The contiguous United States experienced a winter season marked by significant regional disparities, with record warmth in the West and notable cold in the East. According to CNN, the Lower 48 states collectively recorded their second-warmest winter, primarily influenced by the unprecedented warmth in the Western U.S. This pattern highlights the growing influence of climate change, which is causing winters to warm at a faster pace than other seasons. Despite the presence of severe cold, substantial snowfall, and icy conditions across the Midwest and East, the overall trend leaned towards warmer temperatures.