Wisconsin Climate Watch
-"Real-Time Climate Variability"
This page focuses on the recent weather and
climate for Wisconsin on time scales that range
from the last seven days to the last 12 months.
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Dr. John Young, Director & Dr. Edward Hopkins, Climatologist
HISTORIC RAINS & FLOODING IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN TRENDING IN 2018
Southern Wisconsin experienced several extreme rain events in August 2018, extending a trend attributed to increased humidity and altered wind patterns associated with climate change.
August 17-27 Episode {https://www.weather.gov/mkx/August2018SevereandFlood}
The upper map shows the totals from several events of Episode 1, concentrated in the central and eastern portions of southern Wisconsin.
The lower map shows the most extreme event:
(1) Days August 20-21 Historic rainfall fell over Western Dane County, including the western part of metropolitan Madison, over 6 hours on the 20th. It far exceeded "100-year" amounts, and in some locations possibly set a new state record of nearly a foot of rain in 24 hours! The runoff led to destructive flooding in both rural and wide city areas. The large Lake Mendota and smaller lakes downstream reached record levels which will take weeks to resolve.
(2) Days August 26-27 Flooding rains in Washington and Ozaukee counties fell, with 24 hour amounts in some locations exceeding "100-year" return levels.
August 27-29 Episode {https://www.weather.gov/images/mkx/events/2018/aug2818/sundaythroughearlywed.png}
(1) Days 27-28 { https://www.weather.gov/arx/aug2818}
Significant to record flooding occurred across southwestern Wisconsin. Hardest hit areas included parts of La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon counties. Anywhere from 5 to 12 inches of rain fell overnight, amounts exceeding previous "100-year" values. Record-breaking flooding occurred along the entire length of the Kickapoo River.
(2) Day 28 {https://www.weather.gov/mkx/aug2818}
Afternoon/evening storms rolled across central and eastern counties, with sixteen small damaging tornadoes and heavy rains. (Note: The Milwaukee/Sullivan Office of the National Weather Service confirmed fifteen tornadoes and the Green Bay Office reported one additional tornado.)
Wisconsin Climate Services Summit Meeting Held 6-7 June 2018
A first-time Wisconsin meeting of State, Federal, University, & Tribal providers and users.
An information & networking opportunity for 49 invited representatives from 21 organizations:
Five State of Wisconsin Governmental Departments:
| Natural Resources |
Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection |
| Health Services |
Emergency Management |
Administration |
Six Federal Agencies:
| National Weather Service |
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| U.S. Geological Survey |
National Park Service |
Three University of Wisconsin-Madison Groups:
| State Climatology Office |
U.W. Extension |
Applied Climate Researchers |
Three Tribal Groups
| Lac du Flambeau |
Menominee |
Oneida |
Two Regional Planning, Energy, Climate Representatives
Two Conservation Groups
Meeting Objectives
- Identify climate services needs or gaps within the state
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Build increased awareness of existing climate tools, data, individuals and expertise
- Identify opportunities to seek out additional resources
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Enable climate service providers to better coordinate and collaborate
Held at Pyle Center on Lake Mendota at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Local Co-Host: SCO Director Prof. John A. Young jayoung@wisc.edu
Local Co-Organizer: Rebecca Power, U.W. Extension, North Central Region Water Network
Maps of 2020 temperature and precipitation data along with their departures from normal are available below.
Weather computer models and the seasonal forecasts of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center are available.
Last 24 Hours - Courtesy of NWS
Sullivan (updated by 8:00 am Central Time)
- Southern Wisconsin
- Statewide
Note: These maps contain contours and have a limited number of plotted data. For map with additional plotted data that does not have contours, consult NWSFO Milwaukee/Sullivan "Past Weather Graphs, Analysis and Data Plots" at https://www.weather.gov/mkx/climate_graphs-plots
Last 7 Days (Statewide Maps) - updated by 10:30am Central Time
Last 30 Days (Statewide Maps) - updated by 10:30am Central Time
Last 90 Days (Statewide Maps) - updated by 10:30am Central Time
Recent precipitation data from NOAA NWS
- High-resolution Precipitation Maps from NOAA
Multi-sensor Precipitation Estimates (from NWS Radar Observations
and rain gauge data) for:
Monthly 2021 Statewide Maps -
Courtesy of Midwestern Regional Climate Center
- Precipitation (inches) - and departures from 1981-2010 Normals
- Mean Temperature (F) - and departures from 1981-2010 Normals
- Snowfall (inches) - and departures from 1981-2010 Normals
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Actual | A | A | A | A | A | A |
A | A | A | A |
A |
A |
| Departure | D | D | D | D | D | D |
D | D | D | D |
D |
D |
| % of normal |
P |
P | P | P | P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
P |
- See
archive of statewide monthly precipitation, temperature and
snowfall maps for previous years (2001-2020)
Last 12 Months Averages
The data for these products come from the U.S. Cooperative Network, augmented by observations from NWS and FAA sites. These cooperative sites are operated by volunteer observers using approved instruments and observing techniques. Their efforts that provide sufficient data to generate these products are greatly appreciated.
- Statewide Monthly Averages for Last 12 Months and
departures from 1981-2010 Normals
- Divisional Monthly Averages for Last 12 Months
- Temperature (and departure from 1981-2010 normals)
- Precipitation (and departure from 1981-2010 normals)
- See
archive of statewide-averaged data for previous years (2001-2020)
Wisconsin Drought Issues
- See the
section in our Water Systems page for current information on
Wisconsin soil moisture and potential drought conditions.
Midwest to Global
Tables, maps,
other graphics and narratives describing the climate of the Midwest,
the United States and the globe over the last week to one year are
available.
Forecasts & Outlooks
- County-level agricultural forecasts are available for all Wisconsin Counties courtesy of the University of Kentucky
Agricultural Weather Center
- Local 3-month temperature outlook from National Weather
Service:
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Southeastern and South central (Beloit, Dodgeville, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Montello, Oconomowoc, Port Washington, Wisconsin Dells
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West central, Central, and Southwest Wisconsin (La Crosse, Lancaster 4WSW, Mather 3W, Medford, Viroqua 2S)
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Northeast and East central Wisconsin (Appleton, Green Bay, Laona, Oshkosh, Rhinelander, Shawano, Sturgeon Bay, Two Rivers, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids)
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West central and Northwest Wisconsin (Eau Claire, Rice Lake)
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Northwest and North central Wisconsin (Danbury, Duluth/Superior, Gurney, Park Falls)
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Upper Peninsula of Michigan
(Ironwood, Iron Mountain, Stephenson, Stambaugh)
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Northern Illinois (Rockford, Marengo)
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Northeast Iowa and Northwest Illinois
(Dubuque, Freeport)
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US Hazards Assessment (forecast) from Climate Prediction
Center:
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