This Is Not Your Grandparents’ Winter: The New Face of Wisconsin’s Climate

By Dean Muller, President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice 

If you grew up in Wisconsin, you likely remember a specific kind of winter: a steady, reliable blanket of snow that arrived in November and didn’t retreat until the March thaw. You remember backyard rinks that stayed frozen for months and the predictable, dry "snap" of a January cold spell.

But take a moment to look out the window today. If you feel like the seasons have lost their rhythm, you aren’t imagining it. This is not your grandparents’ winter.

The Era of "Weather Whiplash"

Over the last decade, Wisconsin has traded its predictable seasons for what scientists call "weather whiplash." We now experience extreme, record-breaking cold followed immediately by weeks of moderate, spring-like temperatures. We see a blizzard dump a foot of snow, only for it to be washed away forty-eight hours later by a heavy rainstorm.

This volatility isn't limited to the winter months. Our summers swing between oppressive, dangerous heatwaves and periods of intense drought, punctuated by "100-year" floods that now seem to occur every few seasons. Perhaps most jarring of all is the timing: we are now seeing tornadoes in months like December and February—events that were once virtually unheard of in the Badger State.

Science: Why Is This Happening?

It can be tempting to dismiss these events as "just the weather," but the statistical data tells a different story. The frequency and intensity of these extremes have ramped up significantly over the last few decades.

The primary engine behind this change is the staggering amount of carbon dioxide we have released into the atmosphere. This excess acts like a heat-trapping blanket around the planet. As the oceans warm and global climate patterns shift, the "normal" tracks that storms used to follow are being pushed off course, leading to the erratic behavior we see in our own backyards.

Understanding the "Polar Vortex" Breakdown

One of the most confusing parts of modern Wisconsin winters is the "Polar Vortex." We often hear the term when temperatures plunge, but few understand why it happens more often now that the Earth is warming.

Think of the Polar Vortex as a spinning top of cold air sitting over the North Pole. It is held in place by a "fence" of high-speed winds called the Jet Stream.

• In the past: The temperature difference between the cold Arctic and the warm tropics was huge, which kept that Jet Stream "fence" tight and firm, trapping the cold air up north.

• Today: The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. As the North warms, the temperature difference between the North and the South shrinks. The Jet Stream "fence" becomes weak and "wavy “like a loose garden hose.

When the fence sags, a big loop of that freezing Arctic air spills down into Wisconsin. This is why we can have a record-breaking cold snap even while the planet as a whole is seeing its warmest years on record.

The High Cost of Chaos

This isn't just a matter of changing our wardrobes or shoveling more often; it is a fiscal and public health crisis.

Our infrastructure, our roads, bridges, and sewer systems, were designed for the climate of fifty years ago. The constant cycle of freezing and thawing creates massive potholes and cracks in our water mains. Suddenly, heavy rains overwhelm municipal drainage systems that weren't built for "tropical" downpours, leading to costly property damage and skyrocketing insurance premiums.

Furthermore, environmental stressors impact our health. Warmer, wetter winters contribute to more mold and allergens, while summer heatwaves and smoke from distant wildfires (fueled by drought) degrade the air quality that Wisconsin families breathe.

Time for Recognition

Because these changes have happened over decades, it is easy to normalize them. But we must pause and recognize that the "new normal" is an unstable state.

By acknowledging that our climate has shifted, we can begin the necessary conversations about public policy, fiscal responsibility, and the urgent need to protect the Wisconsin we love for future generations. It’s time to stop waiting for the old winters to return and start preparing for the reality of the ones we have now.

More Information: w4ej.org