Is an abnormally warm winter a problem? Not really, experts say
Having lived next to Utah Lake for 10 years, I can’t recall a warmer November and December like we’ve seen thus far. It’s been mostly pleasant, but I gotta admit: Part of me misses the cold of winter.
As a result, there’s certainly none of this going on at the lake right now.
So is an unseasonably warm November and December a problem? Not really, experts say. At least in the short-term. “Whether it’s rain or snow, we can still capture it in our reservoirs,” says state conservationist Richard Bay in a comment published by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Bay’s remarks dispel the myth that if there’s not enough snow pack, there won’t be enough water in the summer. The good news is that precipitation so far this year is higher than average, even though the temperature has been too.
Of course, water levels are not the only thing weather affects. Hence, no one really knows how unseasonably warm winters affect our long-term climate.
But as for the short-term, there’s no immediate cause for alarm—other than the fact you won’t be able to build a snowman or bike across Utah Lake anytime soon.
That said, the weather has an uncanny reputation for changing within a minute’s notice. So anything can and likely will still happen.