Insider Blog

Climatologists are aware of how the climate is changing and are growing more confident in what we can attribute these changes to. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) now says that human influence on the climate is “unequivocal” and evidence for this has only grown in recent years. While it’s clear that human activity

It has been an increasing green screen across much of Mid-Missouri thanks to ahead of schedule tree leafing. This is due to the latest rainfall and well above average temperatures we have seen the last several weeks. The first leaves seen in Missouri are well ahead of schedule with this years first leaves arriving during

March 19th marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This is also known as the spring or vernal equinox. This marks the first day astronomical spring falling 18 days behind meteorological spring. Seasons occur for everyone across the entirety of the earth due to its 23.5 degree tilt on its axis. Depending

Temperatures this past Sunday night bottomed out at 24 degrees for the city of Columbia. If you have taken a stroll through most wooded areas around Mid-Missouri, you probably noticed a short period of flowers blooming. This early on-sent of pre mature blooming and budding has put plants at risk of damages from these cooler

Weather disasters are on the rise and affecting more of the population and property as a result. The number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year has increased from single digits at the start of the century to several dozen as we began the 2020s. Of all these disasters flooding is an associated threat in

Springtime brings warmer and wetter conditions but it also means a higher chance for severe weather. Of all severe weather and disasters flooding is by far the most common threat. Flooding is associated with 90% of weather disasters throughout the year so it’s important to stay prepared. The spring in particular is the most worrisome

Spring has sprung ahead of schedule this year with warmer and wetter conditions moving in quick. This isn’t a new trend, as spring has been pushing earlier every year, and this brings lots of shifts to the environment. In previous Climate Matters, we’ve looked at how shorter winters lead to changes in crop season and

It’s the third day of severe weather preparedness week in Missouri and Wednesday’s focus is tornado safety. Earlier today at 11 a.m., the state conducted an organized tornado warning system test. Many people were able to hear the tornado sirens whine from county to county. The tornado siren is effective when positioned outdoors, but residents

The second day of severe weather preparedness week focuses on lightning safety. Although these power bolts can make for some beautiful sights, it can also lead to deadly ones. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that 81 people have died from lightning from 2019-2023. A greater portion of this totals belongs to

Wildfires have been cropping up more across Mid-Missouri recently as dry conditions continue. Heading into early spring is one of the worst times for fires locally as dead vegetation can burn and be swept around by spring winds. This year’s drought has especially contributed to dry fuels in the area that can easily spread blazes

The Smokehouse Creek Wildfire continues to spread thanks to high winds and drought like conditions over the Texas Panhandle. Over 5000,000 acres has burned in North Texas as a result of wildfires that continue to rage on with little to no progress on containment. Over 1,000 people have been affected by these fires affected 621