In 2006, Vice President Al Gore's movie, "An Inconvenient Truth" opened the world's eyes to the global warming phenomena like never before. But how well did the world listen? Elizabeth Kolbert of "The New Yorker" is one of the nation's foremost reporters on the subject and she tells us what's happened since and where are we today in the climate change controversy. And we'll talk about the power of weather in movies with MPR's movie blogger extrordinaire, Euan Kerr. Dr. Mark Seeley tells us why SIP isn't just for beverages anymore and Craig Edwards introduces us to The Global Climate Change Research Explorer on our Website of the Week at http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/index.html

Jet Streaming celebrates Earth Day with one of Earth's most stunning displays -- tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and lightning. It's Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Minnesota and Kris Chapin of the Department of Public Safety tells how you can protect yourself from Mother Nature's fireworks. And we'll recap the flood situation in the Red River Valley and what the days ahead may bring there with Hydrologist Steve Buan of the National Weather Service. Dr. Mark Seeley has a weather word and spotlights severe weather safety on our Website of the Week at http://www.severeweather.state.mn.us/index.asp

An outbreak of tornadoes hit the South early this week, but a welcome dry spell came to the Red River Valley. Another piece of good news is that Midwest farmers are planning to get into the fields. Rice County Extension Ag Educator Brad Carlson has the spring planting outlook for Minnesota. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for spring wildfire season in the region. We get the latest from Jean Bergerson at the Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids. Dr. Mark Seeley has a new weather word and Craig Edwards gives us more on wildfire preparation at our Website of the Week at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html

The sun's coming out and the first wave of spring floods in the Red River Valley is past. Mark Ewens of the National Weather Service in Grand Forks updates us on the second crest to come. And Major League Baseball moves back outdoors in the Twin Cities next year. The Minnesota Twins' Dave Horsman tells us how they'll make the call for those rain - or snow - delays. Dr. Mark Seeley brings a baseball-related weather word and Craig Edwards showcases updates on our Website of the Week at www.noaa.gov

The Red River rose to record levels in Fargo-Moorhead this past week and while things may have settled down a bit for now, Mark Ewens of the National Weather Service in Grand Forks tells us what the wily river has in store for points downstream. And while a large part of the country is still fighting snow and floods, Don Burgess of the National Severe Storms Lab in Norman, Oklahoma tells us how they're gearing up for yet another tornado season with new and better technology than ever before. Dr. Mark Seeley brings us two new weather words and Craig Edwards introduces us to the National Weather Center on our Website of the Week at

http://www.nwc.ou.edu/

The Red River of the North is on the rise and residents of Grand Forks, Fargo and beyond are stacking sandbags to fend back the waters. We get an update on the current flood status and what to expect in the days to come from Mark Ewens from the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. And the first-ever "State of the Birds" report has been issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carrol Henderson of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stops by to tell us how our birds are measuring up. Dr. Mark Seeley brings us a new weather word and Craig Edwards gives a bird's eye view of all the spring weather action at our Website of the Week from the National Weather Service's Central Region Headquarters at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/

The Red River is getting deeper - and wider - as the first signs of spring arrive. The newly revised flood outlook for the Red River Valley comes to us from hydrologist Scott Dummer of the North Central River Forecast Center in Chanhassen. And with more and more stories of climate change circulating the globe, there's some potential good news on the global warming front from northern Minnesota, as we hear from MPR reporter Stephanie Hemphill. Dr. Mark Seeley brings in this week's weather words and Craig Edwards points out the new dual polarization radar on our Website of the Week at http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/

The March lion roared this week with blizzards, floods, tornadoes and everything in between pounding the Midwest. What's it like to be inside a whiteout and how common are they? Blizzard watcher Rich Naistat tells all. March also means sweet maple sap is ready to run. Jerry Jacobson of the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers tells us what kind of weather it takes to get sap from the tree and syrup to your table. Severe weather scouts can check out our Website of the Week from the Iowa Mesonet site at http://www.mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/

Winter is hanging on this year and almost feels like the start of a new ice age. But what does it really take to start an ice age? NOAA paleoclimatologist David Anderson reveals what past climates tell us about the future. And a change in the way we look at hail could mean fewer severe thunderstorm warnings this year. Kim Runk of the National Weather Service tells us why the NWS is making changes in how you are warned about severe weather. Learn more about the new one-inch hail warning criteria discussion at the Twin Cities NWS on our Website of the Week at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx/

Water woes continue this week in the drought-plagued Southwest. Can years of drought and continued climate change make parts of that area uninhabitable? We hear about the troubled Colorado River region from Dr. Ken Dewey of the University of Nebraska. And indoor air quality expert Dr. Mark Sneller tells us why some of the worst air you breathe in your life may be inside your home. Keep tabs on the latest drought conditions across the U.S. at our Website of the Week from The National Integrated Drought Information System at http://drought.gov