The Regional Climate Centers

Regional Climate Centers
High Plains Regional Climate Center
Northeast Regional Climate Center
Midwestern Regional Climate Center
Southeast Regional Climate Center
Southern Regional Climate Center
Western Regional Climate Center

Climate problems tend to be regional in scale. That is, climate anomalies such as droughts, heat waves, and blizzards typically affect an area larger than one state but not the entire country at one time. The National Climatic Data Center's Regional Climate Centers Program was developed to meet local and regional needs for climate data, research-based information, and expertise.

A nationwide network of six regional centers provides convenient and timely access to accurate and reliable climate information. These centers also monitor and report current climate conditions in the regions they serve. The expertise and data resources of the Regional Climate Centers are available to assist in interpreting present conditions, quantifying climate variability, and assessing the likelihood of extreme weather events that often produce major social, economic and environmental impacts in a region.

Regional Climate Centers serve as a resource for state and local government agencies, businesses, public utilities, professionals, and private citizens. Climate data and information is essential in the planning and management of capital projects, settling insurance claims and legal disputes, and reducing risks associated with climate anomalies. Climate analyses can help in mitigating the effects of (or taking advantage of) climate variability in scheduling activities such as the transportation of materials and the production and marketing of seasonal products and services.