Intense precipitation events will continue to become more frequent in in northern Wisconsin and western Upper Michigan.

Submitted by sdhandler on

Heavy precipitation events have been increasing in number and severity in the upper Midwest in general and for Minnesota in particular, and many models agree that this trend will continue over the next century. For example, storms in the 99th-percentile category incrased by 42% from 1958 to 2016 across the Midwest. Large storms are also expected to deliver more rainfall as well. In the Midwest, 20-year return storms are projected to deliver 11 to 20% more rainfall by the end of the century. Most heavy precipitation events occur during summer in the Upper Midwest. The magnitude or frequency of flooding could also potentially increase in the winter and spring due to increases in total runoff and peak stream flow during those times. Increases in runoff after heavy precipitation events could also lead to an increase in soil erosion.

Evidence
Agreement