Kelly Henderson, Climate Center Program Assistant, Washington, D.C.

By January 17th, most people are in the mindset to go skiing, snowboarding, tubing or some other fun winter activity. Typically, that’s because the Rockies, the Appalachian chain and most mountains in between are covered with thick layers of powdery snow ready for afternoons of winter fun. However, if you reside anywhere along the mid-Atlantic coast and if you’ve looked outside your window lately, you’ve probably noticed that there is no snow on the ground and temperatures have been unseasonably warm- 65 degrees in January? If that isn’t proof that global warming and climate change are truly becoming more than just a threat, then I don’t know what is.

This isn’t just happening on the mid-Atlantic coast, either. Currently, only 16% of the country is covered in snow, a mere third of the normal snow coverage throughout the country according to the National Weather Service. This national trend has caused snow and ski resorts all over the country to feel the negative effects on everything from their profits to their jobs. A recent Bloomberg article discusses specific hits that Vail Resorts, Inc. has taken since the beginning of the winter season. Shares there have fallen 15% since December 23rd and the lack of snow has not even allowed them to open their back bowls for the first time in 30 years.

A ski resort in New York without snow, www.nytimes.com

In Boone, North Carolina, a smaller town nestled in the high country of the Appalachian Mountains and home to Appalachian State University (ASU), residents are also feeling the pain of the snowless winter. ASU Professor Kristian Jackson, an avid back country skier, has yet to make one trip into the high country at this point in the season due to the lack of snow.

“This season we have not had enough snow even at the highest elevations here to ski. Even in “bad” snow years, I’ve had at least two days of back country [skiing] by now, but it hasn’t happened.”

The last two winters in Boone were snow-lovers’ dreams. According to Booneweather.com, the 2009-2010 season had 83″ fall in Boone and 134″ atop Beech Mountain Resort, a popular local ski mountain. In 2010-2011, 59″ fell in Boone and Beech Mountain had 136″. So far this season, Beech Mountain has only accumulated about 20″ and the Boone area has only had a total of 4.2″ of combined snow and ice making it virtually impossible for winter athletes like Alex Crowe to have any fun on the slopes. A student at Appalachian State University and avid snowboarder, Alex is one of the many winter sports enthusiasts who is feeling the pain of the warm temperatures this winter:

“I remember specifically that I was unable to go [snowboarding] a few times due to the short and unexpected spike in temperature which made conditions unfavorable for skiing or boarding. I hope that in the future we will receive at least cooler temperatures so that the manmade snow will not melt and give favorable conditions to skiers and boarders looking to enjoy a great day on the slopes!”

In Washington, D.C., NRDC has partnered with Protect Our Winters, a winter sports advocacy group that has set out to make it known that the winter sports industry will soon be nonexistent if climate change goes unchecked. My previous two blogs here and here discuss NRDC’s work with POW. Their goal is to convince lawmakers that not only does lack of snow prevent winter athletes from enjoying their favorite pastime, but it also is causing the entire winter sports industry to suffer from decreased sales, falling share prices and even lost jobs. Snowsport-related businesses –and their employees—across the country are losing money due to a severe lack of snow on mountains so far this ski season.

While it may be easy to sit back and say, “this is just one winter, next year there will be plenty of snow to ski on,” the reality is that with climate change and global warming, these extreme weather patterns are going to continue to become even more extreme. Maybe next year we will have another snowmageddon like 2010, but it is becoming ever more likely that it will be another warm, dry one.  If you are one of the thousands of Americans who like to ski, snowboard, snow tube or just enjoy making snowmen, then take the POW Pledge. This pledge is the key to making sure winter stays around for good because after all, who wants balmy 50 degree winter season with no snow when you could be tearing down fresh powder at your favorite slopes?