Influence of Arctic Sea Ice on United States Snowfall

The lagged relationship between Arctic sea ice extent and United States snowfall is explored in this study. Monthly snowfall amounts from 1979 to 2009 are compared with total and regionalized Arctic sea ice extent. Multiple linear regression is used to determine the sea ice regions and lags that explain the most variation in snowfall. Although previous work has identified total summer sea ice as a possible predictor for the following winter's snowfall, this study finds a more varied relationship when Arctic regions are included. Total sea ice extent as well as the Kara Sea and Siberian regions exhibit strong influence over some snowfall areas, with lags that range from one to eight months.