Snow falling across much of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Climate change-enhanced rainfall events threaten nearly 92,000 dams across the U.S. and many are over 100 years old — including dams in Minnesota.  

 wrote about aging dams and the risk for extreme rainfall for Inside Climate News. 

Tigue joined MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner to explain how extreme weather events pose a threat to dams in Minnesota and the Midwest.  

To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

Host

Author

Record rainfall and runoff overwhelmed the 114-year-old Rapidan Dam near Mankato last month. So how safe are our 20th century dams in our new 21st century climate? Kristoffer Tigue talks about the climate’s threat to aging infrastructure. 

Dams across the Midwest are aging, putting them at risk from the effects of climate change

A view of the Blue Earth River after it cleared by the Rapidan Dam.

Dams across the Midwest are aging, putting them at risk from the effects of climate change

Go Deeper.

Like this?

Turn Up Your Support