This is part of a series called “Extreme Living: Climate Disruption Stories,” where we share stories from Moms members about family life in an age of extremes. Read stories about wildfire smoke here and about flooding here.
I live in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, a not-all-that-snowy place. The last time I recall a big snow—about two feet of white stuff on the ground—was in January 2016. My daughter was 11 months old, and we were stuck at home alone, both with terrible head colds, while my husband was stranded in San Francisco, unable to catch a flight home after a business trip. It was honestly all pretty miserable. The saving grace was several generous neighbors and their adorable children all bundled in snowsuits. They checked up on us, dug out our car (not that we were going anywhere!), and entertained us for hours, shoveling, sledding, and playing outside the front window.
My child, of course, doesn’t remember that blizzard, and she’s barely seen snow since. Her birthday is in early February, and miracle of miracles, we usually get a nice dusting around then every year. But all her snow angels and sledding adventures have happened in, say, three to five inches of snow, and many years, we haven’t seen any real accumulation at all. What a bummer for her.
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She is not the only child growing up this way. So many of us are experiencing snow grief, the sadness we feel over loss of snow caused by global warming. Here are a few stories we’ve collected from grieving Moms members in places that once were much snowier—and more reliant on snow—than my town.
Ali Simpson, New York
“I live in Westchester County with my wife and two sons. When our neighbors welcomed us to the neighborhood, they said to brace for the winter and the amount of snow our town gets—they’ve lived here for over 30 years and explained that our town, which sits north of a major highway, is the ‘snow zone.’
“But it snowed just twice in our first winter here—our neighbors simply couldn’t believe it. We were excited to take our older son skiing for the first time that year, but the mountain near us barely had any snow days—the live shots of the ski area showed huge patches of dirt where snow usually is.”
Elizabeth Hauptman, Michigan
“Coping with the unpredictable whims of Michigan’s winters has become a daunting task for us. My son, an avid skier, found his winter excursions severely limited last year thanks to erratic weather patterns. And the lake didn’t freeze, a stark contrast from last year’s scant few weeks of ice. It’s a worrying sign for the delicate balance of our local ecosystem. We are concerned about the well-being of fish, amphibians, birds, and other wildlife.
“Then last spring, we saw unseasonably warm temperatures that led to premature budding of fruit trees, followed by unexpected snowfall later in the week. The oscillation in weather patterns is unsettling, disrupting not only our daily lives but also the natural rhythms of the local environment.”
Jayne Black, Wisconsin
“Growing up in Wisconsin, I can remember winter meant it was going to be cold with lots of snow. If you have watched the classic holiday film Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer—that was winter. Now, having enough snow to make snowmen all winter is rare, and smaller inland lakes are struggling to freeze. Even lakes in the northern part of the state have only some ice that is not thick enough for people to enjoy ice fishing and ice skating.
“Without snow, springtime snowmelt cannot provide critical water sources to fill reservoirs, irrigate crops, and meet peak water demand during the summer. Our good friends who tap trees for maple syrup said trees were ready in January, much earlier than in other years. This warming affects our way of life and alters agriculture, economy, and health.”
Shaina Oliver, Colorado
“Growing up along the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, I remember as a kid we used to see the mountain snowcaps stay white all year. It’s no longer that way. Heavy snow does not come like it did when my parents were kids. Snowshoes and rainboots are not really needed anymore, since global warming has changed the weather pattern here. And the ski and tourism industries are feeling the brunt of it.”
Celerah Hewes, New Mexico
“I was born in New Mexico, and when I decided to have a family, this is where I wanted to raise children. Our mountains, blue skies, and amazing food were something I wanted to pass down to future generations. But I fear that the place I call home will not be the same for my child, given the impacts of climate change. Last winter, we barely had any snow, which means less snowmelt to keep our beautiful scenery alive through the hot summers. It also means that crops, like our famous green chiles, are suffering as well.”
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We have seen a few flurries already this winter here in Virginia. But I won’t be surprised if that’s all we get over the next few months. Of course, like all the kids (and parents) in these stories, my daughter will keep wishing for snow days all winter long.
Learn more about Moms’ work on extreme weather.
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