The harsh recent winters experienced in the Northern Hemisphere may have an unexpected cause, U.S. scientists say: unusually warm summers in arctic regions.

Elevated temperatures and greater melting of ice in the arctic regions is creating more snowfall in the autumn in lower northern latitudes, research published in the journal Environmental Research Letters suggests.

Researchers say winter cooling trends in the eastern United States, southern Canada and much of northern Eurasia cannot be entirely explained by the natural variability of the climate system, ScienceDaily.com reported.

Warmer temperatures in the Arctic atmosphere, combined with melting sea ice, allows the atmosphere to hold more moisture and increase the likelihood of precipitation over more southern areas such as Eurasia, which, in the freezing temperatures, would fall as snow, researchers said.

"In my mind there is no doubt that the globe is getting warmer and this will favor warmer temperatures in all seasons and in all locations," lead study author Judah Cohen of Atmospheric and Environmental Research said.

"However, I do think that the increasing trend in snow cover has led to regional cooling ... and I see no reason why this won't continue into the near future."