Researchers find that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter than they were in 1970-1997 Researchers find that across 195 US cities, winters are on average nine days shorter than they were in 1970-1997 For the millions of people across the United States who have spent the last month digging themselves out of above-average levels of snow and ice, this winter has felt especially long and harsh . But the typical winter is actually getting shorter in 80% of major US cities