When powerful windstorms become more common, wildlife feel the impact

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1. 

   13 Oct 2026 · 5 minNew

   Climate change is delaying Minnesota’s peak fall colors

   The colors of fall foliage are important to many Minnesotans, and timing for peak colors is wrapping up in the northern portion of the state. But future generations may get to enjoy those vibrant colors later in the year. MPR Chief Meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with Brian Schwingle, forest health program coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, to see how climate change is delaying when leaves change. “Peak color since the late ’60s up until 2025 has delayed about almost two weeks,” Schwingle said. “There are two main factors that control leaf color change: day length…

2. 

   6 Oct 2026 · 5 min

   Climate Cast: Heat and humidity create havoc for local wines

3. 

   29 Sep 2026 · 5 min

   Climate change is reshaping marathon season in Minnesota

   Runners can expect seasonably cool temperatures for the 2026 Twin Cities Marathon. But the early October tradition will be moving back a week starting next year. Race officials have stated health concerns due to heat as a reason for the change. Between 1961 and 1990, October temperatures never touched 90 degrees in the Twin Cities. But, since 2010, there has been two instances of 90-degree temperatures in October. And now it’s twice as likely to hit temperatures over 80 degrees than 50 years ago. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard spoke with distance runner Jeff Denney and Jacob Kastner,…

4. 

   22 Sep 2026 · 5 min

   How climate is changing the apples you buy

   The University of Minnesota is recognized as one of the top apple breeding and genetics research programs in the country. It developed the Honeycrisp apple and other flavors like the Big Flirt and the SuperSnap. But a warming climate makes the university’s work more difficult. MPR News chief meteorologist Ben Cathey spoke with Matt Clark, the director of research at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and Sarah Kostick, a member of the University of Minnesota Apple Breeding Program, about how climate is changing apples and the way you buy them. Click play on the audio player above to listen…

5. 

   14 Sep 2026 · 5 min

   Climate Cast: As ships sit in Strait of Hormuz, invasive species hitch a ride

   Invasive species play the long game. They travel well, dig in to survive wherever they’re dropped off and then start multiplying, making it nearly impossible to root them out. Scientists looking now at the current state of the Strait of Hormuz see a recipe for invasive species spread. Giant ships are stuck in the warm waters there amid the Iran War and they’re collecting critters in the ballast water and on their hulls. Those invasive creatures will end up in ports around the world once the ships start moving again, likely creating a global superspreader event, Mario Tamburri, a marine…

6. 

   31 Jul 2026 · 5 min

   On softball night, Minnesota climate experts feel the heat

   If you’ve attended or played in a softball or baseball game this summer, you likely share something in common with a lot of Minnesotans. The intense heat, coupled with the high humidity, has led to delays and sweltering conditions for fans, players, and umpires alike. That comes at the end of July 2026, which will go down as the warmest month in American history. There are plenty of church leagues and beer leagues around the state, but one group that meets in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul is a little different. They have team names like the Grand Slamphibians, Tree Huggers, and…

7. 

   10 Jul 2026 · 4 min

   Learning from deadliest disaster in Minnesota history

   What would you guess is the deadliest disaster in Minnesota history? A wildfire? Blizzard? Tornado? It was none of those. In 1936, a long-term heat wave killed at least 900 across Minnesota . Heat is America’s top weather killer, even in the age of air conditioning and community pools. For the return of the long-running Climate Cast, we wanted to revisit the terrible cost of the 1936 heat wave that hit 90 years ago this month. On July 14, 1936, experts estimated a person was dying every three minutes in Minneapolis alone as a direct result of the heat. In this episode, MPR News chief…

8. 

   1 May 2026 · 5 min

   Paul Huttner signs off after 13 years of hosting Climate Cast

   For years, Climate Cast has been a place to make sense of a changing planet — explaining the science, the solutions and the people behind the issue. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner sat down with Tom Crann during the Minnesota Climate Adaptation Awards to reflect on Climate Cast’s roughly 650 episodes and its focus on climate science, news and solutions. “Climate change is a huge problem. We are seeing it every day,” Huttner said. “But there are so many good people working on solutions, and the technology of those solutions is here now.” Plus, hear some former guests of Climate Cast…

9. 

   17 Apr 2026 · 5 min

   How resilience hubs are giving climate aid before, during, and after a crisis

   With climate change exposing communities to more dangerous weather conditions and amplifying diseases, experts say more people need resources to adapt. The University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership is working on creating Climate Resilience Hubs to help give people community spaces that can give support both in everyday life and during emergencies. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Dr. Kent Boyd , a Climate Adaptation, Resilience, and Public Health Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, who is leading this work. Click play on the audio player above…

10. 

    3 Apr 2026 · 4 min

    How a Minnesota research team finds carbon a home in retired croplands

    Burning fossil fuels is one of the primary drivers of climate change, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing changes including increased temperatures and extreme weather events here in the Midwest. But recent research took advantage of a 40-year ongoing experiment at the University of Minnesota’s Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve to study how this carbon is being stored in retired croplands. MPR News chief meteorologist Paul Huttner spoke with Eric Seabloom , a professor at the University of Minnesota College of Biological Science who was an author on the…