It's already one of the coldest and snowiest starts to the winter season in parts of the Northeast, Midwest and Plains, and we haven't finished November yet.
According to the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) from the Midwest Regional Climate Center, 74 cities from New England to the Plains and Rockies have seen an extreme season-to-date of cold and snow as of Nov. 27.
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Cities categorized as having an extreme winter, so far, ranked in the 99th percentile of the index for Nov. 27.
A combination of persistent cold from the Northeast to the Plains and a pair of expansive winter storms, Avery and then Bruce, gave this winter season a fast start.
Solar cycle 24 was exceptionally weak and cycle 25 is shaping up to be similar. Some have predicted that, if the trend continues, Earth may experience a "mini ice age" soon due to increased cloud formation reflecting the warming light from the sun: https://astronomynow.com/2015/07/17/diminishing-solar-activity-may-bring-new-ice-age-by-2030/
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday November 29 2018, @11:36PM