Winter weather enthusiasts across the central and eastern United States didn't have much time to enjoy extended periods of cold and snowy conditions amid a season that brought record warmth and little snow.
According to the Midwest Climate Center's AWSSI Winter Index, which takes into account temperatures and snowfall, Fargo, North Dakota; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Mason City, Iowa, is among the cities with the mildest winters ever.
Since January 22, temperatures in Fargo, North Dakota, have averaged 20.8 degrees Fahrenheit above the historical normal.
Statewide, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont saw their highest average winter temperatures so far this season, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet. New York, Maine and Washington occupy second place in the seasonal rankings.
In Minneapolis, there were 12 days this winter with the temperature above 50 degrees, Setting a new record. On the other hand, in the “ice box” in International Falls, Minnesota, only 13 days passed below zero this winter, far from the winter of 2011-2012, which came second with 28 days.
The Great Lakes were a testament to an abnormally mild winter in the Midwest, as the amount of ice on the lakes reached a record low, with only 0.05% of Lake Erie covered in ice.
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The lack of ice on the Great Lakes and other lakes and ponds throughout the region has been detrimental to people who regularly go winter ice fishing or engage in other outdoor winter sports. However, widespread warm spells have helped reduce heating bills for residents across the region.
Unusually mild winter and early spring weather have also fallen into the Carolinas. Some cities in North Carolina haven't seen measurable snowfall in nearly two years, and a streak of snow-free snow has begun 750 days ago in Greensboro And 752 days ago in Charlotte.
The National Event Science Network's Daily Spring Leaf Anomaly Index shows that parts of the Carolinas and Tennessee saw their first spring leaves 10 to 20 days earlier than the historical average.
Expectations call for more of the same. The weather will be more like May than February across the central United States in the coming days, with temperatures approaching record highs across the region, culminating in record temperatures from Texas to Minnesota on Monday.
Although the cold air and snow aren't over for the upper Midwest season, AccuWeather's lead meteorologist Paul Pastelok says a warm spring is in the offing for much of the Northeast quadrant of the country.
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