Now that it is the New Year, it should be cold outside. At the start of 2024, there was an uproar over a big snowstorm that came and went, and more to come. But what about last December? There was barely any snow and if it did snow, it just melted immediately.

Director of communications Chris Rosenblum spoke on the topic prior to knowing about all the storms.

“Based on what I read and understand, climate change is real,” Rosenblum said. “I think it is affecting the winter weather patterns. I think it’s no accident that Washington D.C is in one of its longest snow droughts in recent history. Philadelphia is in a big snow drought too. I would expect to see some changes in our weather.”

 I definitely agreed with him. Rosenblum also said with the unique area of State College, the weather is unpredictable. There has been so cold weather in past winters, while this winter has been noticeably warmer. Freshman James Morgan touched on this.

“Even though I prefer warm weather, I do agree that it’s been a bit too warm for the wintertime. Although it’s been a little weird not having any substantial amounts of snow yet, I have a feeling that a storm is on its way.” Morgan said 

Morgan also mentioned something that I thought was a little surprising about what next winter may entail.

“Next winter, I predict that the weather will be mild like this year, or there will be lots of snow, maybe even Blizzard of ’93 amounts? I could see it going either way,” Morgan said.

I think it could swing in one of two directions. Like the first half being so mild, warmer and no snow, or like the second half has started being very snowy and cold. 

This winter has been quite strange with the first half being warmer weather for a winter in Central Pennsylvania and no snow. While this second half might be completely different being cold and very snowy. But not as snowy as north or south of us due to where we live in Central PA. Although next winter may be very unpredictable to all.