Hey friends,
Growing up in Wisconsin, winters were magical. I spent my childhood on skis and a snowboard, zipping down hills and carving through freshly fallen snow. Christmas mornings were always a sight—waking up to a blanket of white, the world covered in snow as if by some cosmic agreement. It wasn’t just the kids who loved it, either. My parents and grandma would always share stories about how they used to spend hours shoveling out driveways, and how snow seemed to stick around longer back in their days.
But here’s the kicker: in recent years, those snow-covered winters are becoming more of a distant memory. The winter wonderland we once knew is disappearing, and I’m not just talking about an occasional dry season. Over the past few years, the snow has been thinner, later, and even absent for stretches at a time. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can feel the shift. My grandma, with her nostalgic tales of snowdrifts taller than our garage, can’t help but shake her head when we talk about how we barely get enough snow to cover the grass anymore. It’s hard to ignore that winter in Wisconsin just isn’t the same. Let me tell you skiing on fake snow is NOT as good as skiing on the real stuff.
Why the Snow is MIA
So, what's going on? Why is it that year after year, it seems like the snow is either late to arrive or just doesn’t show up at all? Well, the answer lies in the climate—and more specifically, the warming trend we've been seeing over the past several decades.
The truth is, climate change is hitting home in ways we might not even recognize immediately, and it’s drastically altering weather patterns across the country. In Wisconsin, we’re experiencing warmer winters, which means less snow. Think about it: the average temperature in the state has been creeping up, and it’s affecting how snow forms and how long it sticks around. In some places, snow that does fall melts faster due to higher-than-usual temperatures, meaning we get more slush than snowdrifts.
Not only that, but with the shifting patterns, we’re seeing more precipitation in the form of rain rather than snow, especially in early winter. This means that instead of a nice solid foundation of snow to build our winter sports season on, we’re left hoping for that elusive snowstorm to come through and give us a few days of skiing or snowboarding before it all melts away.
Why Sustainable Shopping Matters
As we see the effects of climate change take hold, it’s clear that we need to make changes, both big and small, in how we live and how we consume. That’s where sustainable shopping comes into play, and it’s one of the reasons why supporting companies like Ursa Nova is more important than ever. Ursa Nova is dedicated to offering products that prioritize sustainability—whether that’s in their materials, business practices, or packaging. By making conscious purchasing decisions, we can reduce our environmental impact and take meaningful steps toward slowing climate change.
Sustainable shopping is not just about what we buy, but about choosing products that are designed with the planet in mind. The more we support brands that are environmentally responsible, the more we encourage positive change. As we work to reduce emissions and waste, making sustainable choices in our everyday purchases adds up—and it’s exactly the kind of change we need to protect the world we love.
In fact, reducing our carbon footprint through sustainable shopping can help slow the warming trend we’re seeing in places like Wisconsin. When we make smarter choices, we help reduce the demand for resources and products that contribute to pollution and climate change. Each sustainable purchase is a small victory in the larger fight for a more stable climate.
A Call for Change
It’s tough to see the place I love—and those magical snow-covered Christmas mornings—slowly vanish. But there’s hope. While the problem is bigger than any one person or one state, we can all play a part in addressing climate change. The more we work together to reduce carbon emissions, the more we can slow the warming of our planet and hopefully bring back some of the winters we once knew.
So, while I miss those white Christmases, I’ll continue to hope for a change. I’ll always hold onto the memories of gliding down snowy hills, the cold wind on my face, and the laughter of my family sharing stories of winter's past. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll get the snow we all remember—but until then, I’ll be looking for ways to help ensure the future looks a little brighter for the next generation of snow lovers.
Stay warm and keep on dreaming of those snowy days.
Growing up in Wisconsin, winters were magical. I spent my childhood on skis and a snowboard, zipping down hills and carving through freshly fallen snow. Christmas mornings were always a sight—waking up to a blanket of white, the world covered in snow as if by some cosmic agreement. It wasn’t just the kids who loved it, either. My parents and grandma would always share stories about how they used to spend hours shoveling out driveways, and how snow seemed to stick around longer back in their days.
But here’s the kicker: in recent years, those snow-covered winters are becoming more of a distant memory. The winter wonderland we once knew is disappearing, and I’m not just talking about an occasional dry season. Over the past few years, the snow has been thinner, later, and even absent for stretches at a time. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can feel the shift. My grandma, with her nostalgic tales of snowdrifts taller than our garage, can’t help but shake her head when we talk about how we barely get enough snow to cover the grass anymore. It’s hard to ignore that winter in Wisconsin just isn’t the same. Let me tell you skiing on fake snow is NOT as good as skiing on the real stuff.
Why the Snow is MIA
So, what's going on? Why is it that year after year, it seems like the snow is either late to arrive or just doesn’t show up at all? Well, the answer lies in the climate—and more specifically, the warming trend we've been seeing over the past several decades.
The truth is, climate change is hitting home in ways we might not even recognize immediately, and it’s drastically altering weather patterns across the country. In Wisconsin, we’re experiencing warmer winters, which means less snow. Think about it: the average temperature in the state has been creeping up, and it’s affecting how snow forms and how long it sticks around. In some places, snow that does fall melts faster due to higher-than-usual temperatures, meaning we get more slush than snowdrifts.
Not only that, but with the shifting patterns, we’re seeing more precipitation in the form of rain rather than snow, especially in early winter. This means that instead of a nice solid foundation of snow to build our winter sports season on, we’re left hoping for that elusive snowstorm to come through and give us a few days of skiing or snowboarding before it all melts away.
Why Sustainable Shopping Matters
As we see the effects of climate change take hold, it’s clear that we need to make changes, both big and small, in how we live and how we consume. That’s where sustainable shopping comes into play, and it’s one of the reasons why supporting companies like Ursa Nova is more important than ever. Ursa Nova is dedicated to offering products that prioritize sustainability—whether that’s in their materials, business practices, or packaging. By making conscious purchasing decisions, we can reduce our environmental impact and take meaningful steps toward slowing climate change.
Sustainable shopping is not just about what we buy, but about choosing products that are designed with the planet in mind. The more we support brands that are environmentally responsible, the more we encourage positive change. As we work to reduce emissions and waste, making sustainable choices in our everyday purchases adds up—and it’s exactly the kind of change we need to protect the world we love.
In fact, reducing our carbon footprint through sustainable shopping can help slow the warming trend we’re seeing in places like Wisconsin. When we make smarter choices, we help reduce the demand for resources and products that contribute to pollution and climate change. Each sustainable purchase is a small victory in the larger fight for a more stable climate.
A Call for Change
It’s tough to see the place I love—and those magical snow-covered Christmas mornings—slowly vanish. But there’s hope. While the problem is bigger than any one person or one state, we can all play a part in addressing climate change. The more we work together to reduce carbon emissions, the more we can slow the warming of our planet and hopefully bring back some of the winters we once knew.
So, while I miss those white Christmases, I’ll continue to hope for a change. I’ll always hold onto the memories of gliding down snowy hills, the cold wind on my face, and the laughter of my family sharing stories of winter's past. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll get the snow we all remember—but until then, I’ll be looking for ways to help ensure the future looks a little brighter for the next generation of snow lovers.
Stay warm and keep on dreaming of those snowy days.
- Maggie Lee (Social Media)
