texas reporting warmest winter on record: 102 of 254 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Texas, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Comal County
• Avg. winter temperature in Comal County: 57.4°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (6.1°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

8. Utah

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 36.4°F (8.9°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Utah, 1901-2000: 27.6°F 
• Counties in Utah reporting warmest winter on record: 29 of 29 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Utah, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Washington County
• Avg. winter temperature in Washington County: 44.6°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (7.7°F warmer than 20th century avg.)

9. Wyoming

• Average temperature, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: 29.9°F (9.5°F warmer than 20th century avg.)
• Average winter temperature in Wyoming, 1901-2000: 20.4°F 
• Counties in Wyoming reporting warmest winter on record: 20 of 23 counties
• Warmest, record-breaking county in Wyoming, Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026: Laramie County
• Avg. winter temperature in Laramie County: 35.8°F Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026 (9.7°F warmer than 20th century avg.)