“Crazy!” That’s the common response I’ve heard this winter whenever I mention the warm weather or the lack of snowpack. Even a National Weather Service meteorologist exclaimed, “Kind of crazy to see that trend,” noting the recent successive years of record heat. 2025 was the hottest year on record in Salt Lake City, with data going back to 1875. So, it’s no surprise that The Salt Lake Tribune recently reported, ”Utah’s snowpack is at a record low".
To those who live, ski, and work in Utah, the warmth and lack of snow feel deeply unsettling but not mysterious. Climate scientists have warned for decades that continued burning of fossil fuels and the resulting buildup of greenhouse gasses would warm our planet, disrupting precipitation patterns and reducing snowpack. We are now living with those consequences.
What can one person do in the face of these worrisome climate changes? The best response I’ve heard is from author, activist and educator, Bill McKibben: “the most important thing an individual can do is not be an individual.” In other words, become involved with one of the organizations that bring people together in finding climate solutions; Citizens’ Climate Lobby, HEAL Utah, Utah Clean Energy, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Stewardship Utah, and Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship.
Equally important, Utahns should contact their state and federal legislators. Lawmakers need to hear — clearly and consistently — that protecting our water supply, snowpack, economy and quality of life matters to their constituents.
If you feel anxious or discouraged about what is happening with the climate, engagement is one of the best antidotes. You will make a difference in shaping a healthier future for your family and community while reducing your anxiety. Let’s create a future — together — where the climate and snowpacks won’t seem so “crazy.”
David Folland, Sandy
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