About

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office (SCO) advances regional climate science in support of a wide range of communities, businesses, and agencies within Wisconsin and the Midwest. The SCO is part of UW–Madison’s Rural Partnerships Institute, a campuswide organization supporting Wisconsin’s rural and Tribal communities.

Our office is housed within the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research, the Division of Extension, and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The SCO’s mission is to provide climate services that help Wisconsinites use weather and climate information most effectively.

These services are centered around three elements:

  • Information: providing users with reliable weather and climate information
  • Interpretation: assisting users in how to understand and apply this information
  • Investigation: conducting basic and applied research on Wisconsin’s climate

Our Staff

Steve Vavrus

Position title: Director and State Climatologist

Email: sjvavrus@wisc.edu

Bridgette Mason

Position title: Assistant State Climatologist

Email: bmmason2@wisc.edu

Edward J. Hopkins

Position title: Assistant State Climatologist

Email: ejhopkin@wisc.edu

Paul Buchmann

Position title: Research Associate

Email: pbuchmann@wisc.edu

Dea Larsen Converse

Position title: Science Writer and Communications Director

Email: larsenconver@wisc.edu

Josh Bendorf

Position title: Climate Outreach Specialist

Email: jbendorf@wisc.edu

Amanda Latham

Position title: Climate Outreach Specialist

Email: amanda.latham@wisc.edu

Lyle Anderson

Position title: Office Manager

Email: ljanders@wisc.edu