Nisha Wetter: Minne-SNOW-ta? How climate change affects the North Star State
Anyone who grows up in Minnesota has memories of snowflakes swirling outside their windows as they wake up to discover school’s been canceled. Many times my elementary self struggled to lift the dense sticky snowball for the abdomen of my snowman, heaving with all my might. Snow pants, boots, a coat, hat, and gloves were all needed for recess, and mountains of snow lined the edges of driveways and parking lots.
However, the Minnesota children of recent years aren’t experiencing the same climate as a decade ago. Instead, the amount of snowfall is decreasing. With the effects of climate change becoming more tangible, Minnesota winters, along with businesses that depend on snow and cooler weather, are forced to take on a new shape.
Amidst a rather snowless winter in Rochester, it can seem pleasant not having the hassle of scraping ice off a car in the morning, or fearing every step across icy grounds anytime we venture outside. The National Weather Service reported that the snow depth for the 2024-2025 season in Rochester was below average, being 4.3 inches lower than the long-term average of 5.1 inches .
Warmer weather compliments this trend of less snow, and data from the past 40 years evidence that. From 1981 to 2021, the average daily minimum temperatures (for December through February) increased by 7.3 degrees in northern Minnesota and 4.9 degrees in southern Minnesota , according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
We’re heating up, and not for the better. Businesses centered around snowy activities understand that this lack of precipitation can be devastating.
From ski resorts to snow removal companies, snowshoeing to winter festivals, Minnesota has an abundance of seasonal activities. However, decreased levels of snow have left many searching for new ways to bring in an income. Across the state in the 2023-2024 winter, the leisure and hospitality industry lost over 13,000 jobs from October to January. This same winter was deemed “The Lost Winter of 2023-24” by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources .
With fewer clients needing snow removal, not enough snow to groom cross country or snowmobile trails, and no weather for winter festivals, companies attract fewer customers and therefore bring in less income. Consequently, fewer staff are needed and individuals looking to support themselves or their families must scrounge for jobs elsewhere .
In addition to the negative economic impacts, the people who partake in these traditional tourist attractions are deprived of those experiences. I remember watching the classic winter movie “Grumpy Old Men” (filmed in Wabasha in 1993) over winter break and thinking how much I’d love to have even half the amount of snow that was being shown through my TV screen.
A Minnesota winter without snow isn’t a true Minnesota winter, it’s just freezing cold gusts of wind without any picturesque landscapes.
This information should be concerning. But, instead of concerning people to a point of comfortable ignorance, I’d greatly encourage everyone to stay informed on local and global climate issues. The nationally recognized Earth Day should not be a brief acknowledgment that we’ve continued to move in the wrong direction. Earth Day should be a sustained lifestyle.
Minnesota winters will only become more sparse if we sit by and watch. The systems of our society make it convenient to ignore and perpetuate the climate crisis. Even so, individuals can make a difference in these systems via the people they elect to office. Research candidates who have an agenda for climate change and stay conscious about sustainable habits. Reduce consumption, take public transportation, carpool, bike, or walk to places when possible.
These tiny habits, paired with widespread change in systems, can help save the beloved snow of Minnesota winters.
Nisha Wetter is a senior at Century High School. Send comments on teen columns to Jeff Pieters, jpieters@postbulletin.com .