University of Minnesota Professor Emeritus Mark Seeley is a meteorologist and climatologist confident in his knowledge of yesterday’s weather. He entertained and informed nearly 140 UMRA members at the final forum of our 2023–24 program year on May 21. 

“America’s Siberia” was Minnesota’s nickname well into the 20th century, he told us, and most UMRA members can remember examples of extreme weather, be it cold, snow, rain or heat. Seeley shared a story about a longtime volunteer weather observer in Tower, in northeastern Minnesota, who recorded a 105 degree temperature swing on Ground Hog’s Day in 1996, from minus 60 to plus 45 degrees, in 36 hours. 

Nonetheless, the patterns of climate have changed considerably in the last few decades, Seeley said. The data show striking changes to Minnesota’s climate and real, immediate impacts on the climate and nature. Minnesota and surrounding states and Canadian provinces show a steady trend towards wetter and warmer weather. 

Average temperatures rarely actually occur because there’s such widespread variation, and the ranges are getting bigger. The lowest temperatures recorded in January have gone up six degrees in some locations, a factor that limits the beneficial impact of winter killing off certain pests, Seeley said. 

And there are more significant rainfall events often causing flooding. Storms are becoming more severe and damaging because of the extreme conditions. 

Overwhelmed by the pace of change

“Since the early nineties I’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the pace of change in this state. I’m seeing things as a scientist that I never expected to see,” he said.

An UMRA member mentioned the impact on homeowners insurance, and Seeley confirmed that insurance companies are paying attention. He is concerned that politicians are not paying adequate attention, but noted many local communities, including Fergus Falls and Rochester, are taking important actions that are worth adopting. 

Despite retiring as a faculty member in 2018, Seeley continues to write about and analyze the changing Minnesota weather. He appears weekly on Minnesota Public Radio’s Morning Edition and in the summer at the Minnesota State Fair for visits and quizzes; writes a weekly blog called Minnesota Weather Talk posted at 4 p.m. on Fridays by University of Minnesota Extension; and contributes to other periodicals. 

To learn more about the state’s weather and the trends and consequences of our changing climate, Seeley recommended his book Minnesota Weather Almanac: Second Edition, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 2015. For practical guidance, he recommended The Climate Action Handbook: A Visual Guide to 100 Climate Solutions for Everyone, written by Heidi Roop, PhD, and published by Sasquatch Books in 2023. Dr. Roop took over Dr. Seeley’s faculty position and leads the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, which Seeley founded in 2007, working with communities to adapt to climate change. 

“Maybe Minnesota can be a leader in all this,” Seeley said. “I hope we can.”

—Julie Sweitzer, UMRA president elect and Program Committee chair

View the annual meeting at 54:45 in the video.