- Climate is never constant, but our climate is changing more rapidly than it ever has in our measurement history.
- The general character of Minnesota’s climate, including in Winona County, is experiencing rising temperatures and more overall precipitation.
- Data represent historical measurements over the past century or more; they do not include future projections.
- Temperatures are increasing in Minnesota at a rate of 2°F/century.
- Average minimum temperatures are increasing faster than average maximum temperatures, with the mean values of nighttime minimum temperatures increasing at twice the rate of the mean values of daytime maximums.
- Temperatures are increasing more in winter than in other seasons.
- Precipitation is increasing at a rate of 4.4”/century in Southeast Minnesota, greater than the state average. This increase can be explained in part by “mega storms.”
- Minnesota has had 5 mega storms since 2002; there were only 7 mega storms in the century prior to 2002. A mega storm is defined as 6” or greater rains that cover at least 1000 square miles and a peak amount of 8” or greater.
- More intense precipitation events (thunderstorms/mega storms) create larger geographic disparities (areas where rain falls and where it doesn’t), leading to a higher frequency of drought. It’s becoming more common for Minnesota counties to be declared a drought disaster and a flood disaster in the same year.
- Minnesota has seen a 37% increase in the amount of precipitation falling in the heaviest 1% of all events.
- These changes influence our economy, public health (heat waves, allergy season), water resources, infrastructure, local wildlife and plant composition, and more.
Back to learning about the Winona County Climate Dialogue!