More Violent & Extreme MN Weather? Get Used To It.

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"We had our 10th-warmest autumn, following the 14th-coolest summer in modern-day records, which began in 1891. Minnesotans detected 58 tornadoes in 2004, second only to 2001, when a record 74 were observed. Never has the weather been so capricious and unpredictable.

And never have the reasons been in such dispute. And although the perception among many is that we're seeing less snowfall than in previous generations, snowfall is increasing. It's just that warmer weather, especially at night, means it's melting faster. Meteorologists have documented a 20 percent increase in heavy rain and snow since 1900. And since meteorological spring comes roughly a week sooner than it did in the 1970s, the potential for rapid snowmelt, runoff and spring flooding has increased. These shifts in weather patterns could well alter how we live in the 21st century, affecting the kinds of weather-resistant crops Minnesota farmers plant. They could also lead to stormproof designs for our homes and offices, hail-resistant car surfaces and urban infrastructure better able to withstand rainfall runoff and flooding.

Why is our weather more severe? There are no simple explanations. Our atmosphere is incredibly complex and chaotic. Proving cause and effect is nearly impossible. But evidence is mounting that a warmer climate is sparking more weather extremes, especially over northern latitudes from Alaska to Minnesota to New England. Warmer air holds more moisture, which increases the potential for flooding rains, tornadoes and hail. Our climate is evolving, and Minnesotans may have a front-row seat, among the first states to witness symptoms of a warmer planet.

Four hurricanes struck Florida this year; that hadn't happened since 1896. Nationwide, the tornado count stands at a record 1,584. The 10 costliest storms on record have occurred in the past 10 years. Globally, temperatures have increased slightly more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900, but ground-based instruments and weather satellites have documented a rise of 3.5 to 5.5 degrees over northern latitudes. Polar ice is thinning, glaciers are melting and receding, and trees are dying by the millions across Alaska and Canada. And it's a vicious cycle: Melting snow and ice leads to darker, snow-free ground absorbing even more sunlight, triggering more warming and more melting."

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http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5096144.html