For Many, This Winter's A Warm Wonderland

Temperatures Above Normal In Large Chunk Of U.S.

(CBS/AP)  Cherry blossoms are in bloom in New York and Washington. Roses are flowering and new grass is growing in usually snowy Connecticut, as crocuses push out of the ground in New Jersey. Ice fishing tournaments in Minnesota are being canceled for lack of ice. And golfers are hitting the links in Chicago and Ohio.

Much of the East Coast and Midwest (but not all – you'll need your hat and gloves in Kansas and Nebraska) are going through a remarkably warm winter, with temperatures running 10 and 20 degrees higher than normal in many places.

"I'm not complaining. I can take this," said Rudolph Williams, a doorman in New York City who normally wears a hat this time of year but stood outside in 50-degree weather with his shaved head uncovered. "The Earth is recalibrating itself: Last year, we had a cold winter, and it's balancing itself out now. In January, it feels like the middle of April."

At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York, literally thousands of cherry blossoms are in evidence, turtles who typically hibernate are still swimming in the pond, and spring-like temperatures have many visitors enjoying a stroll through the park.

WCBS-TV meteorologist John Bolaris attributes New York's unseasonable weather mainly to the weather phenomenon known as El Nino. "El Nino normally means milder temperatures for the east, and not as much snow," says Bolaris. "We've had a snowless December for the first time in over 100 years - one of the third warmest December on record... the first snowless stretch for winter in over 130 years."

A snowless winter is not, however, guaranteed.

In New Jersey, this winter so far is the warmest since records started being kept 111 years ago.

Maria Freitas said that not only are crocus bulbs blooming in her Rahway, N.J., backyard, but the asparagus is three inches high.

"They think it's spring. They're so confused," she said.

Meteorologists say the warm spell is due to a combination of factors: El Nino, a cyclical warming trend now under way in the Pacific Ocean, can lead to milder weather, particularly in the Northeast; and the jet stream, the high-altitude air current that works like a barricade to hold back warm Southern air, is running much farther north than usual over the East Coast.

The weather is prone to short-term fluctuations, and forecasters said the mild winter does not necessarily mean global warming is upon us. In fact, the Plains have been hit by back-to-back blizzards in the past two weeks.

"No cause for alarm. Enjoy it while you have it," said Mike Halpert, head of forecast operations at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center.

Whatever the explanation, Amanda Dickens was enjoying the weather Wednesday at Baltimore's Inner Harbor as she ate lunch outside with her husband and 3-year-old son. Temperatures there were expected to reach 60 degrees.

At the Marovitz Golf Course in Chicago near Lake Michigan, 30 people teed off between 9 a.m. and noon, when there are usually no golfers at all this time of year.

Leonard Berg, the course's superintendent for maintenance, gestured to the fairways with pride: "Normally this time of year there would be a brown singe to it. Look at that nice emerald green."

But the mild weather is also hurting some businesses and events.

In Minnesota, where a water skier in a wetsuit was recently seen on the Mississippi River near St. Paul, ice fishing tournaments have been canceled. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships - scheduled for Jan. 19-21 in Minneapolis - have only a 50-50 chance of being held.

And organizers of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, scheduled to begin late this month, said the ice is not thick enough to harvest into 1,400 blocks for the ice maze. They may have to switch to plastic blocks.

"It would give the effect, but it's not exactly Minnesota winter," said Mary Huss, a spokeswoman for the event.

In Ohio, Dan Motz said sales for his firewood business in a Cincinnati suburb are down about 25 percent.

In Maryland, buds are appearing on apple and peach trees, raising the prospect of a poor spring crop if a sudden cold snap kills the blossoms. A gradual cooldown would minimize any damage.

At the Tuxedo Ski Center north of New York City, it's tough sledding with no snow. "I've been in this business for 18 years and have never seen anything like this," said resort worker John Blandi.

In New Jersey, the Mountain Creek ski resort in Vernon is struggling to open more trails. There haven't been many nights cold enough to make snow.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed that the cold weather will get here soon," resort spokeswoman Shannon McSweeney said. "Either that, or sending trucks out to Colorado to steal some of their snow."

[perception5]

Maybe Global Warming isn't such a bad thing as some people have said. Maybe it's a plus in that less oil has to be burned.... longer growing season which means the world can produce more food and ...... higher amounts of precipitation which could increase the amount of land that can sustain the growing of crops.......

What's the down side?????

[moliver697]

Feh. It's only January 4. Last January was very mild in NJ, yet in February we got hit with the biggest snowstorm on record. Winter is far from over (though I am enjoying this while I can).

[bildooreilly]

It has been a little warmer the past couple weeks, but we have also had our share of cold weather, as a matter of fact it started getting way colder than normal much earlier this year. I spent 9 days about a month ago stuck in my drive because of a blizzard, I sure wouldn't call it Global Warming...

[djberson]

The REAL denial is that nobody will attribute ANYTHING to the human population explosion. What happened to the zero-population growth movement of the early 1970's???? Our culture places such an emphasis on having kids that those who don't are made to feel like their lives worthless.

[processor2]

I think it's great.

Think of all the money the poor & elderly will save this winter on heating bills.

.............

[mjv2944]

Blame the jet stream not global warming. Global warming is something that needs to be studied and some definite conclusions made. I'm enjoying this as my heating bill has been low, which here in Illinois is serious as our wonderful legislators and regulators have granted up to 50% rate increases to power companies.

[iloveike9]

I think that global warming is not something to be ignored, but I do not think we really know enough about global warming to make accurate predictions. One thing we do know is that the way we live each day affects the earth and we need to be aware of that. Even little changes may make a big difference in the end!

[luckygirl042]

Global warming causes an increase in moisture--depending on where you happen to be, or at what elevation, that extra moisture shows up as excessive rain or knee deep in snow. We can't deny it much longer.

[kpokey]

That's exactly what global warming is! It's a few more mild winters...a few summers that are just a little hotter than usual. The overall temp over the entire year or 20 years is just a few degrees hotter. Next winter might be a normal winter, but then the next will be warmer. Over time, the abundance of the warmer winters and summers make a huge difference to our Earth. It melts polar ice, screws up crops (Wisconsin's wheat crop is already up), and creates tons of problems.

[alamo81]

oh ,come on now, many years in the past have been mild-while global warming may be a problem for the next century-there is nothing so far to suggest that---enjoy the mild winter for what is it---a mild winter----------if global warming was in effect denver wouldnt be rear deep in snow-----it may be an enjoyable winter with a few more bugs this spring

[kpokey]

Daffodils are coming up here. This is in the beginning of January. That's nuts. Global warming is in their face, but the make excuses...it's this...it's that...it couldn't be global warming. It's like an addict in denial! Even if the rest of the winter would be get cold, the fact we have gone this long and it's been this warm signals a change.
Global warming is about 1-2 degree above average temps over the course of the year. Those small differences have huge impacts on the Earth.

[dragontek]

Yes the meteorologists know weather, climate change is another matter. The current warming this winter is yes attributed to the northern migration of the jet stream, and El Nino- perhaps, but to totally dismiss global warming seems rather silly. The climate and weather is growing warmer- and the current weather is an indication of that.

Mr. Bolaris above, is 'full of IN IMHO.

[phil-in-fin]

Conclusion, from global warming, we're all going to die!