I was pleased to see the Albert Lea Tribune editorial “Make Time to Read the EQB’s Environmental Report Card” Dec. 21. As that editorial noted, a report provided by the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board anticipates that climate change will cause more frequent mega-rains within our state. Scientists have long predicted a major impact of climate change in Minnesota will be more severe storms. Weather records show we are already experiencing more frequent property and crop damage than in the past.

Per the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there were four mega-rain events in the 100 years from 1866 to 1965. During the 33 years following 1965, there were three such events and Minnesota has recorded five mega-rains in only 14 years from 2000 to 2014. This year alone, Minnesota has already recorded two of these events.

An upcoming opportunity to learn more about mega-rains and other negative impacts of climate change in Minnesota is to tune in at 9:30 p.m. Thursday for “The Cost of Climate Change in Minnesota” on the TPT-MN channel. This program features Bob Johnson of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota discussing the rapid increase in Minnesota home insurance premiums due to the rising number of severe hail storms.

“The Cost of Climate Change in Minnesota” also features meteorologist Paul Douglas and Minnesota climate historian Mark Seeley. I hope you’ll tune in to watch it Thursday!

Samantha Baxter

Glenville