Hady Cisar

The warm winter this year is causing many to be anxious for the “brown Christmas” that was expected.

Looking back on the late fall and winter months of last year and years prior, it is obvious that each year, kids were busy playing in the snow, the roads were slippery with ice and the amount of snow days we had were beginning to accumulate.
As for this year, it seems that a light snow that is melted by the next day is the best it has gotten. The average temperature of Sioux Falls has been and is predicted to be around 35 degrees for the weeks to come. These temperatures are drastically different from last year’s 10-20 degree weather. While it is hard to complain about drivable roads and temperatures above 30 degrees, a holiday season with no snow is not everyone’s perfect idea of a “white Christmas.” In fact, many are beginning to refer to this season as a “brown Christmas.”
Because South Dakota is notorious for its frigid temperatures and uncomfortably long winters, it is odd that that does not seem to be the case this year. So, what exactly is the reason for the high winter temperatures and lack of snow? This year happens to be a year of El Niño. What does that mean? El Niño, contrary to La Niña, is an oceanic and atmospheric occurrence that causes the southern part of the United States to experience wetter weather, while the North is warmer and dryer. This means that it is not surprising that this year’s winter does not encompass as much snow as years prior. Since South Dakota has not had El Niño in five years, the change in weather (or lack thereof) is definitely enough to cause confusion among people.
Though the warm weather is not the most effective way to get one into the holiday spirit, Keloland Weather states, “South Dakota typically experiences average snowfall during moderate-to-strong El Niño winters.” In other words, hang tight, winter is coming! Whether the snow comes before Christmas, after Christmas, or does not come at all, it is always comforting knowing the chances of slipping on ice or having to dig your car out of snow are low at the moment!