Analysts agree that climate change is costing Minnesotans money

MINNEAPOLIS – Analysts say Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as the devastation in the Southeast, should remind Minnesotans that weather conditions are changing in the Upper Midwest, too.

Experts say the extreme weather is costing Minnesotans more money. Home contents insurance premiums and deductibles have risen significantly.

WCCO NEXT weather meteorologist Adam Del Rosso says the trends will continue because climate change isn’t stopping.

“Just look at what we saw here. We had a really wet summer and now we’re going into a really dry fall,” Del Rosso said. “From one extreme to the other within a few months. Imagine that on a global scale, and that’s what climate change means to us.”

Professor Andrew Whitman of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management says insurance prices will continue to rise in Minnesota, citing the recent increase in hail and storms in the state.

“Hail has caused so much damage in Minnesota that we have higher deductibles and higher rates,” Whitman said. “I tell people that their cars are the only thing insured against flood and hail… If you can’t afford the premiums, buy an old car.”

Professor Jason Pattit works at the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. He says the weather disasters outside our state also impact us, as Minnesota is home to many large multinational medical device companies.

“When they get hit by the major events, it really hits their supply chains hard,” Whitman said. “It impacts patients who rely on devices and other peripherals from these companies.”

Experts all agree that climate change is costing Minnesotans more, and they expect that trend to continue.