Weather chats with Mark Seeley

A warm start to October reflects a climate change trend

the Whitefish chain
Divers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Whitefish Area Property Owners Association remove starry stonewort by hand in Rush Lake on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. The area where the invasive algae was found in September 2024 has been cordoned off with a silt fence to help contain it.
Kirsti Marohn | MPR News

At the start of October, Minnesotans weren’t greeted with a cool, fall breeze, but a blast of summer-like air. It’s part of a larger trend.

“One of the most significant warming trends of all seasons of the year is in the autumn season,” said meteorologist and climatologist Mark Seeley.

Looking at the last 15 years of autumn in the state, the vast majority have brought extraordinary warmth. September and November have had five consecutive years of above average warmth. October has seen four.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke about the autumn warmth in a weekly weather chat. Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.