WPO’s Portfolio Analysis and Research Transitions (PART) Program is proud to announce the launch of SPARK 3.0—the System for Public Access to Research Knowledge—expanding the platform’s capabilities and broadening access to WPO’s research portfolio. Previously, SPARK featured only projects from WPO’s Science, Technology, and Society Division. The latest update expands coverage across the entire office,…
DetailsForecasters now have real-time access to an experimental forecast model developed specifically for atmospheric rivers. Early results show it does well with predicting events with high precipitation amounts, which are the most impactful to public safety and managing water resources such as reservoirs. The Atmospheric River Analysis and Forecast System, or AR-AFS, is built on…
DetailsThis scenario isn’t hard to imagine: It’s the middle of summer. The entire year has been unusually dry, drought conditions took over months ago, and they’ve only gotten worse. Your phone dings, and you see a notification telling you something that’s been in the back of your mind for a while. Officials are now asking…
DetailsWildfires have grown increasingly destructive in recent decades, with impacts felt nationwide. Forecasters rely on fire weather metrics — such as wind speed and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which indicates atmospheric dryness — to assess when and where conditions may intensify wildfire behavior and strain suppression capacity. WPO selected the “Subseasonal Predictability of Fire Weather…
DetailsTo continue advancing improvements in weather forecasting, WPO has announced the recipients of its FY25 research funding competition. These awards support essential work across its Synoptic; Testbeds; Observations; Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBES); and Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Programs. Alongside these external grants, the Joint Technology Transfer Initiative (JTTI) selected internal NOAA projects to…
DetailsWPO is proud to share that members of our team have received 2025 NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Awards. Steve Thur, Assistant Administrator of OAR, will recognize the award recipients during a ceremony on February 12. Jordan Dale, Testbeds Program Manager, was on the Acquisitions and Grants Team that received an Employees of the…
DetailsThe next session of the WMO World Weather Research Programme’s Integrated Prediction of Precipitation and Hydrology for Early Actions (InPRHA) Webinar Series will be held on February 11, 2026. Dr. David Novak, Director of the NOAA Weather Prediction Center, will present on “The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge.” WPO serves as the International Coordination Office for…
DetailsStaff from the Weather Program Office are contributing to the American Meteorological Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. Below is a daily list of the sessions with links to full information. Sunday, January 25 2:00–2:50 p.m.Carmen Davila: Panel Discussion — Tell Me About Yourself: Tips and Tricks for A+ Interviews Tuesday, January 27 9:00–9:15…
DetailsThe NOAA Weather Program Office (WPO) Social Science Program (SSP) is excited to announce the SSP Data Forums, a two-part virtual forum series as part of its sustained efforts to support and expand data capabilities and collaboration across the social, behavioral, and economic sciences (SBES) extreme weather community. The series is meant to provide…
DetailsThe Weather Program Office Social Science Program (WPO SSP) is pleased to announce the release of a new StoryMap, highlighting the March 14-16, 2025, severe weather outbreak which produced more than 115 tornadoes, numerous wildfires, dust storms, damaging winds, and large hail across the Central and Southern United States. Titled “Strengthening America’s Resilience to Extreme…
Details
