"Record Warmth: US Winter Disappears, Spring Arrives Early"

The winter of 2023-2024 was the warmest on record in the United States, with temperatures averaging 5.4 degrees above normal. This was attributed to long-term warming and El Nino, resulting in an absence of winter in many parts of the country. The warm winter has led to early spring leaves, mosquito bites in February, and record low ice cover in the Great Lakes. Climate change and Arctic Amplification are contributing to the trend of warmer winters, impacting ecosystems, pest seasons, and migration patterns for birds.