Minnesota’s climate is famous for its ups, downs, and extremes, but is also experiencing changes unlike anything we have observed previously. This presentation breaks down observed trends in the regional climate to its essential points, emphasizing the rapid rate of winter warming, ongoing changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation, and how these changes differ from other parts of the continent and world. We will distinguish the region’s long-term and/or significant climate trends from typical variability, and will describe how these two interconnected components of our climate can lead to unprecedented conditions. We will also discuss future climate scenarios, and the implications for actual climatic conditions here in Minnesota.