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WPO’s Research Transitions team is now the Portfolio Analysis and Research Transitions (PART) Program as it takes a more integrated approach to transitioning research into practice. PART’s primary role in the office involves active coordination across programs within WPO, such as identifying where research in one area connects with another. “This broader view will enhance…
A new virtual reality simulation shows people why coastal evacuation orders are so important during storms. “Weather the Storm” was funded by the NOAA’s Weather Program Office and created through a partnership between the University of Georgia, Clemson University, Georgia Sea Grant, and South Carolina Sea Grant to improve storm surge preparation. The research team…
NOAA’s newest hurricane model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS), was instrumental in providing forecasters with accurate predictions of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton during the 2024 hurricane season, according to a recent story from the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC). HAFS provided skillful track, rainfall, and wind forecasts. WPO supports HAFS through its…
The 2025 American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting hosted the 4th Symposium on Community Modeling and Innovation (4CMI) in early January in New Orleans. The Symposium brought together top minds in Earth sciences for an energetic exchange of ideas and was a hub for groundbreaking discussions on the future of forecasting. One standout session focused…
The Weather Program Office is pleased to announce the fire weather and Climate Testbed projects awarded in the FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity competition. These six projects, involving eight institutions, are set to receive a total of $3.74 million over the next two years. Fire weather projects will improve wildfire and smoke prediction by enhancing…
Weather Program Office staff participated in the American Meteorological Society (AMS) 2025 Annual Meeting, held January 11–16 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Staff from all three science divisions, in addition to office leadership, chaired or co-chaired 17 sessions, were speakers or panelists in 16 sessions, and presented in three poster sessions. These included a wide range…
Atmospheric rivers, often described as a “firehose of moisture,” can bring intense rainfall to the West Coast, leading to intense inland flooding. How people perceive and respond to these risks isn’t always clear. To shed light on these decisions, a WPO-supported team came together for a “hack week” at the University of Washington in September…
The Weather Program Office is contributing to the American Meteorological Society’s 2025 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Below is a list of sessions, listed by day, with links to full information. Rows beginning with a highlighted time are sessions in which a member of WPO is a presenter, moderator, or panelist. Saturday, January 11 When…
The Weather Program Office is celebrating the career of Jessie Carman, Division Chief of Earth System Research and Modeling. Jessie retired at the end of December 2024 after more than 40 years of federal service, including 12 years at WPO. Jessie joined WPO—then called the Office of Water and Air Quality—in 2012 as the Associate…
NOAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) on Dec. 10, 2024, building upon its existing partnership with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). WPO led the development of the newest MOU on behalf of NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and will serve as the host office.…