Future changes in daily snowfall events over China based on CMIP6 models

China has been frequently affected by severe snowstorms in recent years that have particularly large economic and human impacts. It is thus of great importance to increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of and future changes in snowfall occurrences over China. In this study, the effects of anthropogenic influences on snowfall and the associated future changes are explored using new simulations from CMIP6 (phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project) models. Observational evidence reveals a decrease in the annual total snowfall days and an increase in intense snowfall days over the snowfall-dominated regions in China during recent decades. Fingerprints of anthropogenic influences on these changes are detectable, especially the impacts of increased greenhouse gas emissions. During the winter seasons, low temperatures still cover the regions of northern China, and the associated precipitation days show an increase due to anthropogenic warming, which substantially benefits the occurrence of snowfall over these regions, particularly for intense snowfall events. This is also true in the future, despite rapid warming being projected. By the end of this century, approximately 23% of grids centered over northern China are projected to still experience an increase in daily intense snowfall events in winters. Additionally, the length of the snowfall season is projected to narrow by nearly 41 days compared to the current climate. Thus, in the future, regions of China, especially northern China, are likely to experience more intense snowfall days over a more concentrated period of time during the winter seasons.