New Hampshire winter recreation businesses forced to adapt as climate changes
Winter temperatures warming in state faster than most places in country
Winter temperatures warming in state faster than most places in country
Winter temperatures warming in state faster than most places in country
New Hampshire tourism is the second-largest contributor to the state's economy, providing more than $320 million in tax revenue last fiscal year, with winter tourism accounting for about $70 million. But could the changing climate have an impact on the industry?
The ideal picture of New Hampshire in the winter is one of snowcapped mountains and fields covered in a blanket of white. The picturesque landscapes draw tourists from all over to enjoy the season in the Granite State.
But the changing climate is threatening winter recreation in New Hampshire.
"Unfortunately, it is the new normal," said Lauren Casey, a meteorologist for Climate Central, a nonprofit consisting of an independent group of scientists who research changes in our climate. "Unfortunately, unless we really curb our carbon emissions, it's only going to get warmer from here."
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Climate Central has analyzed winter average temperatures for more than 200 locations across the United States, including Concord. It's an effort to see how and where winters have warmed since 1970.
"Across the country, the average rate of warming for these locations was 3.8 degrees," Casey said.
From 1970 to 2022, Concord's average rate of warming was 6.6 degrees, making it one of the Top 5 winter warming locations, along with Burlington, Vermont; Albany, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
That means the the winter recreation season is getting shorter for some New Hampshire businesses..
"The ground froze earlier in the year, and we thought, 'We're heading in the right direction. We got a little snow,'" said Dan Gould, executive director of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association. "Then, it went backwards."
Snowmobile registration numbers have decreased in recent years, from more than 47,000 for the 2020-2021 season to 45,000 in 2021-2022 and 37,000 in 2022-2023.
Gould said changing temperatures don't help an industry that can't make its own snow.
"What we need are multiple storms to form layer upon layer of a base," he said. "Once that's groomed, it can almost be like an ice rink that's nice and hard and firm. And then, you have fresh snow over that. Oftentimes, you can ride from December through late March."
But this year, the vast majority of the state's snowmobile trails closed the first week of March.
And it's not just the trails. Some ski slopes also closed in early March, including McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester.
"Every ski area has been through this from one year to the next," said Ross Boisvert, owner and general manager of McIntyre Ski Area. "The last two years were great. Actually, when COVID hit, it helped us. The snow fell during those years. This year has been a little bit different, but we're hitting our numbers."
Although New Hampshire is experiencing warmer winters, it appears that the temperatures are not affecting winter tourism overall. With the exception of 2021, visitation numbers in New Hampshire have increased over the past couple of years.
"Every year subsequently has seen increases of anywhere between 3 and 5%," said Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Caswell credits the increase to New Hampshire businesses that have adjusted their models by offering additional outdoor activities, such as winter hiking and fat biking.
"I think we've been looking at this a lot internally," Caswell said. "What is it that we're heading for? What is the science telling us? What are the trends? And what are some of the ways that we can help the tourism industry adapt, get more creative and be more innovative to present offerings to people who want to come to New Hampshire?"