The Rural Partnerships Institute, in partnership with the Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Wisconet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, hosted an Extreme Weather and Climate Services Roadshow on February 4th, 2026, in Wisconsin Rapids. This event is part of a project focused on improving extreme weather preparedness capacity in rural communities through education, engagement, and research. Approximately 20 participants attended the event, represented local residents, county and municipal government, and University of Wisconsin-Division of Extension staff.
Jackson Parr, Climate Hazards Planning Educator with the Rural Partnerships Institute (RPI), described the project that supports the Roadshow series. RPI is developing data tools and resources to support agricultural management decisions, hazard mitigation planning, and other sectors critical to rural prosperity.
The Wisconsin State Climatology Office (SCO) outlined its mission to provide reliable weather and climate data to help stakeholders understand and apply complex information.
Chris Vagasky, the Program Manager for Wisconet, shared progress on the expansion of Wisconsin’s environmental monitoring network. Wisconet is installing stations across the state to provide high-resolution and real-time data on soil moisture, soil temperature, and wind speeds.
Read the Roadshow Summary here.