Bowling Green, Ky. - Need information on current drought conditions, hot summer temperatures or other historic climate data? Then check out or bookmark the redesigned website of the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University.

The website -- http://kyclim.wku.edu/ -- includes the following links: Climate Watch that provides seven-day, 30-day and 90-day temperature and precipitation information as well as current drought status; a climatology section that includes information on Kentucky's climate, natural hazards and economic impacts of climate; fact sheets on historic weather events, such as record high and low temperatures, blizzards, droughts, tornadoes and rainfall; graphs of annual climate summaries, including daily highs, lows and precipitation totals, from 19 weather stations across Kentucky; maps of annual temperature and precipitation data; and links to other regional and national climate centers as well as National Weather Service locations.

"One of the goals of the Kentucky Climate Center is to help users interpret today's weather events by placing them in a historical context," said Dr. Stuart Foster, state climatologist. "Our new website will include a wider variety of current and historical information and will allow users to explore information about Kentucky's climate through interactive maps and graphs."

In the next few months, more climate information and updates will be added to the website, he said.

The Kentucky Climate Center was created in 1978 and is part of WKU's Applied Research and Technology Program of Distinction (ARTP) in the Ogden College of Science and Engineering.

The Kentucky Climate Center strives to conduct research and disseminate information of climatic variability and change, influences of the natural environment upon human activity, and impacts of human activity upon the natural environment; promote understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and its importance to society; and work with the public and private sectors to promote sustainable development.

The center is housed in the Department of Geography and Geology and its main office is located in room 356 of the Environmental Sciences and Technology Building. To contact the center, call (270) 745-5983.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Stuart Foster at (270) 745-5983