How is New England being impacted by climate change?
Part of New England’s charm is the distinct four seasons — a climate that includes crisp falls, snow-filled winters and temperate springs and summers. The climate has started to change however. Snow cover is decreasing and spring arrives earlier. And the number of extremely hot summer days has been increasing. According to a report from the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA) team, since 1970, the Northeast has been warming at a rate of nearly .5 degrees F. per decade with winter temperatures rising faster, at a rate of 1.3 degrees F per decade from 1970 to 2000, all changes consistent with those expected to be caused by global warming. New England has clearly warmed since the end of the 19th century, with winter temperatures increasing more than that of the summers, and with the greatest warming taking place in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island. Annual precipitation has increased, with southern New England up 25% over the last century. While more rain has fallen in int
