Over the years, winters have been getting warmer and more unpredictable. In January of 2023, Loudoun County experienced extremely contrasting weather. 

On Jan. 1, the temperature was 63 degrees Fahrenheit in Sterling, Va., which is 20 degrees higher than the average temperature in previous years — 43.2 degrees fahrenheit. 

On Jan. 31st, the temperature was 47 degrees fahrenheit, which was only around 4 degrees off of the historic average of 43.3 degrees fahrenheit. There was a drastic change between the beginning of the month and the end of it. This wasn’t the only dramatic temperature swing of the season.  What is causing this fluctuation of temperature?

The January warm weather was brought on by the jetstream. It blew a warm air gust northeast and caused a spike in temperature for a couple of days. Prior assumptions were that this sudden change in weather was due to global warming. Although global warming can have warming effects, there is no direct connection between global warming and a sudden and temporary change in temperature.  The US environmental protection agency explains in an article that, “rising global average temperature is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns.” The sudden change in temperature cannot solely be an effect of global warming, since it wasn’t something that was widespread or long lasting.

This unusually warm weather has altered the lives of students and teachers. Warm days decrease the number of snow days brought by the usually frigid winter temperatures. This has given less opportunity for students to enjoy their occasional days off. “I used to love having snow days, but we haven’t really had any this year, and the only day it did snow, we still had to go to school,” senior Nethra Swamy said. 

Snow days were also used as days to catch up on schoolwork for most students. “I always could count on winters for catch up days, because I always have so much work during the third quarter, but this year hasn’t blessed me with any, and the work is piling up,” senior Prerana Telegu said.

Teachers are missing out on these much needed breaks as well.“There are less snow days, less mental health days, due to this increase in temperature, [which is] no bueno,” science teacher Michael Clear said.

Despite the lack of snow, not all of winter was warm. As 2023 progressed, temperatures began to drop back down to historic average. They dropped so low there was speculation of a snow day in the first few days of February, but these rumors were short lived. “I doubt there will be any more snow days, and if there are any I don’t think the snow will stick,” said Telegu.