National climate report expects continued weather extremes in Midwest

 
Wisconsin farmers can expect to see more crops damaged by extreme weather, and residents will see the Great Lakes shrink, forests recede and higher air conditioning bills as a result of climate change.
Those are the highlights from a report the Obama administration released Tuesday. Wisconsin climate experts describe the reports as a summary of studies on challenges created by climate change.
Scientists say Wisconsin has been warming since at least 1950, with longer growing seasons that have benefited some farmers. But those benefits are likely to be offset by damage from floods, drought and other extreme weather.
The report also predicts warmer temperatures will cause Wisconsin’s northern forests to recede and water levels in the Great Lakes to drop, affecting fish.
The report by the National Climate Assessment says a warming planet will worsen a series of weather trends already showing up across the Midwest. Look for more extremes: searing heat, late-spring freezes, floods and droughts across a region that includes Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.

http://www.postcrescent.com/viewart/20140506/APC0101/305060369/National-climate-report-expects-continued-weather-extremes-Midwest