Second Warmest Winter on Record for the Continental U.S.

The winter of 2025-26, spanning from December to February, has been recorded as the second-warmest winter in the history of the continental United States, with an average temperature of 37.13 degrees Fahrenheit (2.85 degrees Celsius). This data, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on March 9, indicates that the only warmer winter was in 2023-24, which averaged 37.47 degrees Fahrenheit. The records date back to 1895, highlighting a significant trend in rising winter temperatures.

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The warmth was primarily concentrated in the western regions of the United States, where states such as Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming experienced their warmest winters on record. In contrast, the eastern states, particularly from the Great Lakes to the Eastern Seaboard, faced severe cold spells and significant snowfall, although these conditions were not enough to offset the overall national average. For instance, cities like Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, recorded some of their coldest temperatures in decades during specific periods of the winter.

We just had the second-warmest winter in U.S. history, despite icy blasts » Yale Climate ConnectionsUsNews and World Report

The winter was characterized by two notable weather patterns. The first, occurring from late December to early January, brought unusually warm conditions across much of the central and western U.S., leading to record-high temperatures for that time frame. Conversely, a severe cold spell from late January to early February resulted in significant ice and snow storms affecting millions, particularly in the eastern U.S. This storm caused extensive power outages, particularly in Nashville, Tennessee, and resulted in an estimated $4-7 billion in insured losses.

We just had the second-warmest winter in U.S. history, despite icy blasts » Yale Climate Connections

Despite the warmth, the winter was also marked by dryness, with the contiguous U.S. experiencing its fifth-driest winter on record. Approximately 54.9% of the contiguous U.S. was under moderate to exceptional drought conditions as of early March 2026. This drought was exacerbated by the warm temperatures, which are known to intensify drought impacts. The Sierra Nevada region did receive significant snowfall, but the overall moisture levels were low, raising concerns about future water supply and wildfire risks.

We just had the second-warmest winter in U.S. history, despite icy blasts » Yale Climate Connections

Experts have raised alarms regarding the implications of such warm winters on long-term climate trends. Critics argue that the increasing frequency of warm winters could lead to more severe droughts and ecological disruptions. The contrasting experiences of warmth in the West and cold in the East have led to discussions about the broader impacts of climate change on weather patterns across the nation.

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• “In the West, there were certainly places where you could say we missed the winter.” — Russell Vose, NOAA's Climate Monitoring Chief

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• “We had a pretty impressive long stretch of unbroken cold that was very notable. But the total duration for the whole winter, not so much,” — Jeff Masters, Yale Climate Connections Meteorologist

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This winter's record warmth, coupled with significant regional disparities and ongoing drought conditions, underscores the complexities of climate change and its varied impacts across the United States.

We just had the second-warmest winter in U.S. history, despite icy blasts » Yale Climate Connections