National Weather Service (NWS) Archives

Ajay Mehta, the director of the National Weather Service’s Office of Systems speaks at the agency’s first industry day for Radar Next, a program that would replace the nation’s aging radar infrastructure. (Madison Alder/FedScoop)

NWS wants to accelerate a radar infrastructure overhaul. It’s seeking industry help.

Schedule acceleration was among the questions the weather agency posed during its first industry day for its Radar Next program.

Jul 9, 2026 By Madison Alder

Meteorologist Brian Kyle monitors the area weather at the National Weather Service offices Monday, May 23, 2022 in Dickinson. (Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

National Weather Service taps Accenture, Booz Allen for data system modernization

The two government contractors will each build new cloud-based tools for forecasting and analysis as well as centralizing weather data, replacing a decades-old system.

Mar 30, 2026 By Madison Alder

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on fiscal year 2026 budget requests for the Department of Commerce on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 5, 2025. (Photo by OLIVER CONTRERAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Lutnick points to tech modernization plans as lawmakers question NWS staffing levels

Modernizing technology, centralizing data, and automation were among plans floated by Lutnick in response to bipartisan concern over National Weather Service staffing.

Jun 9, 2025 By Madison Alder

SILVER SPRING, MD – MARCH 03: Hundreds of demonstrators gather to protest against Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts outside the headquarters of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on March 03, 2025 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Last week the Trump administration fired about 800 probationary staff at NOAA, one of the world’s premier centers for climate science. The layoffs are on top of about 500 employees who left the agency after taking the so-called deferred resignation offer. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

NOAA firings spark concerns for agency’s data-centric mission

Terminations could threaten the weather and climate agency’s public safety work and make existing staffing issues worse, former workers said.

Mar 14, 2025 By Madison Alder

MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 29: The logo of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seen at the Nation Hurricane Center on August 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images).

Tough budget decisions for NOAA in focus at House hearing

Cuts to the agency’s ocean observation system, weather research programs, and the National Weather Service were among concerns from lawmakers.

Jun 6, 2024 By Madison Alder

Twin supercomputers Dogwood (pictured here) and Cactus – NOAA’s weather and climate operational supercomputing system – just received a 20% upgrade. Each supercomputer now operates at a speed of 14.5 petaflops. (Image credit: GDIT)

NOAA supercomputer gets a 20% boost to help make better weather predictions

NOAA's forecast system can now process 29 quadrillion calculations per second.

Aug 10, 2023 By Nihal Krishan

Evidence of flash flooding across Badwater Road is seen as Death Valley National Park partially reopens two weeks after record-setting rainfall caused a historic flash flood on August 20, 2022 in Death Valley, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

National Weather Service seeks IT expertise to develop next-gen water prediction capabilities

The National Weather Service is working to deliver new flood and water supply mapping capabilities by the end of the decade.

Aug 23, 2022 By Dave Nyczepir

A solar spot in the centre of the Sun is captured from which the first X-class flare was emitted in four years on February 14, 2011.(Image by NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory via Getty Images)

Geomagnetic storm expected to pass with minimal impact on agencies’ satellites, comms

The Space Weather Prediction Center expected moderate conditions at worst from the storm as of 10:11 a.m. EST.

Aug 18, 2022 By Dave Nyczepir

Jamie Rhome, deputy director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, speaks to the media at the National Hurricane Center on June 01, 2022 in Miami. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

NOAA looks to improve satellite data availability, manage services with industry

The agency is looking for a more agile information system to process data gathered by the National Weather Service.

Aug 12, 2022 By Dave Nyczepir

A bulldozer passes firefighters cutting vegetation to broaden a fireline at the Oak Fire near Mariposa, California, on July 25, 2022 (Photo by DAVID MCNEW / AFP via Getty Images).

White House unveils HEAT.gov to help address record-breaking temperatures

The website will help agencies share real-time data on extreme heat conditions to improve response in light of climate change.

Jul 26, 2022 By Dave Nyczepir