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The Wisconsin State Climatology Office is affiliated with the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Our
mission
is to manage data for climate monitoring, to provide
climate information to Wisconsin residents and government agencies,
to develop "value-added" products for users and impact applications, and
to conduct applied
climate research.
Detailed annual summaries are found on the AASC web site.
This office is a partner with Midwestern Regional Climate Center in providing climate services to the public.
Collaborations with
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate
Change Impacts (WICCI)
research on climate impacts are now underway.
If you would like assistance finding the climate data you want, visit our Guide to Wisconsin Weather and Climate Data.
Short initial inquiries for data or staff assistance staff are free. More substantial efforts are covered by our Service Charge statement.
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Late Winter 2014-2015 Report: Mild Temperatures Lead to Exceptional Cold
This season has had two faces, with the first month of meteorological winter (December) warmer than normal, and now a very cold final month of February. Taking into account computer model projections of a continuing "polar vortex" jet stream pattern, February averaged 10-12 degrees below normal, similar to the exceptional February 2014, and was the coldest in the past 79 years for Madison and Milwaukee.
Ice: Unusual for Madison Lakes, Approaching Exceptional for Great Lakes
Madison Lakes- The two largest ones (Mendota and Monona) closed about two weeks later than average due to the abnormally warm December, while the smaller Lake Wingra closed two weeks earlier due to the abnormally cold November. See our Madison Lakes Ice Summary website for details.
Great Lakes- In mid- February their average ice cover increased rapidly beyond its normal maximum value for the season. Great Lakes- In mid- February their average ice cover increased rapidly beyond its normal maximum value for the season. On March 2, the average for all lakes was 88%, and Lake Michigan had about 75% coverage. In comparison, last winter's exceptional March ice cover was 92.5%. Great Lakes ice cover maps are updated daily by NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
A long-term view of past winter seasons can be found on our Winter Page. Related graphs and links may be found on the Climate Watch and Climate Impacts pages.
Climate Change
New! IPCC Report: Climate Change 2013 - Six years of new observations and analyses in this most authoritative scientific report. Physical Science Conclusions released in September 2013.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) posted an Information Statement on Climate Change on 20 Aug 2012.
Climate Literacy
-- Understanding the essential principles.
IPCC 2007 Report -- Six years of new observations and analyses in this most authoritative scientific report..
U.S. Global Change Research Program (2009) -- Impacts and regional issues.
For additional climate-change information, see our Climate Change page.
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