The National Weather Service (NWS) is a U.S. federal agency responsible for providing weather forecasts, hazardous weather warnings, and related information to protect life and property. It operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce. Formerly known as the United States Weather Bureau, the NWS adopted its current name in 1970. Its mission is to provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.
In 1937, the first Weather Bureau radiosonde was launched in Massachusetts. This event led to a shift from routine aircraft observation to radiosondes within two years.
In 1938, the Weather Bureau began disseminating tornado warnings exclusively to emergency management personnel. This was after initially prohibiting the use of the word "tornado" in weather products due to concerns about inciting panic.
In 1940, the Weather Bureau was moved to the Department of Commerce.
In 1941, Margaret Smagorinsky (née Knoepfel) was hired as the Weather Bureau's first female statistician.
On September 23, 1946, the first River Forecast Center (RFC) was founded.
In 1948, Air Force Capt. Robert C. Miller and Major Ernest Fawbush pioneered tornado forecasts at the USAF Severe Weather Warning Center.
On July 12, 1950, Bureau chief Francis W. Reichelderfer officially lifted the agency's ban on public tornado alerts via a Circular Letter, advising employees to not negate the Bureau's willingness to issue tornado forecasts given the inherent difficulties in predicting tornadic activity.
In March 1952, the Bureau issued its first experimental public tornado forecasts, following criticism for refusing to provide public tornado warnings and preventing the release of the USAF Severe Weather Warning Center's tornado forecasts beyond military personnel.
In 1957, the Bureau began using radars for short-term forecasting of local storms and hydrological events, using modified versions of those used by Navy aircraft to create the WSR-57 (Weather Surveillance Radar, 1957), with a network of WSR systems being deployed nationwide through the early 1960s.
In August 1966, the Weather Bureau became part of the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) when that agency was formed.
On October 1, 1970, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) was renamed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act. At this time, the Weather Bureau became the National Weather Service.
In 1970, the United States Weather Bureau adopted its current name, the National Weather Service (NWS). This occurred as part of a broader reorganization that saw the Environmental Science Services Administration renamed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Beginning in 1974, some of the WSR-57 radars were upgraded to WSR-74 models.
In 1983, NOAA administrator John V. Byrne proposed to auction off all of the weather satellites, to repurchase data from private buyers, outsourcing weather observation stations, NOAA Weather Radio and computerized surface analysis to private companies, but the proposal failed in a Congressional vote.
Between 1988 and 1997, the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) system, comprised of Doppler radars designed to enhance the detection and warning time for severe local storms, was deployed to replace the WSR-57 and WSR-74 systems.
Between 1988 and 1997, the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) system, comprised of Doppler radars designed to enhance the detection and warning time for severe local storms, was deployed to replace the WSR-57 and WSR-74 systems.
By 1997, the WSR-88D Doppler weather radar system (also called NEXRAD) was fully deployed throughout the majority of the United States. This technology became the cornerstone of the agency's severe weather warning operations.
In October 2000, the NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS) was established as a satellite data collection and dissemination system operated by the National Weather Service.
In 2005, Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum introduced the National Weather Service Duties Act of 2005, a bill which would have prohibited the NWS from freely distributing weather data. The bill attracted no cosponsors, and died in committee during the 2005 Congressional session.
Until September 30, 2007, local offices of the National Weather Service issued warnings for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash flooding and marine hazards using geopolitical boundaries.
On October 1, 2007, the implementation of storm-based warnings saw alerts for meteorological or hydrological threats delineated by polygonal shapes in map-based weather hazard products.
By the spring of 2015, the Impact Based Warning system would expand to 80 Weather Forecast Offices overseen by the Central, Eastern, Southern and Western Region Headquarters.
As of 2016, the National Weather Service was organized as follows.
In 2016, critics such as University of Washington professor Cliff Mass have claimed that NWS forecasts are not as accurate as they could be, and that this has resulted in inaccurate daily weather forecasts and dangerously bad predictions concerning the location and intensity of extreme weather events.
In 2016, the NOAA announced to develop The Next Generation Global Prediction System.
In 2016, the NWS significantly increased the computational power of its supercomputers, spending $44 million on two new supercomputers from Cray and IBM. This was driven by the relatively lower accuracy of NWS' Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical weather prediction model.
In 2025, the National Weather Service was deeply affected by cuts to NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump, including staff being laid off, contracts with universities being cancelled, and restrictions on exchanges with other national weather services. Entering hurricane season, 30 National Weather Service offices are without a chief meteorologist, in part due to Trump administration layoffs.
Radar is a radiodetermination system using radio waves to detect...
Weather radar is a crucial tool for detecting precipitation assessing...
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air in...
Massachusetts officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state located...
St Louis is an independent city located in Missouri near...
Richard John Santorum Sr is an American politician attorney author...
20 minutes ago Arthur Cazaux shines at ATP Kitzbuhel Open 2025: Semifinal Predictions and Match Previews.
20 minutes ago Anthony Anderson's Interview with Lohan Resurfaces; Gives Advice on Hosting Emmys.
20 minutes ago Benny Safdie Film to Premiere at 2025 Venice Film Festival Among Stellar Lineup.
1 hour ago Kyrie Irving opens up about Nets exit, COVID vaccine impact, Durant loyalty.
2 hours ago John Daly: Golf, Family Life, Endorsement Deals and Enduring Legacy on the Green.
2 hours ago Erie Insurance Victorious in Pennsylvania UIM Exclusion Court Case: Key Legal Win
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne is a prominent English singer songwriter...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Pam Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician A...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
William Franklin Graham III commonly known as Franklin Graham is...