Many students and teachers at Lewis-Palmer High School are questioning why it took so long to have the first snowfall of 2016. This time last year in Monument, Colorado the recorded snowfall on November 18, 2015, was 14 inches.  

A Science Teacher, Korrena De is not upset about the lack of snow at all. Last winter she got into a few accidents involving curbs, no driver side windows, and bus stops.

“Thanks to global warming, I’m really enjoying the nice weather we’re having this year because last winter was a disaster for me,” De said. “My nickname last winter was ‘Korrena the curb killer’ because I got into so many accidents involving curbs. I also ran into a bus stop pole because of the icy roads. I’m such a mess during winter with the snow on the roads.”

2016 has record high temperatures all over the world according to the Weather Channel. Some will say it is global warming and some will say it’s El Niño or La Niña. Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and it’s oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate.

“The reason why we’ve had such a warm October and November is because of global warming. I strongly believe that global warming is taking place because there is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which acts as a blanket, trapping heat and warming the planet,” De said.

Places throughout North America are having record high temperatures after an unreasonably warm couple of months. La Niña is a cooling of the water in the equatorial Pacific that occurs at irregular intervals and is associated with widespread changes in weather patterns.

“This is a weak La Niña and it’s now in place, which could mean that the impacts may not be as strong as a typical La Niña winter,” according to the Weather Channel.

On Thursday November 17th, Monument Colorado did get a small amount of snow that did not stay for long. Later that night, the district called for a snow day and the students started Thanksgiving break early.

In Colorado, 2016 has been one of the longest years to have snow this late. Students and teachers are looking forward to the upcoming snow days we are yet to have.