During a typical winter in New England, one can expect snowfall ranging from 40” – 60” per winter. Ordinarily, during these snowy months in New England, many enjoy activities such as skiing, sledding, and building snowmen. However, following an abnormally dry winter during the 2023-2024 season, it is hard to predict if the amount of snow this winter will outperform the previous year or continue to fall short of averages and benchmarks from years past and what the effects of this may be. 

For many, the new year has brought new hope of again experiencing the once promising New England winter weather. However, the 2023-2024 season fell incredibly short of the hopes of some with incredibly mild and unconvincing snowfall. In fact, though the average year in Massachusetts brings over 3 feet of snow, the season last year only brought 9.8 inches of snow. Not only did the lack of snow last year discourage many, but it also created many challenges for ski resorts and villages whose main facilities and income rely on snow which cannot always be artificially generated and sustained for longer periods of time. To artificially create snow, temperatures must be under 28℉ by 9:00pm because the process includes shooting water droplets into the air during below freezing temperatures which freeze before they touch the ground to create snow. In fact, last year, there were only five days in which the average temperature in Boston was below freezing. Due to this, many local ski resorts had to close many of their slopes. 

So, what is there to expect for the remainder of this winter season this year and going forward? So far, it has been, as predicted, an incredibly mild winter. Over the whole country droughts and warmer weather have been contributing to weather events (and lack of weather events) such as the wildfires in Los Angeles California January 7th-9th 2025. Despite the dry and mild conditions, Boston did receive a white Christmas this year with 1-3 inches of snow Christmas morning which raised spirits and hopes for a snowy winter season. So far, the winter has come with colder temperatures and more snowfall overall. This is due to sea surface water temperatures causing more winds and colder days. Much of the same is to be expected in the next few months going forward with temperatures slightly above what one would expect in an average winter. 

At HHS, many students have been feeling as though this winter has not lived up to their expectations. More specifically, many students have been bothered by the lack of snow days and time taken off from school we have received in the past few years due to winter weather concerns. Grace Moore, a Hingham High School sophomore remarks the weather has made her feel “sad” and she “is hoping for snow soon.” Hingham High School sophomore Megan Buckley also expressed her opinion about the lack of snow and time taken off from school remarking, “I heard that some schools have been getting a few snow days, and we have not, which is slightly disappointing.” The dismal weather conditions seem to weigh on students as we near the end of the semester and beginning of the midyear exam season. However, with a couple more months of winter still ahead, the optimistic hope remains that days filled with snowmen, sledding, and blissful memories are ahead.