Wisconsin State Climatology Office

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Weather and climate play a vital role in our state’s economy, agriculture, and recreation. As part of the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research, the Wisconsin State Climatology Office collects, analyzes, and shares climate information with our communities while leading the way in climate science education and research.

Areas of Expertise

A computer screen shows a graph of different atmospheric measurements

Climate Data

View our collection of Wisconsin climate data, which includes temperature, precipitation, snowfall, and other records dating back to the 19th century.

Recent data | Historic data
Wisconsin seasons | Climate divisions
First-order stations

A flux tower is used to gather data on atmospheric conditions

Mesonet

Explore our growing network of real-time weather and soil measurement stations to support Wisconsin farmers, scientists, and citizens.

Wisconsin Mesonet

A scientist stands in shallow water preparing a kayak outfitted with instruments to measure atmospheric data

Research

Learn how we’re addressing the challenges posed by the Wisconsin’s climate, particularly among rural and agricultural communities.

Research

Specialized Climate Information

People walking on frozen Lake Mendota, getting an up-close view of Lady Liberty appearing to emerge through the ice

Lake Ice

See the history of freezing and thawing of Madison’s lakes, from 1852 to the present, in addition to current and historical ice conditions on the Great Lakes.

Madison lake ice data
Great Lakes ice data

Brown, nearly dead corn stalks resulting from an extended period of hot, dry weather

Drought

Get real-time and historical data on drought and moisture conditions across the state.

Current drought information

Early-morning aerial view of farmland in early fall

Agriculture

Find local climate and weather information tailored to Wisconsin’s farming community.

Agricultural data

Wisconsin Climate Summaries

  • June 2024 Climate Summary

    A very wet June in Wisconsin completely extinguished the last remnants of drought across the entire state. The month was also slightly warmer than normal, continuing our long streak of above-normal monthly temperatures.

  • May and Spring 2024 Climate Summary

    Warm and wet conditions rounded out spring 2024 in Wisconsin, alleviating drought conditions and sparking severe weather. Warmth Continues May continued Wisconsin’s monthly warmer-than-normal temperatures. Last month’s statewide temperatures averaged 57.7 degrees (Fahrenheit), which ranked …

  • April 2024 Climate Summary

    April in Wisconsin was warm and wet with a whiff of winter. On a statewide basis, the average monthly temperature was 2.2 degrees (Fahrenheit) warmer than normal and precipitation was 15 percent higher.

  • View more climate summaries

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Wisconsin’s Climate Future

Wisconsin’s climate continues to change. An analysis of past climate data confirms that our state is getting warmer and wetter. How will our communities be affected, and what can they do to adapt? The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, a partnership between the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, identifies vulnerability to climate change and works to improve our resilience and readiness.

Visit WICCI