The Modernization and Associated Restructuring of the National Weather Service: An Overview

Abstract

The scientific understanding of the atmosphere and the ability to forecast large-and small-scale hydrometeorological phenomena have increased dramatically over the last two decades. As a result, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has set an ambitious goal: to modernize the National Weather Service (NWS)through the deployment of proven observational, information processing, and communications technologies, and to establish an associated cost-effective operational structure. The modernization and associated restructuring of the NWS will assure that the major advances that have been made in our ability to observe and understand the atmosphere are applied to the practical problems of providing atmospheric and hydrologic services to the nation. Implementation and practice of the new science will improve forecasts, provide more reliable detection of and warnings for severe weather and flooding, achieve more uniform hydrometeorological services across the nation, permit a more cost-effective NWS, and increase productivity among NWS employees. The changes proposed by the NWS will allow increased productivity and efficiency for any entity dependent on weather information, including local, state, and federal government agencies; researchers; private-sector meteorologists; private industry; and resource management organizations. This is the first in a series of articles intended to highlight these changes.