Boulder springs are heating up
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Boulder springs are heating up, but at a significantly lower rate than the national average, a new analysis finds.
Why it matters: Warming springs can elevate drought conditions because they lead to snow melting sooner, leaving less water during summer months and beyond, University of Colorado associate professor Pedro DiNezio says.
- Early snowmelt can imperil summer water resources and heighten wildfire risks, while rising temperatures can also worsen allergies.
By the numbers: Nonprofit climate research and communications organization Climate Central examined 55 years of U.S. temperature data for 241 cities and found the meteorological spring of March through May has warmed by a national average of 2.4°F.
Yes, but: Metro Boulder's 1.4-degree increase over the study's span is much lower than the national average.
The latest: Data from the National Center for Atmospheric Research's Mesa Lab in Boulder recorded only two instances in the past month when temperatures approached freezing.
- The lab also recorded multiple days with high temperatures in the high 60s to mid-70s, with temperatures reaching 80 on April 13.
- The historical average for highs in the second half of April has hovered in the low-60s, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The big picture: Scientists and local politicians have expressed concern that these types of climate change studies won't be possible as the Trump administration looks to cut funding and staffing to labs like NOAA.
The bottom line: Climate change remains a hot topic for Boulder residents as peak fire season approaches, especially considering the devastating wildfires in recent years.