Winter blues: No snow, thin ice and warm temps are messing with winter recreation

Pearl Park's ice rink began to melt
Ice around the state has been melting in the unusually warm weather. The hockey rink at Pearl Park in Minneapolis was turning into a puddle on Thursday.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

It’s been a warm and weird winter.  

Most of Minnesota right now doesn’t have any snow. And, the ice is melting fast.  

Outdoor hockey rinks have turned into puddles. Ice houses are getting pulled off some lakes across the state. Snow mobiles languish under tarps in the garage.  

Over time, Minnesota’s average winter temperatures are slowly rising as carbon emissions warm the globe. But super El Niño weather patterns have made this winter especially warm. 

Create a More Connected Minnesota

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MPR News host Angela Davis talks with people around the state about how the wimpy winter is messing with winter recreation, businesses that depend on it and our moods.

Guests:  

 Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.