Climate change has amplified the hydrologic cycle in Minnesota. Our more erratic precipitation patterns are driving faster transitions from drought to floods. So, can AI-driven forecasts help predict floods on rivers like the Mississippi?

“We need to make innovations in these sorts of models and in our flood forecasting in general,” said Zac McEachran, a research hydrologist from the University of Minnesota.

McEachran talked with MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner about a new flood forecasting model that uses AI to improve local flood predictions.

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Weather data suggests Minnesota has warmed more than three degrees in the past 150 years, and the state’s winters have warmed more than five degrees since 1970.

So how are Minnesotans seeing and feeling these climate changes?

“Here in Minnesota, we are experiencing climate change predominantly in the winter,” said Kristoffer Tigue, a reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

“We base a lot of our culture around our winters, and so to have our winters being the season that's changing the most, I think it tells a narrative of the direction we’re going as a state.”

Tigue explained that the state is experiencing warmer winters, an increase in precipitation and melting. Tigue wrote about the many ways Minnesotans are seeing climate change — from warmer falls, to a lack of foliage color and wildfire smoke.

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Minnesota winters are not what they used to be.

The bone-chilling season has warmed more than 5 degrees on average since 1970. Those warmer temps have contributed to another weather phenomenon: more snow — even if it doesn’t seem that way.

How do we explain that paradox? Climatologist Kenneth Blumenfeld tracks snowfall trends for the Minnesota State Climate Office. He explained the connection between snowfall rates and higher global temperatures on Climate Cast.

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Minnesota has a goal to move toward 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040.

That will have significant impacts on certain parts of the state where coal plays a major part in the economy — like Itasca County.

So, how are people in this part of northern Minnesota adapting?

Itasca County Commissioner John Johnson spoke about how the county is planning for the transition.

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It was another beautiful fall color season in Minnesota, and we know seasonal temperature change is what drives our fall color show.

But did you know those trees can react to more subtle microclimates around the state and even within your yard?

Tyler Hesseltine is an arborist who works with trees all year long. He talked to Climate Cast host Paul Huttner about how even small landscaping decisions can have a big impact on tree health.

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Minnesota may be a long way from the ocean, but we have great seafood options.

So, how can we choose and prepare seafood that’s delicious and climate sustainable?

A new cookbook called “The Blue Food Cookbook: Delicious Seafood Recipes for a Sustainable Future” has some ideas.

Minnesota native and four-time James Beard award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern co-wrote the book with seafood expert Barton Seaver.

Zimmern shared tips and recipe ideas with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner.

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How should Minnesota approach climate change action in the years to come?

Minnesotans can have a voice in that process by commenting on the state's latest proposed Climate Action Framework, a comprehensive plan laying out steps Minnesota should take to address climate change and reach a carbon-free future.

The last framework was released in 2022 and established a statewide target to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. That framework was adopted into state law in 2023.

Kate Knuth, climate director for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, shared more about the framework and how people can get involved on this week’s Climate Cast.

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Almost 15 million acres in the Midwest grow corn on the same land year after year. That’s about 20 percent of all Midwest cropland.

Growing corn in this way produces more greenhouse gas emissions than crop rotation because it releases more nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.

But cost-effective, climate-smart practices can reduce these emissions in a big way.

Anne Schechinger is lead author of the analysis, and she shared more about the findings as well as solutions to offset the climate impacts of continuous corn with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner.

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