In the old days, we got lots of snow ?

"Snows are 

less frequent 

and less deep

…. The rivers 

which then seldom 

failed to freeze over 

in the course 

of the winter, 

scearcely (sic) 

ever do now."

 Thomas Jefferson, 1801

"Every single winter, 

I walked many miles

to elementary school,

through two feet of snow, 

and uphill in both directions! "

        Ye Editor's 

       "childhood memories"

Most people believe 

we've had less snow 

and cold weather

in recent winters, 

compared to when 

they were young.

There is no doubt

snow and temperature

will vary a lot

from year to year.

Here in 

southeastern

Michigan, 

where we have

lived in the same

home since 1987,

and before that,

four miles south, 

from 1980 to 1987,

in an apartment,

this winter 

( 2019  /  2020 ) 

has been warmer

than usual, with 

less snow than usual.

Last winter 

( 2018  /  2019 )

was unusually cold,

but with less snow

than usual.

One year earlier 

( 2017  /  2018 ),

an unusual amount

of snow, but with 

average temperatures.

The Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change 

warned us in 2001 that 

“milder winter

temperatures 

will decrease 

heavy 

snowstorms.”

Dr. Kathryn Hayhoe 

confidently stated in 2008 

that the California region 

would experience a

70% to 90% reduction 

in snowfall due to 

global warming. 

Three years later, 

California had 

it's snowiest winter 

on record 

( 2010 / 2011 ).

"Warming by Recollection?” 

People from snowy climates

almost always seem to think

winters today are nothing 

like when they were a child. 

That "memory" 

reinforces their belief 

that we are experiencing 

global warming.

But if you study

the actual snow cover 

data, those memories 

are usually found 

to be wrong.

Why?

I have two ideas why:

(1)

When you are a child,

an eight inch snowfall 

is a lot, relative to

your height, and fun 

to play in, especially 

if school is cancelled !

(2)

You can remember 

an exceptional 

snow storm(s)

-- all other weather

is long forgotten.

Rutgers Global 

Snow Lab ( GSL ) data

show that snow cover 

both in North America 

has been increasing
in North America
(  winter months in chart below ) :

and in the Northern Hemisphere
( month of January in chart below ):