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Crews battling wildfires in northeastern Minnesota have had to contend with windy conditions today. East winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour have been accompanied by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour.And meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says that while a system will bring rain to the state today through Wednesday, it's expected to miss the region where fires are burning.Those stories and more in today's evening update from MPR News. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.
Another winter spring storm is taking aim at Minnesota. After a warm and sunny start to the week, snow could make its return to the southern part of the state. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined Minnesota Now to explain.
A messy spring storm is headed our way. Southern Minnesota is under a blizzard warning for Tuesday evening and the Twin Cities is under a winter storm warning. What can we expect out of this system? MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined MPR News host Nina Moini with the latest on winter storm warnings, advisories and weather whiplash.
If you stepped outside recently, you definitely felt it. It's starting to feel like spring! Mild weather has wiped out most of the snow we got earlier in February. That has pushed events like the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon to move further north in search of better snow. But it is welcome news for those who are feeling ready for winter to be over. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joins MPR News host Nina Moini with an outlook on the changing season.
A new report looks at the contributions of immigrants to Minnesota's economy. It found that foreign-born workers are making up an increasing share of the state's workforce. We talk to an official behind the report about what that means for the state's economy. A food bank in northern Minnesota is expanding to feed more people in the area. They are opening a new facility. We hear from the CEO of Second Harvest Northland.Plus, rain in February! We check in with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard for the forecast. And we go Out to Lunch, this time with Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth. We hear about everything from her love for spicy food to her unconventional path into politics.The Minnesota Music Minute was Bob Dylan's song “Girl from the North Country” and “Alive (For the Second Time)” by Faux Pseudo was the Song of the Day.
The Antarctic is warming. This means, the ice sheet in the Antarctic Peninsula is shrinking, and ice is breaking off the continent. “The largest icebergs on the planet are going around the Antarctic Peninsula … because these are breaking off the ice sheets as there's warming,” said MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, who recently traveled to Antarctica to witness the effects of climate change first hand. “These giant icebergs are very impressive. And then you realize that [the ice sheet] is going to melt,” he said. “It is melting slowly but surely, and will contribute to sea level rise.”To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
Wind and even some snow began to whip wildly in the Twin Cities metro Wednesday morning and much of the state faces a wind advisory for Wednesday afternoon. That plus falling temperatures from north to south are making for a potentially brutal chill this evening. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joins host Nina Moini with more on what's to come, including potential snow for much of the state.
Minnesota Now is celebrating its third anniversary in a big way — with a quiz show in front of a live studio audience, hosted by Cathy Wurzer and Tane Danger. Two teams face off head-to-head to answer questions about Minnesota news from the past year, Minnesota music and more. Hip hop artist Nur-D leads one team, joined by Minnesota Now newscaster Emily Reese and former MPR politics editor Mike Mulcahy. Chef Yia Vang serves as the team captain with MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard and incoming Minnesota Now host Nina Moini. Watch the quiz show on the MPR News YouTube page.
School is back in session and can you believe it? Meteorological summer technically ended on Saturday. The weather has been absolutely lovely this week but we will start feeling those fall temperatures soon.MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with a weather update.
The Twin Cities, Mankato, Rochester and a part of western Wisconsin were under an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. Monday.Folks going to the state fair were warned to stay hydrated and take it easy. But what about the thousands of animals at the fair?MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the heat. And she checked in with State Fair veterinarian Scott Lang from Waseca Veterinary Clinic.
It's going to start feeling more like summer across Minnesota by this weekend. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says the region will see a change in the pattern that's been dominating the weather in recent weeks.The Mississippi River dropped below flood stage at Saint Paul last night as water levels on most rivers across the state continue to slowly fall.Those stories and more in today's evening news update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.
Severe weather is forecasted to roll into Minnesota Tuesday afternoon and evening. It has rained somewhere in Minnesota pretty much all day, with showers expected to turn into severe thunderstorms. Much of Minnesota is also under a flood watch, from the international border to Iowa. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to break it all down.
On Monday, lawmakers heard a bill that would make swatting public officials a felony. Swatting is when someone makes a false emergency call of a violent incident such as a mass shooting or bomb threat, prompting the dispatch of emergency responders. We heard more about the dangers of swatting.A veteran walked from Minnesota to Texas to witness Monday's solar eclipse and raise money for the non-profit 23rd Veteran. He joined the show with a message for veterans like him. We also got live updates from the eclipse from MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, who traveled to Indiana to get the best view.The final game in the women's NCAA basketball championship was Sunday. Minnesota native Tessa Johnson led University of South Carolina to their victory. We spoke with her high school coach to get a glimpse into her beginnings, as well as his reaction to her early success.And for the cherry on top, we had an inside look at a group that brings together Catholics nuns with nonreligious people for spiritual conversations.
Many parts of the country saw a total solar eclipse Monday. Here in Minnesota experienced a partial eclipse, but the clouds blocked most Minnesotans from seeing it.MPR News' Sven Sundgaard was in the path of totality in Indiana and joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer live to talk about what he was seeing.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
The FBI has returned a pair of ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz to their out of state owner —nearly two decades after a thief stole them from a northern Minnesota museum. And parts of Minnesota could see significant snow over the next week. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard says there'll be a warm-up tomorrow before another shot of cold air on Wednesday, ahead of the precipitation.Those stories and more in today's evening news update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.
Locals in the Galapagos say climate change and the current Super El Niño could be affecting the marine life and climate there.The Galapagos Islands sit on the Equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, just west of Ecuador at the confluence of three major ocean currents.MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard just returned from the islands on a trip where he got a first-hand look at what's happening.
A new report on the shape of Minnesota's budget. A surplus is likely in the short-term, but there could be trouble in the long run.Minnesota college students are in Dubai for the annual united nations climate change conference, or COP28. They tell MPR News what they've learned so far.It doesn't feel or look like winter out there yet. What's going on? MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard breaks it down for us. And the first night of Hanukkah is Thursday — and a local musician is celebrating with a series of sing-alongs. We also have our song of the day and the Minnesota Music Minute.
If you look outside it doesn't feel like winter — and doesn't really look like winter in most of the state.To break down why this is happening and our next chance for snow is MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard, in for Paul Huttner this week.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard just got back from leading a learning vacation with 12 other Minnesotans to Churchill, Manitoba — the “polar bear capital of the world.” Sundgaard, along with Doug Clark from the University of Saskatchewan, conducted lectures on the changing climate of the region and its impact on polar bears. It takes a special kind of hardy person to live out on the wind-whipped tundra off Hudson Bay. Dave Daley and his rescued sled dogs have lived here their whole lives.“I've never had to kill a bear — well a polar bear. I like eating black bears. The point is I've been charged several times by bears,” Daley said.The people of Churchill, Manitoba, fully realize the potential dangers of living with polar bears, especially during “bear season.”“Compared to the other bear species, polar bears are way more likely to exhibit predatory behavior on people.” Doug Clark said. He's a scientist that's studied polar bear behavior for decades, and more recently has tried to understand what might cause more polar bear and human interactions: “All the great research that's been done on bear-human interactions over the years was all done with the assumption that the physical environment, the biological environment, was stable and that's no longer the case,” Clark said. “We need to be looking more closely at what environmental variability will mean for interaction of all bear species. If things changing means things are likelier to go bad, we probably need to rethink the rules and adapt.” Those rules are changing. The arctic and subarctic regions are warming at a pace faster than the rest of the planet and that has impacts on the planet's biggest land predator. “Here in Hudson Bay, every year the ice melts out for typically four or five months. That time of year that the ice melts and stays out has grown longer on average the past few decades,” Clark said. “Your own work here shows the bumpy signal and it can really vary year to year, but the long term trends are really clear.” Polar bears need sea ice to hunt their main source of food: seals. More days on land means polar bears and humans could be facing each other more, but every bear is different and the local people understand that dynamic.Daley sums up living with polar bears: “Bears are like dogs. They have different personalities, too. I've seen mean bears, shy bears. I've seen disrespectful bears and respectful bears. It's just a matter of getting to know your area, who lives in there and what you have to deal with.” The prevailing thought has been that skinny bears may be the bigger problem, looking for a meal and potentially running into people, but Clark's recent work shows that might not be the case.“It turns out that skinny bears, around here at least, are no more likely to come around camps or the study center any more than other bears,” Clark said. “The main push is how long they've been off the ice.” This year has seen a long period on land for polar bears. The ice went out early this summer with 90 degree temperatures recorded in Churchill — the 10th hottest ever recorded. Clark said the activity we saw this year was unusual compared to my previous two visits: “Just going in and out of town we've seen bears, which seems unusual, too, and this year we have a late freeze up again.”“This is a really interesting year. It's not abnormal to see a lot of bears around this year, you're right — it's a really busy year for bears,” Clark said. “People are seeing them all the time. Honestly I'm surprised we didn't see one today given what we were doing and where we were, but this is a year where everyone's saying ‘be on your toes.'” An increasing number of years with bad ice is leading to a decline in the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population. A recent survey showed a 27 percent decline in just five years. Some of that was movement to other areas, but some was a significant drop. “Reproduction of the Western Hudson Bay population is still very low. Survival of subadults is really low,” Clark said. “Once a bear makes it to adulthood, they're usually OK. But it's those younger years that are the toughest on them.” It's unlikely polar bears will go extinct soon, but they will almost certainly disappear from some of their current range.I asked Clark if Churchill will still be the “polar bear capital of the world” in a century: “I think in a century it's a fairly safe bet to say probably not. But at the same time, I don't think the species is going to go extinct.”There's been an important shift in recent years involving Indigenous people and local populations in the north in the management and science of polar bears, climate and conservation.“A lot of northern communities have things done to them in the name of science and conservation, and there's some redress to be had and we need to do a better job because those folks deserve us doing a better job than has been the case so far,” Clark said. “And they'll be the most affected or not by the success of the polar bear.”“They've got the most at stake in all of this. Really it's the fundamental principle of fairness: those with the most at stake should have a say in the decisions.”
MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard saw 17 or 18 polar bears during his first full day on the Canadian tundra Tuesday. Sundgaard is in Churchill, Manitoba, the “polar bear capital of the world,” leading a learning vacation of 12 Minnesotans to see the polar bears and learn about how they're being affected by a rapidly warming climate. He spoke with MPR News guest host Catharine Richert on Minnesota Now about his trip.For the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or read Sven's brief below.The crew is traveling via a tundra buggy — a “school bus on steroids.” It has monster truck tires, sitting comfortably high enough to keep a safe distance between people and polar bears. The tundra is normally frozen by this time of year but mild temperatures have kept parts of it muddy and slushy, making for tough going in some spots. Sundgaard and crew almost got stuck as did another tundra buggy. The mild temperatures are also creating yet another year with a slow freeze up of sea ice on Hudson Bay. Sea ice is essential for polar bears to hunt seals, their primary source of calories. The ice also went out early this year thanks to a very warm spring and summer — so the bears are hungry and most haven't eaten much since July. The crew saw bears sparring, a sort of play-fighting where male polar bears size each other up. Come spring this will be real fighting for who gets females when it comes to mating. One male did sustain a wound with some blood on his face.About 2 inches of snow and high winds blew in Tuesday night ahead of a cold front.
Minnesota has seen some beautiful sunny temperatures so far this November. So MPR Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard decided to escape to the cold. He is high up in the Canadian tundra in Churchill, Manitoba, the ‘polar bear capital' of the world leading a ‘learning vacation' of twelve Minnesotans to see the polar bears and learn about how they're being affected by a rapidly warming climate. MPR's Catherine Richert spoke to him about his trip to Churchill, polar bears, and climate change.
You either love or hate this extended warm weather. But for our local ski resorts at the mercy of mother nature. They're playing the waiting game to get the slopes open. We'll talk to an official at Trollhaugen with how the above average temps are impacting this ski season.Next week will be the 60th anniversary of the first kidney transplant from a living donor. We'll talk with a doctor about another milestone that took place last month — the first robot-assisted kidney transplant. We;ll drop in on meteorologist Sven Sundgaard in Canada, where he's learning about climate change and polar bears. And well dig into the debate over how nuclear power should fit into Minnesota's renewable energy goals. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
A new survey finds Americans have positive attitudes toward democracy but tend to avoid talking about politics. One of the researchers behind the "Mood of the Nation" poll explains why. If you struggle to sleep in the heat, know that cooler evening temperatures are in the forecast! We get the weather outlook from meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. An expert gardener shares some tips for mid-summer planting and harvesting.We meet an artisan who is crafting furniture — and snare drums! — out of a shop in St. Paul.And Minneapolis journalist Katie Thornton takes us to Frankfurt, Germany - via an art exhibit - to find the story behind the design of the modern kitchen.
The rain wasn't ideal for your Fourth of July plans — but did it put a dent in the drought conditions across the state?Let's find out from MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. He talked with MPR News guest host Emily Bright.
More than a year after the Feeding Our Future scandal that allegedly saw millions in stolen aid, Minnesota nonprofits are getting a billion dollars in funding. Lawmakers say they have increased transparency and accountability measures to stave off wrongdoing. And new information out today about the delays and cost overruns of the Southwest Light Rail Transit project, now a decade behind schedule.Plus, another hazy, cloudy day in Minnesota. Sven Sundgaard shares our Fourth of July forecast and whether clear skies are in our future.And we'll head to the Northwest Angle of Minesota for the story of a well-loved resort preparing for a big celebration... and transition.
Updated: 2 p.m.Canadian wildfire smoke has blown into central and southern Minnesota, which is under an air quality alert through Wednesday night. The state has now surpassed its average air quality alert count ten times over.The average number of air quality alerts in a year is two or three. This week marks 23. The previous record was 21 alerts issued in 2021.Where is the worst air?Wednesday's air quality alert comes from smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says. The alert includes the Twin Cities metro, Albert Lea, Marshall, Worthington, Rochester, Hinckley, Winona, Mankato and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux, Prairie Island and Mille Lacs. The alert area no longer includes northeast Minnesota.Fine particle levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels in the metro, Albert Lea, Rochester, Winona, Mankato, Marshall, Worthington and the tribal nations of Upper Sioux and Prairie Island. The MPCA says everyone in those areas should “limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.” Areas with air quality levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups include Brainerd, Hinckley, Alexandria and the tribal nation of Mille Lacs. Sensitive groups should limit outdoors and exercise time, the MPCA says.View an interactive map of air quality on the MPCA's website.A cold front is expected to move across the state Wednesday afternoon and bring cleaner air from the west by midnight.Is this our new normal?Fire seasons are becoming more severe, longer and more frequent because of climate change, which is also causing more extreme weather.Minnesota is getting wetter with time, but the state has seen record wet years in 2016 and 2019 followed by a few years of drought.Canada is facing the same; droughts, extreme cold and wet periods have frequented the country.The state will likely see more frequent periods of worsened air quality in the coming years, depending on weather patterns like flooding and wet periods.Air quality index in Minnesotahttps://www.mprnews.org/wildfiresBehind the Canadian wildfiresFires in western Canada started this spring. Since then, hot and dry conditions started fires in eastern Canada that are still going strong — that's where smoke has been coming from these past few weeks.Those eastern fires are currently affecting areas beyond Minnesota: Haze has settled over most of the Great Lakes region, while unhealthy air has moved as far south as Kentucky and Missouri.Rain plays a role in air quality, both for better and worse.Precipitation earlier in June pushed wildfire smoke down to the surface and worsened the air quality. But a significant amount of heavy rain — like showers and thunderstorms expected Wednesday across parts of Minnesota — can clear up fine particulates and alleviate air quality concerns.People can make their own indoor air filters by attaching furnace filters to the backs of box fans. Wildfire smoke in Minnesota: How to best protect your health and your home Minnesota sets record for most air quality alerts in a season The latest on wildfires in Minnesota Quiet on the severe weather frontApart from Saturday's storms, which accounted for 39 percent of Minnesota's severe weather warnings this season so far, it's been a quiet summer for intense storms.The state is in its least-active severe weather season since 1995. Last year, Minnesota's severe weather season kicked off with a record start.Get the latest weather news, updates and forecasts on Updraft. The MPCA has updates on current air quality conditions.Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation on Minnesota Now with MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard and MPR News host Emily Bright.Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Many Minnesotans woke up this morning to air quality alerts this morning, and while air quality is expected to improve throughout the day and into Friday, as of noon the air in Southwest Minnesota is still classified as unhealthy for people with lung or heart disease, older people, and the very young. Yesterday smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over the middle of the state, casting what looked like low-level smog over us, causing record poor air quality for the metro. If you were outside at all, you felt it, you could almost taste it, and it wasn't good. Experts say this will probably not be the last time the air will be smoky this summer. Host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Mayo Clinic Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn about the short- and long-term health impacts of breathing wildfire smoke. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard puts the Air Quality Index in context and gives us the weather forecast.
Despite spring flooding, we are inching back into another summer drought. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard talks about the dry conditions with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer. Plus, Wurzer spoke with a Duluth-area farmer about how he's adapting. Juneteenth is a state holiday this year, but what's the meaning behind the day? A playwright and local changemaker shared with Wurzer how she's spreading the story. Old age comes for everyone, but trans elders face unique challenges. We heard from the folks behind a study casting a light on those issues. And sports guys Wally and Eric gave us the lowdown on the Twins, Lynx and that big PGA tour news.
It's the last day of May, but it sure feels like summer already. It's been warm and humid with some rumblings of overnight thunder in the forecast. MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined the show give MPR News host Cathy Wurzer all the details.
Weather nerds, this one's for you. Minnesota Now is dedicating time to all five of MPR News contributing meteorologists, who have a combined 150 years of forecasting experience. With MPR News host Cathy Wurzer, they looked back at major Minnesota weather events and their favorite parts of meteorology. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke to MPR Chief meteorologist Paul Huttner, along with Sven Sundgaard, Ron Trenda, Bill Endersen, and Mark Seeley, retired University of Minnesota climatologist and meteorologist.
Here we go again with the snow. Sven Sundgaard is here to tell us what to expect tonight and over the weekend. African American railway workers are the stars of a new exhibit at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. We'll hear about their impact and what their jobs were like. And we'll talk about a program giving incarcerated parents a chance to see their children in person. A Twin Cities artist and curator is making space for Black millennial creatives. We'll hear about her vision. And the next in our series, “Thank You, Stranger,” stories about people helping each other in surprising ways. This one will give you chills. It's time for boy's state hockey! We'll talk about that and much more with our sports guys Wally and Eric.
Our top story continues to be the weather. MPR news host Cathy Wurzer got an updated forecast from MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard as the snow finally starts winding down. Friday is the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. MPR News reporter Tim Nelson is checked in with his friend Brian Bonner in Ukraine about how things have changed since then. Lots of businesses were closed Thursday because of the snow. But you can usually expect a truck stop to stay open through it all. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer checked in with a truck stop in Mankato about how they've been faring through the storm and what they've seen. In our Minnesota Now and Then segment we looked back on the story of a legendary Cook County Sheriff and an escaped lion. The Minnesota Now sports guys Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson are back with the latest on high school state tournaments, Twins spring training, Minnesota United and more. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Heavy snow has blanketed much of southern and eastern Minnesota this week. Though the storm was not quite as historic as predicted by some early forecasts, it has posed challenges for travel and parking across the region. MPR News host Angela Davis checked in with MPR News reporters and drivers about the storm conditions around the state. She also talked with Kevin Reed, Interim director of Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and Lt. Gordon Shank, public information officer with the Minnesota State Patrol. They gave advice what to do if someone is involved in an accident. Here are some highlights of the conversation. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Click the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. What to do if you get stranded or in a crash Kevin Reed: The first thing is to call 911. Secondly, stay within your vehicle because that's going to be the safest place for you. We're going to tell you to bring some stuff, a blanket, a hat because you know it's going to be cold. Take time to figure out what your route is and what possibly could happen. Make sure you have a charger and make sure you have the things that you would need just to sit tight for a little while because it may delay somebody coming to help you. Lt. Gordon Shank: We've noticed our crashes aren't as high as some people might have thought they'd been. And I think that's just because drivers are waiting to go out until conditions improve. We hope people continue to do that. If you have to go out, give yourself extra time, plenty of time to get where you need to go and drive slower than the speed limit. If you have to go on the exit ramps, know that those are some of our challenging areas where we do see a lot of crashes and vehicles off-road. If you do, unfortunately, find yourself in a ditch or a crash, if you can move that crash off the freeway, we ask you to do that. It's safer for everybody involved. Buckle up and call 911. We'll get there as soon as we can but we need to know where you're at. The safest place to be is sitting inside your vehicle. What did Minnesota look like during the storm? Our colleagues all around the state shared their opinions and experiences. Let's explore what they said. ‘Wind gusts in the Twin Cities were upwards of 40 miles an hour overnight' The problem with removing snow in this situation is that it blows it back over the roads or your driveway. That's all the MnDOT crews are really gonna have to deal with today. The snow is winding down but it's going to take a while to clean up, especially until that wind dies down, which really won't come until probably the evening hours Thursday. Friday morning the wind will be much lighter, but a breeze will make it feel more like it's in the teens below zero in the Metro area, and 30s below zero for wind chills in the west central part state. – Sven Sundgaard, MPR News meteorologist ‘Like looking into a snow globe' I live in New Ulm, southwestern Minnesota. It's difficult to exactly tell how much new snow fell overnight because there's so much blowing and drifting. We've been shoveling frequently to stay ahead of the snow. More than a half a dozen counties have at least some roads closed in southwestern Minnesota. But I should say that it's not uncommon for us to close roads down because of wind causing snow to drop and reducing visibility. I haven't heard too many reports of drivers getting stranded. Overall, I feel like there was a lot of preparation and planning that seems to have made things a lot smoother than the storm we had around the holidays. – Hannah Yang, MPR News reporter ‘This last inch of snow is the tough one' I talked to Anne Meyer this morning from MnDOT and she said: “It's this last inch, even if it looks clear, this last inch is a tough one. For drivers, it's going to be compacted and slippery. For plows, it's very difficult to get up. So they're going to be going at it all day.” On all these interstates, you're gonna see county plows, city plows … we're into the tough nut of the winter here. Safety barriers are up to a certain height and at some point, the snow gets so high that a car will go up the snow and clear a safety barrier. So you're gonna see heavy equipment out this weekend and loaders clearing those guardrails and those bridge decks so that they are as safe as they are when there's no snow there. People are heeding this warning to stay off the roads. – Tim Nelson, MPR News reporter ‘Airport traffic has not been chaotic' It's been a pretty quiet morning at the airport. The same for yesterday. We have had about 300 canceled flights so far this morning, but I think folks probably found out that their flight was canceled when they were at home or at a hotel. I'm looking at the check-in lines right now. They're not long. Folks are able to just sort of walk in, check in and get to their scheduled flight. The common theme among a lot of the folks who were getting here this morning was the roads were a mess. But a lot of them were also just staying at nearby hotels and took a shuttle. That's actually what I did to avoid the drive this morning. I can only imagine what the freeways were like this morning. – Sarah Thamer, MPR News reporter Delayed and closed schools My kids are not happy about school being late, they were really hoping for a snow day today. I have been checking around and it looks like a lot of schools are closed since yesterday in the St. Cloud area and today they are having e-learning days. So it kind of varies. Schools were waiting just to see what the snowfall totals actually were and I think they were a little bit less than some of the initial predictions. So they're hoping that things clear up. I know the plows are out on our streets here, but for instance, my car is stuck in the alley. It is going to be really a challenge to get anywhere. – Kirsti Marohn, MPR News reporter The storm impacted childcare in some communities Rochester is unique because it's such a huge medical community. When we have a snow day, after school and before school care will remain open during that day. But even that has been canceled in the last couple of days. If you're a nurse who's working in the ICU, you still have to go to work and you don't have much of a choice, but maybe you don't have anywhere to send your kids. What was unusual about this storm is that we saw a lot of additional closures we don't typically see like daycare centers. Also, we are operating on sort of a limited bus route schedule this morning. Some routes have been entirely closed for the day, and that is a little unusual. I think we feel those impacts a little bit more in terms of the workforce here. – Catharine Richert, MPR News reporter ‘The Birkie race has never been canceled for too much snow' I talked to the organizers of the Birkie yesterday and the concern is that they know that some people are probably not going to be able to make it to the race. People come from all over the country and all over the world. 20 people from 20 different countries come to the Birkie and some flights have been canceled. Luckily the big races are Friday and Saturday, so they're hoping that most folks driving in from the Twin Cities, Duluth and elsewhere, should be able to make it. It's funny that the race has been canceled in the past for not enough snow, it's never been canceled for too much snow. So organizers are pretty excited about all this snow in the good conditions that skiers should have. – Dan Kraker, MPR News reporter Your experiences with road conditions Minnesotans called into the show and shared their experiences. Here are a few of them. ‘We need MnDOT more than we are used to' I think MnDOT needs to be more up to par and instead of waiting until the snow is done falling, we should have trucks out to help people deal with this. We know that snow is coming and people are sliding or getting caught on the sides of the roads and stuff. I drove probably like three miles from home to work and it was terrible. And I just feel sorry for the people that have to really commute far. It was a slippery, deep snow type of drive. – Nate in Fridley ‘We've been plowing 30 hours or more straight' I have been plowing for the better part of the last couple of days here. That's kind of the hard part of snowstorms like this, we ended up spending 30 hours or more straight trying to keep up with it. I'm on my third pass through Edina and Bloomington and there is another fresh layer of snow on the ground. I've got to go clean up again. I'm in a giant excavator and it has gotten stuck a few times tonight because of the wet heavy nature of it. When there's a lot of traffic on the road, it's not only dangerous, but it also complicates the effectiveness of our job. – Kyle in Minneapolis ‘Thank you for staying home' I'm a plow driver and I just want to share that it's really nice that there aren't a lot of people on the road. Having that less traffic out there makes it easier to do the work. It makes a world of difference because otherwise, people get stuck, they spin out and that makes our job a lot harder. So it's great for people to stay home. – Anne in Oakdale
The World Health Organization calls the new Omicron subvariant the "most transmissible yet." Host Cathy Wurzer talks with Dr. Michael Osterholm about its impact in the state. Minnesota's top federal official Andy Luger is trying to crack down on guns and crime. Reporter Matt Sepic shares what he learned from talking with the U.S. Attorney. Sven Sundgaard explains why most of the state is under an air quality alert. Suburban Brooklyn Center's police department posted a video to recruit new officers. But some community members say it was too militaristic. We'll talk about the controversy. Finally, many of us are trying to become new people in the new year. We'll hear from two local dads who tried to become pro wrestlers.
Most of the state is under an air quality alert, which means people with lung disease, asthma, heart disease, and children and older adults may experience side effects. Host Cathy Wurzer talked with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about what's causing these conditions.
Tuesday's snowstorm feels like Groundhog Day after a series of similar snowstorms this winter. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to give us the where, when and how much. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
The winter storm is once again our top story. No matter where you are in Minnesota, there's some kind of weather warning in effect...be it Blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings or wind chill advisories. Quite a week for all this and it may hamper some travel plans. Our meteorologist Sven Sundgaard is on the line with more details.
We're in for a messy weather week — between snow, ice and rain. We'll have the latest from our meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. And a lot of people are sick with RSV, flu and COVID-19. We'll talk with a doctor from Mayo who will answer your questions. Jean Tretter was a lifelong advocate and historian for LGBTQ communities in Minnesota. He died last week. We find out how his legacy is living on. And it's almost Kwanzaa time! There's a big celebration at North High in Minneapolis this week. We talk with one woman who decided to center her life around the celebration.
While much of Northern and Western Minnesota face a winter storm watch, the metro area and points south will see rain and ice. To fill us in on the details, Sven Sundgaard joined host Cathy Wurzer.
There were hundreds of crashes across the state in the aftermath of Tuesday's snowstorm. There were dozens of jackknifed semi trucks, vehicle spin-outs, and at least forty people injured, according to the state patrol. MPR News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard joined host Cathy Wurzer for a look at just how much snow Minnesota got on Tuesday, and what December might look like. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
The Minnesota-based movie "Hockeyland" is getting some buzz - we talk with the director. Sven Sundgaard has weather details and we have a preview of this year's line up at the Guthrie Theatre.
Sven Sundgaard and Robby McEachren, the celebrity emcees of Pride in the Park talk about their regard for the Northfield Community.
Sven Sundgaard joins host Cathy Wurzer to discuss even more spring precipitation and hope for upcoming warm temps.
SummaryEven as a kid, Sven Sundgaard was driven by curiosity. He noticed snow levels were declining in Minnesota and he wondered why. His curiosity led him to become a meteorologist and to dedicate himself to educating people about the need to live in harmony with the planet.GuestSven SundgaardHighlightsSven Sundgaard grew up ski jumping, which made him pay attention to the weather and declining snow levels. He learned to be curious about the world around him from his father, and his curiosity drove him to pursue science and meteorology. As a broadcaster, Sven works to help people better understand weather and climate and what it means to live sustainably. Sven believes if we understand our connection to the planet, humans will still make the right decisions for a better future.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven’s weather with Matt every Thursday at 5:35.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard provides detailed forecasts for BringMeTheNews and his brand new Patreon, as well as making regular appearances on the Matt McNeil Show every Thursday at 5:35.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Sven joins Matt to recap yesterday’s unprecedented weather. Catch Sven every Thursday at 5:35 on the Matt McNeil Show.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt is joined by meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. They talk about certain worms being invasive species, the cold snap we saw earlier this week, the possibility of a 60 degree day next week and of course this weekend’s big snowstorm that’s on the way.
Every gardener wants to know our Minnesota winter forecast. Our plants depend on a deep layer of snow to make it through our cold temperatures.Sven Sundgaard details what we can expect this winter for snow and temperatures here in Minnesota.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt is joined by Bring Me the News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. They talk about Sven’s winter forecast preview, wild fires expanding to Montana, snow chances for the Twin Cities the next few days and more.
Cory shares his thoughts and concerned about the MLB lockout which began last night. Later, we have some talk about our first memories of the internet and how 1/3 of the world has still never logged on in their lives. Plus, Sven Sundgaard joins to talk about our warm start to December and how much cold and snow he expects to see this winter in Minnesota. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven every Thursday at 5:35 with a weekly weather update on the Matt McNeil Show.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven every Thursday at 5:35 on the Matt McNeil Show with your weekly weather update.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven’s weather every Thursday around 5:35 PM on the Matt McNeil Show!
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Sven Sundgaard joins Matt for his weekly weather update.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt McNeil is joined by Bring Me the News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. They talk about the abnormally hot and humid late September weather, some rain in the weekend forecast, problems with long-term forecasting several months out, the remainder of the hurricane season, fall colors in the Twin Cities and more.
In this episode of Conversations with Chanda, Minneapolis Foundation President & CEO R.T. Rybak steps in as guest host and speaks with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the urgency of climate change and what needs to be done. Sven and R.T. explore how to better explain this increasingly pressing issue to children and others with examples from here in Minnesota and around the world. If you'd like to watch this podcast, check out the Minneapolis Foundation's YouTube channel.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven Sundgaard with Matt every Thursday at 5:35 here on AM950!
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Catch Sven every Thursday on the Matt McNeil Show at 5:30!
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt is joined by meteorologist Sven Sundgaard of Bring Me the News. It’s a rare day where we can actually talk about rain! Unfortunately we’re still so far behind on rain that almost all of Minnesota remains in a drought. They also discuss how the heat dome that’s currently over the western US could move…
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
we are back in person, this week talking with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. Sven and I talk about the digital platforms he's talking weather on, his interim job teaching at Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School, and celebrating Pride as a very public figure, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt speaks with meteorologist Sven Sundgaard of Bring Me the News. They discuss some warm temps Antarctica is experiencing right now, last night’s sever weather and tornadoes around the metro area, the conditions that led to those storms, the torrential rain Louisiana is receiving and more!
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard of Bring Me the News joins to talk about how young owls grow up (and sometimes fall from trees), loons in Wisconsin falling out of the sky because their wings were freezing, when we can expect a consistent warm up in Minnesota and more!
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
This episode features local meteorologist, conservationist and climate activist Sven Sundgaard. We discuss all things Minnesota, meteorology, climate science, climate change and more! You can follow Sven for routine weather updates and more, on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Links below: Facebook YouTube Twitter Coffee! If you enjoy coffee and regional craft roasts from small businesses in the heart of the Appalachia sound good to you, The Grind has you covered. Their premium, high-quality beans and tight-knit supplier partnerships make them the best choice for meeting all your caffeinated needs. Visit https://www.thegrindbluefield.com/shop-coffee-roasts to pick out your next coffee beans and brew a pot of happiness. “The Grind never stops.” Supporting Us If you like our content and would like to support us, please be sure to subscribe, like (or review) and share with your own mycelial networks. Our quick links can be found below: Our official website- illuminatingmyceliumpodcast.com Merchandise & Apparel Shop- illuminatingmyceliumpodcast.com/shop Subscribe to our newsletter Email me: projectdave@illuminatingmyceliumpodcast.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/illuminatingmyceliumpod/message
On this week's Throwing Shade, Bryan talks about Minneapolis weatherman Sven Sundgaard who was fired after aptly criticizing lockdown protesters as “white nationalist Nazi sympathizer gun fetishist miscreants.” Then, Erin discusses the case of EMT Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by Kentucky police after they entered the wrong apartment, and why the story hasn't gained the traction it deserves. And make sure to check out Deeper Shade of Shade on Stitcher Premium, where Bryan and Erin interview their favorite friends of the show. For a free month of listening, go to stitcherpremium.com/shade and use promo code ‘SHADE'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.