It’s mid January and though Durango is used to having snow this time of year, we have yet to see the white winter wonderland in town. Durango isn’t the only place in the world that is experiencing odd weather. Many places in the U.S. and the world are now experiencing heavy droughts, floods, and hurricanes. Although this is a serious problem, not many people understand the severity of it or how it works. To get to the bottom of this we interviewed our environmental science teacher, Mrs. Short.
Despite all the discussions about climate change, there are still many misconceptions about what is actually happening. “I think a lot of terms like Global Warming, Climate Change, El Niño, Extreme Weather Patterns, etc., get used very often in the media, yet not many people truly understand what each of these terms mean and how they are caused or affect each other,” said environmental studies teacher, Mrs. Short. Short stressed that it’s important to recognize that these are interconnected concepts. For example, while Global Warming refers to the long-term increase in average global temperatures, it is closely linked to changes in weather patterns, such as the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events like hurricanes and heat waves.
Additionally, Short pointed out that, “Most people have misconceptions around what causes the seasons, let alone how trade winds impact precipitation.” Understanding how the Earth’s climate systems work is crucial for recognizing the broader impacts of climate change. These systems involve complex interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, and land, and changes in one area can have far-reaching consequences in another.
As the effects of climate change become more apparent, it is clear that action is needed. “We talk about what solutions and changes could be made to help slow climate change and learn from the mistakes of previous generations,” said Short. This includes shifting toward renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and adopting more sustainable practices in our everyday lives. By doing so, we can slow the progression of climate change and reduce the severity of its impacts.
“We need to work together to find solutions and save the biodiversity of our planet that we rely on,” Short added. Our environment, from the oceans to the forests, plays a crucial role in maintaining life on Earth. Protecting it will require a collective effort to reduce human impact on the planet and preserve the ecosystems we depend on.

So where is the snow in Durango? How is climate change affecting things?
Over the past five decades, the Earth has warmed significantly. Short said, “In the past 50 years we have seen an average increase in seasonal temperatures by 2 degrees Fahrenheit,” While this may seem like a small change, it has already had noticeable effects on local weather patterns. Warmer temperatures influence everything from the timing of snowmelt to the types of plants that can grow in certain areas. These shifts in temperature are a direct result of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping heat and warming the planet.
Weather patterns in our region are also influenced by factors like ocean temperatures and trade winds. “A lot of our winter precipitation is determined by the temperature of the Pacific Ocean and the strength of the trade winds from year to year,” Short explained. These fluctuations create natural climate cycles such as El Niño and La Niña, which impact how much rain or snow we receive during the winter months. For example, during an El Niño year, the Pacific Ocean is warmer, which tends to bring more precipitation to certain regions. In contrast, La Niña year can lead to drier conditions due to cooler ocean temperatures, like we’re experiencing this year.
While these natural cycles have always existed, their intensity and frequency may be influenced by the warming climate. This makes predicting weather patterns more difficult and can result in more extreme weather, such as droughts or heavy storms. Meaning that Durango’s snowfall will heavily vary, either a dry year like this one, or heavy snowfall like 2023’s winter.