For more than 30 years, the way the National Weather Service operates has remained largely unchanged, even as our nation and the risks it faces have changed dramatically.
Weather and water disasters are occurring more frequently and our country’s population and infrastructure have grown, putting more people and places at risk. Meanwhile, decades of technical advancements in observations, cloud-based solutions, and Artificial Intelligence have created new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
To meet this moment, the NWS Transformation is helping us to improve mission delivery in a rapidly changing world. It empowers the workforce, modernizes outdated systems, and ensures the Nation is ready for whatever weather comes next—without sacrificing the trust and service our partners and the public expect.
NWS has ten Priorities to propel us towards this goal and provide a clear path to our Transformation:
Supporting Our Team
Our people are at the heart of our mission. We are prioritizing hiring and retaining top talent to ensure we have the best team in place to best meet the agency’s mission of saving lives, protecting property, and enhancing the national economy.
- Hiring: We are making it easier and faster to bring in new team members, with a focus on filling critical roles to keep our services running smoothly.
- Relocation Support: We are working to simplify the process and standardize costs for employees who need to move for their jobs. This will create cost savings to help us fill important vacancies in our field offices.
Modernizing Our Technology
We are upgrading our current systems to provide earlier and more accurate warnings for severe weather events.
- Next Generation Radars: To stay at the forefront of weather monitoring, we are moving towards advanced radar technology.
- NOAA Weather Radio: We are using satellite and cloud-based technologies to improve how we deliver life-saving warnings and data.
- Warning Systems: To ensure all communities receive timely warnings, we are enhancing our systems, including Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), web, and mobile apps.
Leveraging New Technologies
Integrating new tools is key to making our forecasts faster and more detailed.
- Cloud Computing: Using the cloud allows our forecasters to work more flexibly and better collaborate with partners.
- Observing Systems: We are improving the reliability of our data collection by using commercial data, updating our upper air and oceanic systems, and modernizing volunteer and local weather observation programs.
- Leading Weather Prediction: We are striving to be the world leader in numerical weather modeling by advancing our models and data analysis and using Artificial Intelligence.
Shaping the NWS for the Future
We are changing our structure and operations to move the agency forward.
- Reorganize & Transform: We are ensuring our offices have the resources for 24/7 operations, adopting a unified approach to emergencies, and embedding staff with partners to provide better support during high-impact weather. We are also updating our operational model to focus on providing support before, during, and after severe weather events.
- Training: Our internal and external training programs are being reimagined, including foundational courses for new forecasters and specialized training for future roles. We are also offering management training before employees step into leadership positions.
Our Commitment to You
In the 1990s, the NWS modernized around the introduction of radar technology. Today, we are building around the needs of our partners and the communities we serve.
NWS Transformation will benefit our partners, the public, and workforce, setting the stage for long-term success.
NWS will continue in the short-term to operate and serve as experts in weather and water. Looking ahead, this transformation will strengthen our agency, enhance our vital mission to the nation, and pave the way for future advancements in protecting lives and property.
