Go Green: Go Green Don’t Let the Cold Weather Fool You

By Tom Last

With New York City and a large portion of the east coast being hit by a huge winter storm with record snowfalls and below normal temperatures, not too many people are thinking about climate change here in the eastern United States. However, climate change continues to have drastic effects in the U.S. and abroad.

In the U.S. alone, it has been a tale of two countries with 40% of the nation experiencing drought. Skiing conditions in places like Colorado and Utah faced well-below-average snowpack in January and early February. Washington had a wet winter with significant rainfall, leading to below average snowpack. Overall, the western U.S. ski season was a challenging one, with many areas struggling to meet expectations. An article in the Wall Street Journal (“Why Winter in the U.S. is Crazy This Year”; Churchill Carl; Gulla, Gretchen; Feb 15, 2026) adds – “The West recorded its lowest snow cover on record for the month of January since satellites began tracking that in 2001.”

A recent article in the Washington Post (“Scientists Thought They Understood Global Warming”; Muyskens, John; Osaka, Shannon, Feb 11, 2026) talks about “Even as the United States languishes under a frigid cold snap, the rest of the world is still experiencing unusually warm temperatures.” Parts of Greenland saw temperatures in January more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average and areas in Australia have been experiencing temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit amid a record heat wave.

Back in the U.S., in Boulder, Colorado, golf courses are open, ice fishing is canceled, ski runs are closed, and foothills trails have been humming with hikers in shorts. (Washing Post; “A Balmy Western Winter Leaves Many at a Loss”: Brulliard, Karin, Partlow, Joshua: Feb 11, 2026). The lack of snow in the west, particularly in the Rocky Mountains, is likely to mean less water for millions of people who depend on runoff into the Colorado River come springtime and the greater wildfire danger in the summer. The results of these conditions will significantly affect the economy of the tourism and resorts industries, in the western states.

Although recent heavy snowfall in places like Utah has helped deepen their snowpack depth, this will not resolve the overall drought in the west. The snow drought caused by climate change is a persistent pattern with snow cover and snow depth at their lowest levels in decades and the western parts of the U.S. are facing megadrought. Unfortunately, weather models are predicting less snow and higher temperatures in the future.

Climate change is a serious threat to our existence. Even though we may experience cooler than normal temperatures at times, overall, the Earth is heating up. Here are some things you can do to fight climate change and drought conditions:

• Support affected communities and touch base with relatives and friends living in drought areas.
• Learn how to conserve water, even if your area is not currently experiencing a drought.
• Buy less goods, learn to reuse, refurbish, recycle and conserve all types of energy.
• Stay informed about climate change by reading daily papers (from multiple sources), books, and discussing the issue with family and friends.

Let’s work together to save the planet for future generations.

Go Green Rockaway!