U-Wisconsin Madison Scientists- State Climate To Be Much More Like Missouri By 2055

[hatrack]

The first detailed research on Wisconsin's climate is forecasting a jump in average annual temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit by midcentury, which could push humans and nature to adapt to weather conditions that at times resemble Missouri today. The findings are unique for climate research in Wisconsin because researchers are making predictions about the future on a local scale.

Climate scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison said Monday that warming will be greatest in northern Wisconsin, with the smallest changes taking place in the south along Lake Michigan. Winters are expected to be warmer and summers are forecast to change the least.

Still, the researchers found that the number of days where high temperatures exceed 90 degrees could double to 25 each year in southern Wisconsin between 1980 and 2055; it could triple for the same period to 12 times a year in northern Wisconsin.

The UW study was led by Dan Vimont, an assistant professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, and Chris Kucharik, an assistant professor of agronomy and environmental sciences. The research suggests profound changes in the decades to come. But rather than targeting policy-makers, the findings will go to an organization that was formed in 2007 whose members include UW, the Department of Natural Resources and other agencies, and business groups.

EDIT

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/59291612.html

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. Would this also be reflected in the winter weather?

I've lived in MO and in northern IL, and the winters are vastly different. Northern IL could not deal with the MO winters I remember (it's been 20 years since I lived in either place) because they are prepared for feet deep heavy snow, not inch-thick ice. I imagine WI is much the same. I'd take the snow over the ice any day. If I ever move back to the midwest, I'm going to avoid the ice belt.