Continuous weather records for Madison date back to 1869 when weather observers began recording data at Bascom hall on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. Professors ran the program and frequently enlisted the aid of science students, including the now reknown naturalist, John Muir. The original instruments were supplied by the Smithsonian Institute.

In 1878 a Signal Service Station was established in downtown Madison at the corner of Pickney and East Washington Street. In May of 1883 the office moved back to campus at North Hall. Signal Service operations ceased and the office reverted to University jurisdiction. In September of 1883 the office moved to the Washburn Observatory on campus.

The National Weather Service, then called the Weather Bureau, was established at North Hall in 1904 and forecasts began to accompany observations. The first regularly broadcast weather forecast in the United States originated from the Madison Weather Service office in 1920 over the University radio station WHA.

The Weather Service moved to the airport in 1939, a year after it was built. For over half-a-century, the Madison National Weather Service operated in the full capacity of supplying weather data to south-central Wisconsin along with the responsibility to notify and warn counties of severe weather and winter storms.

Meanwhile, back in town, weather records continued at the Madison "City Office" until 1963. So for over 20 years Madison had two weather offices, one run by the National Weather Service and another record-gathering site on campus.

During the 1980's, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration launched a major program to modernize the National Weather Service. This resulted in a new office located near Sullivan, Wisconsin, 45 miles east of Madison. Equipped with the latest technology, including a new 88D-Doppler radar, the Sullivan office is now the official Weather Service office serving Madison and south-central Wisconsin.

The Madison National Weather Service office closed April 1st, 1996, marking the end of a long tradition for the State Capitol. The radar, which was developed in the early 1970s, was decommissioned and dismantled. The radar tower was eventually resurrected and now sits on top of the AOSS building on campus to support satellite communication equipment. An Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) was commissioned to generate the official weather observations for Madison. Contract observers augment ASOS for accuracy and the Wisconsin Air National Guard is taking snowfall measurements to continue the snowfall climate record.

ASOS weather observations are updated each minute in support of the aviation and meteorological community. To hear a computer simulated voice recording of the ASOS weather data at the Dane County County Regional Airport any time of the day or night, call (608) 249-0615.