The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) has launched a new version of cli-MATE, its main online portal for United States climate data, analyses, statistics, maps, graphics, and other information. For over 40 years, MRCC has provided climate data to the public—initially through printed reports and later digitally as web access grew. The latest redesign of cli-MATE builds on this history, offering streamlined access to US climate data.
Through cli-MATE, users can explore weather and climate data at multiple time scales (hourly, daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual) from reporting stations across the country. The platform serves a wide array of users. For instance:
- TV meteorologists use the platform to compare current data to historical records.
- Researchers rely on cli-MATE for climate model verification and enhancement.
- Consulting meteorologists use it to confirm storm damage and support casualty investigations.
- Emergency managers turn to the platform to guide search and rescue operations.
- Agronomists monitor crop growth progress with various degree day offerings.
- State agencies incorporate cli-MATE data into hazard mitigation strategies.
While new features had been added steadily over the past 15 years, the prior version of cli-MATE faced growing challenges as advances in web and software technology began to outpace system updates. Thanks to financial support from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the MRCC undertook a multi-year effort to overhaul the back-end code and front-end design for an improved user experience.
The result is a portal that reflects both modern data needs and user feedback. The updated cli-MATE offers a cleaner interface with enhanced styling for a more straightforward and intuitive user experience, along with faster and more dependable performance, and revamped products. The MRCC design team set out to build a system both powerful and accessible, ensuring cli-MATE offers deep analytical capabilities for experts while remaining approachable for first-time users.
If you’re unsure how to start with cli-MATE, check out the help page, which offers step-by-step instructions for exploring the platform. The cli-MATE homepage includes a Product Exploration section that describes each available tool. Additionally, a Product Guide is available with detailed navigation information for various products. While cli-MATE provides significant improvements over its predecessor, the MRCC continually updates the system and introduces new products. Map products currently return users to the legacy cli-MATE interface, but will soon be replaced with newer, high-resolution mapping products in the updated environment.
If you have feedback, the MRCC wants to hear about it! Submit your comments here. Also, please don’t hesitate to email mrcc@purdue.edu with any questions.