A state climatologist is a professional in the field who has been designated by a state government or agency of the state as the state’s official climatologist. They must also be recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and by the director of the National Climatic Data Center. Currently, 48 states have a state climatologist, the exceptions being Tennessee, Rhode Island, as well as Washington, D.C.; also climatologists have been designated for Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. State climatologists are supported by the American Association of State Climatologists, which was founded in 1976. State climatologists receive their salaries either from the state or from a university, and they also work closely with the National Weather Service.