Tuesday, April 14th – 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Rural Wisconsin faces unique challenges as weather patterns shift. The Rural Partnerships Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in partnership with the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Wisconet, has been traveling across the state to learn how these changes affect different regions. After successful in-person events in Northern Wisconsin, the Driftless Region, and the Central Sands, we are hosting a virtual webinar to share these insights and resources with everyone.
Lessons from Across the State
Our previous roadshows gathered critical perspectives from local residents, government officials, and emergency managers. These discussions highlighted the specific ways extreme weather impacts our communities:
- Northern Wisconsin: Residents shared how low-snow winters and fluctuating lake levels threaten outdoor activities like fishing, maple syrup production, and wild rice harvesting. They also noted the dangers of power outages caused by ice storms and high winds.
- Driftless Region: Participants in West Salem reviewed data showing that seven of the ten wettest years in La Crosse County have occurred since 2000. These trends lead to increased flood risk and infrastructure stress.
- Central Sands: Recent discussions in Wisconsin Rapids focused on powerful derechos and sandstorms that impact visibility on major interstates. High groundwater tables in this region also pose risks to wastewater infrastructure and private home wells.
Upcoming Webinar Details
We invite you to join this statewide conversation and learn how to better prepare your community for the future.
- Date: Tuesday, April 14th
- Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm
- Location: Virtual via Zoom – Register Now!
What You Will Learn
This webinar will provide information on the data and tools available to help rural communities manage climate hazards:
- Climate Services: Discover the information and interpretation resources provided by the Wisconsin State Climatology Office.
- Real-Time Data: Learn about Wisconet, a network of weather and soil monitoring stations providing high-resolution data every five minutes.
- Decision Tools: Learn about dashboards that track rainfall, hazardous temperatures, and winter storm severity to support public safety and agricultural management.
If you have questions about the webinar or would like to host a roadshow in your own community, please contact Jackson Parr, Climate Hazards Planning Educator at the University of Wisconsin Division of Extension, at jgparr@wisc.edu.