Weather Whys; National Weather Service Changes

This is Weatherwise. The National Weather Service expects to be going through some big changes in the next few years under a modernization and restructuring plan. New observing systems and new communications and distribution methods will provide the basis for better forecasts and warnings. At present, the Weather Service has 52 main offices, generally one for each state. They're called Weather Service Forecast Offices or WSFOs. Those offices issue forecasts for their entire state, but there are also nearly 200 smaller offices around the nation, and they're simply called Weather Service Offices or WSOs. They take observations of current weather conditions and issue local forecasts as well as warnings of dangerous weather conditions in their area. There are also stations that only take observations. There will be some consolidation under the restructuring plan, and a new class of Weather Service Office, known as a Warning and Forecast Office, or WFO will be established.

Those super-weather offices will be equipped with new Doppler Radar Systems. Automated Surface Observation Post will also be installed nationwide. And together, the WFOs and automated systems will replace the current offices. The National Weather Service has undertaken the restructuring and modernization to improve warnings and forecasts. Part of that comes in response to opportunities presented by newly developed observation systems, and partly in response to the need to replace radar systems installed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Weather professionals nationwide are looking with anticipation to the day when the new system will be in place and fully functional. And weather-wise, our writer is Christine Herbert, our editor is Brian Walkie, and our executive producer is Karen Hope. Weather-wise is made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation. For Weather-wise, I'm Drew Barlow.