The beginnings of the agency date back to 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution of Congress authorizing the establishment of a national weather service by the Secretary of War, required to “provide for taking meteorological observations at the military stations in the interior of the continent and at other points in the States and Territories...and for giving notice on the northern (Great) Lakes and on the seacoast by magnetic telegraph and marine signals, of the approach and force of storms.”

 

The agency was reportedly placed under the Secretary of War’s supervision because it was assumed that “military discipline would probably secure the greatest promptness, regularity, and accuracy.” The agency was first named “The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce.”

 

The Weather Service was first identified as a civilian enterprise when Congress passed an act creating a Weather Bureau in the Department of Agriculture in 1890.

 

The Weather Bureau was transferred to the Department of Commerce in 1940, and renamed the National Weather Service in 1967, when it was transferred to the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA). In 1970 ESSA became the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

The NWS provides weather, hydrologic and climate forecasts and warnings for the U.S. - including its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, with data gathered from a broad national infrastructure covering land, sea and air. The agency’s mission includes a mandate to “protect life and property and enhance the national economy.”

 

Data includes that gathered from weather radar and satellites, as well as from marine observation buoys and surface observation systems that assist the aviation industry. The agency collects, compiles and analyzes data, and generates outlooks, forecasts and warnings.

 

In addition to agency employees, NWS operations are aided by community volunteers, cooperative observers and “storm spotters,” who collect and report critical data.

 

After a $4.5 billion modernization project, the agency includes 121 field offices, 13 river forecast centers and nine national centers. NWS maintains the largest meteorological telecommunications switching center in the world, sending and receiving around 400,000 bulletins each day.

 

According to the government, the agency issues more than 734,000 forecasts (fire weather, public, aviation, marine) and 850,000 river and flood forecasts annually, including 45,000 to 50,000 potentially life-saving severe weather warnings.

 

Additionally, the agency’s operations have a significant impact on the economy. Industries like construction, which contributes more than $200 billion annually to the U.S. economy, are directly dependent on accurate short- and long-range weather forecasts. NWS forecasts are also critical to commercial and private transportation industries.

 

Warnings: Current, State/County, RSS/XML, UV Alerts

Forecasts: Local, Graphical, Aviation, Marine, River/Stream, Hurricanes, Severe Weather, Fire Weather, Sun/Moon

FY 2009 Budget Highlights (PDF)

Billy and Maria Visit the National Weather Service (coloring book) (PDF)

Owlie Skywarn’s Weather Book: Watch Out…Storms Ahead! (activity book) (PDF)

Basic Weather Spotters’ Field Guide (PDF)

Coaches & Sports Officials Guide to Lightning Safety (PDF)

A thirty-year veteran of the NWS, Bill Proenza became director of the National Hurricane Center in 2007, but was put on administrative leave following a veritable staff mutiny. Proenza had spoken bluntly about agency budget issues in public, criticizing recent budget cuts and arbitrary expenditures. One of few NWS senior managers who spoke out against the NOAA consolidation/rebranding issue (see below), Proenza was moved to the NHC around the same time. See below for ensuing controversy:

NOAA's NWS Near Naming New NHC Noggin? (by Steve Scolnik, Washington Post)

Hurricane Center's ex-chief to tell Congress his side (by Eric Berger, Houston Chronicle)