Tampa Bay's winters are warming up
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Winters are supposed to be cold, but in Tampa Bay and much of the Lower 48 states — the season is getting hot, hot, hot.
- This is tied to human-caused climate change.
Why it matters: Warming during meteorological winter, which runs from December through February, affects winter sports, recreation and water supplies and can even alter a region's cultural identity over time.
By the numbers: Tampa Bay's average winter temperature from December to February has climbed from 56.5 degrees Fahrenheit in 1970 to 63.3 degrees in 2024, according to an analysis from the research group Climate Central.
- Overall, our winters have warmed about 6 degrees over the last 54 years.
Zoom out: States known for their cold weather — like Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont and Maine — are among those warming fastest, the research shows.
