Is Minnesota Getting Warmer?

TWIN CITIES, MN — With another week of brown grass and warm temperatures upon us, Minnesotans may be asking themselves, "What gives?" Anecdotally, it seems Minnesota winters aren't what they used to be.

But scientific research also shows that Minnesota simply does not get as cold as it once did.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota has warmed by 2.9 degrees between 1895 and 2017. The state has also become increasingly "wetter," with damaging storms and floods becoming much more common.

"While Minnesota has gotten warmer and wetter since 1895, the most dramatic changes have come in the past several decades," the DNR notes.

"Compared to 20th century averages, all but two years since 1970 have been some combination of warm and wet, and each of the top-10 combined warmest and wettest years on record occurred between 1998 and 2017. Although climate conditions will vary from year to year, these increases are expected to continue through the 21st century."

Warmer winters in Minnesota

Minnesota's increased warmth is most noticeable in the winter, according to DNR research:

• Since 1970, winter has warmed 13 times faster than the summer
• Minus 35 readings in northern Minnesota and minus 25 readings in the south have fallen by 90 percent

The state will continue to see severe cold spells. This is Minnesota, after all. But climate scientists say extreme cold will increasingly become a thing of the past.

Learn more at the DNR's climate website.