Our Stories - National Weather Service Heritage
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), Post-War Expansion (1945-1960), Weather and the War (1942-1945), Early Growth (1912-1941)Alaskan Air Inflation Buildings — Form Follows Function
The design chronology of Alaskan Upper Air Inflation Buildings is a lesson of how form follows function. Read More »
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Oral History: Ken Graham's Unique Path to Becoming NWS Director
In June 2023, Ken Graham celebrated his first anniversary as director of the National Weather Service. His path to the corner office is unique among all directors in the agency’s 153-year history, starting as a meteorological intern right out of college. To better understand how Ken’s career shaped his thinking and approaches to leadership, the NWS Heritage Program conducted a series of oral history interviews with him over the last year. The stories shared during these provide fascinating insights into the events that helped mold his views and laser focus meeting the needs of NWS people, improving NWS infrastructure and transforming our agency to meet the current and future needs of society. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 6 - An Impactful Career
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In this final installment of a six-part oral history series, Uccellini talks about being named NWS director and his first actions in that role, running for President of the World Meteorological Organization, and the leadership challenges faced during his tenure. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 5 - Building a Weather Ready Nation
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In this fifth in a six-part oral history series, Uccellini recalls the development of NOAA’s strategic goal to build a Weather-Ready Nation and the tragic events of 2011 that brought renewed focus on these efforts. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 4 - Creating Synergy - The NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In this fourth installment of a six-part oral history series, Uccellini recounts the trials and tribulations involved in bringing the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction, the new home to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction, to fruition. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 3 - Hurricane Andrew and the Beginnings of NCEP
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In the third session of a six-part oral history series, Uccellini talks about the lessons learned from Hurricane Andrew, the surprise snowstorm of 2000, and the organizational shifts that would lead to his directorship of NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Read More »
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A Look Back: Oral History with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 1 - Where It All Began
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In the first of a six-part oral history series, Uccellini talks about the challenges of joining the NWS from a research career at NASA. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Part 2 - Into the Fray
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, whose federal career spanned 43 years. In the second installation of a six-part oral history series, Uccellini talks about moving to NWS headquarters, the impacts from the 1993 “Storm of the Century” and navigating the NWS Modernization and Associated Reorganization. Read More »
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The Pioneers (pre-1870)Crossroads in Weather History – The Pioneers
As a young nation grows, a fascination with the weather and a desire to understand nature’s forces leads to the development of weather services to protect lives and enhance commerce -- a mission that would become the driving force behind the National Weather Service and its predecessor agencies for 150 years. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Then and Now: The National Hurricane Center
Officially founded in 1955, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been in existence for almost 70 years. Read its storied history here. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Remembering the “Perfect Storm”
Over Halloween 1991, conditions were right for the "perfect storm," an unprecedented, record-breaking weather event that wreaked havoc on the New England coast. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with former NWS Chief Engineer Albert "Benjie" Spencer
Hear from Albert "Benjie" Spencer, former NWS Chief Engineer and Director of the Engineering Standards Division, as he reflects on his career and on the future of NOAA. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Begins
Read more about the transfer of the nation's weather service to the Department of Agriculture. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Former NWS Director Dr. Joe Friday
Hear from former NWS Director Dr. Elbert "Joe" Friday as he explains his role in the monumental Modernization era. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)Oral History: A Look Back with Former Hurricane Specialist Dr. Lixion Avila
Hear from Dr. Lixion Avila, longtime hurricane specialist and advisory writer for the NHC, as he reflects on his iconic career with NWS. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)Oral History: A Look Back with Former Meteorologist-in-Charge John Ogren
Hear from John Ogren, current director of the NWS Training Center, as he reflects on one of the biggest weather events he experienced in his NWS career. Read More »
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Standing the Test of Time: The National Weather Service in North Carolina
Since the very beginning of the NWS, North Carolina has played a role in our rich history as an agency. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)The Blizzard of ‘96 In Retrospect
Past and present NWS employees reflect on their experiences during the "Storm of the Century". Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The Great Midwest Wildfires of 1871
From Sunday, October 8 through Tuesday, October 10, 1871 wildfires claimed thousands of lives and destroyed millions of acres across the Upper Midwest. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Hydrologist Ed Johnson
Hear from Ed Johnson, former director of strategic planning and policy at the NWS, as he reflects on his time at the agency. Read More »
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Oral History: A Look Back with Hydrologist David Vallee
Hear from David Vallee, accomplished hydrologist, as he discusses his time at the Northeast River Forecast Center. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)Oral History: A Look Back with Hurricane Forecaster Ed Rappaport
Hear from Ed Rappaport, legendary hurricane forecaster, as he reflects on his time at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), blogsOne of Four: Hurricane Camille
On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast, only one of four hurricanes to make landfall on the continental United States as a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The rainfall, winds, and storm surge from Camille caused 256 deaths across several states: 143 on the Gulf Coast, and another 113 as a result of flooding in Virginia later in the week. All told, the damage caused by Camille totaled nearly $1.4 billion (about $10 billion today). For 36 years, Camille held the record as the most devastating hurricane to strike the Gulf Coast. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Great Chicago Heat Wave of 1995
On July 12, 1995, a deadly heat wave swept through the Midwest region of the United States, impacting the Chicago area in particular. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Intense Summer 2012 Microburst Impacts Localized Area South of Washington, DC
Just one week after the Super Derecho of late June 2012 impacted millions of people across the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic region, an intense localized microburst impacted part of the Fredericksburg, Virginia area, around 60 miles south of Washington, D.C. Read More »
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One Hot Weather Station
Of all the cooperative weather observing sites located in National Parks, one attracts the highest international interest among the weather and climate community: the station at Death Valley National Park. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Terror in Texas: Tropical Storm Allison
Though heavy rain is a common element that can occur during the average hurricane or tropical cyclone, Tropical Storm Allison was anything but ordinary. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Long-Lived and Destructive: The June 29, 2012 Derecho
Prior to June 29, 2012, most people in the Mid Atlantic weren't familiar with the term "derecho." However, that would soon change. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Hurricane Agnes
Though the Atlantic Hurricane season officially begins on the first of the month, June hurricanes tend to be few and far between. However, in 1972, one of the most impactful June hurricanes on record began to form in the Gulf of Mexico: Hurricane Agnes. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Tragedy at Teton: 1976 Dam Break Disaster
Disastrous dam failure, whether from natural or human causes, can occur with very little warning. Such was the case in southeastern Idaho in the summer of 1976, when the Teton Dam catastrophically failed. Read More »
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Far Beyond Normal: The Unprecedented 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Reflecting on the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, one of the most active and destructive on record. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Tragedy at Joplin-The EF-5 of May 22, 2011
As communities across the Southeastern US were still reeling from a busy and tragic April in 2011, an unthinkable tragedy struck again in a different part of the country about one month later. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)Then and Now: Decades of Hurricane Preparedness
One crucial part of the National Weather Service’s effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation is the element of preparedness -- knowing what’s coming, where to go, and what to do. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Lasting Collaboration: The History of the National Ice Center
In working to achieve the mission of the agency, the NWS often collaborates with other organizations and groups to improve accuracy and protect lives. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)1970 Lubbock Tornado Kills 26; Injures Over 1,500
A violent F5 tornado struck Lubbock, Texas at night on May 11, 1970. It became a watershed event for the city and the field of severe weather research. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)Changing Tides: The National Weather Service and Rip Current Safety
Even the strongest swimmers can fall victim to a rip current. Read about the NWS campaign that has protected beachgoers for almost 20 years. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)Planning Ahead: The #SafePlaceSelfie Campaign
The #SafePlace Selfie social media campaign, though fairly new, has had a monumental impact on safety and preparedness. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)The April 1974 Super Outbreak of Tornadoes
The second largest U.S. outbreak of tornadoes on record led to major changes in observation and dissemination technologies and a major shift in the way the National Weather Service prepares and issues forecasts. Read More »
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The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)TIROS I = TV Weather Eye in Space
At 6:40 am EST on April 1, 1960, a three stage 90-foot tall Thor-Able rocket lifted a drum shaped, 270- pound satellite from the launching pad at the Atlantic Missile Range at Cape Canaveral. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Using Ocean Modeling to Track the Movement of Nuclear Contamination: NWS Responds to the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster - Part 2
On March 12, 2011, the day after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster occurred, NOAA and the NWS began moving swiftly to determine how to help. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Origins of NOAA’s U.S. Spring Outlook
Dive into the history of the Spring Outlook, an annual report with roots almost 30 years in the past. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Reflecting on “The Long Winter” with Barb Mayes Boustead
For Barb Mayes Boustead, the record-breaking winter storms of 2008 and 2009 brought to mind another “Long Winter”: the one penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House book series. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)The Tri-State Tornado of 1925
The deadliest tornado in U.S. history struck 3 states on March 18, 1925, with southern Illinois hardest hit. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Using Ocean Modeling to Track Nuclear Contamination: NWS Responds to the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster - Part 1
While the mission of the NWS is focused on domestic climate and environmental efforts, catastrophic weather events happen worldwide. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Scratching the Surface: A Photo History of Surface Analyses at the Weather Prediction Center
Though it has operated under many different names and used many different technologies to predict weather over the years, the Weather Prediction Center has been producing surface analyses since the very beginning. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Unpredictable: The President’s Day Storm of 1979
Forecasts for a winter storm over President's Day weekend 1979 called for 4-6 inches of snow. That was not to be; the President’s Day Storm paralyzed the Mid-Atlantic for days, leading to major forecast model improvements. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)Dr. Robert White - Weather Bureau Chief and NOAA’s First Administrator
As NOAA's first administrator, Dr. White is credited with leading the agency into the numerical weather prediction and satellite eras, and is widely recognized as one of the most influential individuals in the field Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965), Post-War Expansion (1945-1960), Weather and the War (1942-1945), Early Growth (1912-1941), The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912), Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The National Weather Service at 150: A Brief History
The National Weather Service celebrated its 150th Birthday on February 9, 2020. Read More »
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100 Years of Weather Observations at Belvedere Castle in Central Park
The history of the Belvedere Castle Weather Station, a testament to consistency in an ever-changing agency. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)The NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 2)
Implementing the NWS's Modernization was a monumental task. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)A Look Inside at Burlington
In 1956, the Weather Bureau office in Burlington, Vt., opens its doors to the public for the first time, to celebrate 50 years of operation. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Introducing AWIPS
As part of the modernized NWS, a new computer system is deployed to its field offices. Read More »
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Living, Talking Time Capsules: Oral Histories and the NWS Heritage Project
In an effort to fully capture our history, the NWS has started collecting oral histories from past and present employees. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)Floods and the Awesome Power
Although severe weather events impact everyone, they can create unique challenges for people with disabilities. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Flying the Aleutians
A Weather Bureau forecaster shares her experience in 1956 of familiarizing herself with the aviation network serving the Aleutian Islands. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965), Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Numerical Weather Prediction
The forecast ability of the Weather Bureau greatly increases with the introduction of computer models to simulate the trends of the atmosphere. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)Key Advances in Weather History: Dual-Pol Radar
Radar is an essential component of modern meteorology--but how did the latest innovations come about? Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)Close Calls During Weather Flights
The stories of Frank Knapp, a Weather Bureau pilot during the 1930s. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Weather and the War (1942-1945), Signal Service Years (1870-1891), The Pioneers (pre-1870)Out of Thin Air: The History and Evolution of Upper-Air Observations
A practice that can be dated as far back as the 18th century, when Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a thunderstorm to prove the electrical nature of lightning, upper-air observations have been indispensable to meteorologists for hundreds of years. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Early Growth (1912-1941)NWS and AMS: 100 Years of Working Together
Ever since the founding of the American Meteorological Society, the organization has had an incredibly close relationship with the NWS. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)The NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 1)
Planned in the 1980s and implemented in the 1990s, the NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring modernized the agency’s organization and technology to ensure more rapid detection of storms and deliver timely forecasts and warnings to the public. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)STOP SHOUTING THE FORECAST!
Decades after teletypes were phased out, the NWS finally begins eliminating the ALL-CAPS FORMAT of its products. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)The Port Meteorological Officer
The U.S. Voluntary Observing Ship program provides vital weather observations to the NWS, and Port Meteorological Officers serve as the field representatives and primary points of contact for ships. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)Introducing NEXRAD
Early tests of the Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) paid dividends on May 11, 1982, when the Oklahoma City NWS office issues a number of Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Warnings based on the test Doppler radar in Norman. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)The Great Ice Storm of 1998
After the holiday craziness settled into a bright new year, something far beyond New Year's resolutions was set into motion: a disastrous ice storm. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990), Post-War Expansion (1945-1960), Weather and the War (1942-1945)The National Weather Service and the Evolution of Meteorological Radar
Radar, a technological concept that was first developed over 100 years ago, is a vital part of modern meteorology. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004: A Wake-Up Call
For many around the world, the day after Christmas is celebrated as another holiday: “Boxing Day.” On that day in 2004, however, the world was shattered by one of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history, forever changing humankind’s perception of tsunamis. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)The Last Weather Observation
Charles Foster Jones, a Weather Bureau cooperative observer in Attu, Alaska in June 1942, relays his final observation shortly before being executed by invading Japanese forces during World War II. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)Flying Kites for Science
The Weather Bureau's early efforts to measure the upper atmosphere involved kite flying. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)"Of Historic Proportions": The Superstorm of 1993
In March of 1993, a superstorm of unprecedented severity pelted the eastern United States. Remembered for its devastating tornadoes, shocking snowfall totals, destructive winds, and extreme flooding, this was a deadly storm of historic proportions. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)The Unsung Heroes of Firefighting: NWS Forecasters in the Field
Along with firefighters and first responders, there is another group vital to wildfire aid: Incident Meteorologists, or IMETs. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)No Snow in Sight: The NWS and the 1980 Olympic Winter Games
Almost 20 years after their first participation in the Olympics, the National Weather Service got another opportunity in 1980 when the Winter Games returned to the US. However, an atypical lack of snow in the region leading up to the Games presented extreme challenges for meteorologists and athletes alike. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Early Growth (1912-1941), The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)The Trusty Weather Balloon
While weather instruments to measure the upper atmosphere have changed over the decades, the use of balloons to carry them aloft continues today. Read More »
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Monk, Engineer, Weather Observer
NWS cooperative observers come from all walks of life. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)All in an Alaskan COOP Day
NWS employees sometimes have to go to great lengths to visit cooperative weather observing stations. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The Daily Weather Map
While many changes have occurred over the history of the National Weather Service, one constant has been the Daily Weather Map. Read More »
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The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)Breaking the Ice: The Weather Bureau and the 1960 Olympic Winter Games
For the first time in agency history, the Weather Bureau was approached to provide special weather service to the 1960 Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley, California. Read More »
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Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)The Sky is Falling: Delta Air Lines Flight 191 Crash
In 1985, Delta Air Lines Flight 191 fell from the sky at the Dallas/Fort Worth International airport as a result of inclement weather. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)The Mount Washington Observatory
Aptly named the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather”, the Mount Washington Observatory experiences some of the most extreme weather conditions on record. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Almost Science Fiction: Hurricane Modification and Project STORMFURY
In the years between 1962 and 1983, hurricane observation took an enormous step in an ambitious direction that almost sounds like science fiction: human interference and the modification of hurricanes. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), Modernization and Restructuring (1980-1990)
Weather Woodles
In order to help young children understand the weather, long-time National Weather Service employee Carolyn Willis created fuzzy, zany cartoon characters to explain complex weather phenomena: the Weather Woodles. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond), Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Wireless Emergency Alerts: How Your Mobile Device Could Save Your Life!
A mid-2000s Congressional Act inspired a revolutionary development in emergency notification technology: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Thanks to Wireless WEAs, countless lives have been saved when they otherwise wouldn't have been. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941), The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)Isaac Monroe Cline: The Cyclone Pioneer
Fighting through the blinding rain and powerful winds caused by the Hurricane of 1900, Galveston chief meteorologist Isaac Cline struggled to keep himself and his family alive. Read More »
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The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)The Satellite Era Begins
On April 1, 1960, the first satellite images are received from the just-launched TIROS-1 satellite. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)The World Weather Building
In 1974, NOAA moves several of its Washington-area weather operations to a new facility in Camp Springs, Maryland. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)A Radar for 30 Rock
In 1960, the Weather Bureau goes to great heights to provide radar coverage for the New York City area. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today)Cooperative Expansion of NOAA Weather Radio
A deadly tornado in 1994 prompts a nationwide effort to expand the NOAA Weather Radio network. Read More »
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The Pioneers (pre-1870)Jefferson and Madison, America's First Cooperative Weather Observers?
Two of our early Presidents chronicle the weather in the young United States Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960), Early Growth (1912-1941)The Bear Mountain Weather Bureau Office
Just north of the New York City metropolitan area, visitors to Bear Mountain State Park can visit an old Weather Bureau office that was established in 1934. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Weather for the "Atom Splitters"
In the late 1940's, the Weather Bureau establishes two special offices to fulfill the needs of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)The Farmer and the Gadget
In 1948, a Canadian farmer writes a humorous letter to the Weather Bureau regarding a recovered radiosonde. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Weather Wife at Wake
In 1954, Mrs. John Moore, the wife of a Weather Bureau observer stationed on Wake Island, shares her experiences. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Expanding Services Across the Pacific
While offices had been opened across the Hawaiian Islands early in the 20th century, the Weather Bureau role in the Pacific greatly increases following World War II. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)The Thunderstorm Project: When Pilots Flew Into Thunderstorms ... Intentionally
As the aviation industry expanded during WWII, the increase in air travel led to weather-related aviation incidents--primarily caused by thunderstorms. To learn about these dangerous storms, Congress mandated an in-depth meteorological study: the Thunderstorm Project Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)Tragedy on Lake Superior -- The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald
In the wake of an intense autumn storm that thrashed the Great Lakes, an enormous ship met a watery grave. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945), Early Growth (1912-1941)The Weather Bureau's "Flying Forecasts"
The Weather Bureau inaugurates "flying forecasts" on December 1, 1918, as the aviation industry expands following World War I. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)Winds of Change: The 2011 Tornado Outbreak and the Birth of a Weather-Ready Nation
Over the course of our 150-year history, tragic storm events have driven monumental change within the organization. In April of 2011, a tornado outbreak changed the National Weather Service forever. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)Then and Now: NOAA Hurricane Hunters
In order to collect life-saving information, the NOAA Hurricane Hunters risk their lives and fly directly into the eye of the storm. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Bessie Bergman Paul
From a young age, Bessie Bergman Paul learned about the importance of weather forecasts and observations from her father, a man who worked at an airport. Years later, she put her skills to good use as an employee of the Weather Bureau. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlcia B. Rosenlund
Charlcia B. Rosenlund reflects on the time she spent working in the wartime Weather Bureau, including her experiences working in the Last Frontier: Alaska. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Mary J.H. Williams
Mary J.H. Williams tells of her experiences in the wartime Weather Bureau, including the time she flew in the Goodyear blimp. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Charlotte Schmidtke Jones
Charlotte Schmidtke Jones, a woman who spent more than two decades in the Weather Bureau, shares stories of her experiences. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Grace D. Harding
Grace D. Harding tells of her time working for the Weather Bureau, including one particular story about a mysterious incendiary device. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)The NWS's Longest Serving Weather Observer
When Richard G. Hendrickson logged his first weather observation for the U.S. Weather Bureau, the precursor to the National Weather Service, Herbert Hoover occupied the White House. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)On the Front Lines of Change: The Women of the Wartime Weather Bureau
As American men stepped up to defend their country in World War II, American women stepped up as well. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The First Synchronized Weather Observations
On November 1, 1870, the Signal Service inaugurates its new weather observation network. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Dorothy Hurd Chambers
Dorothy Chambers shares her time with the Weather Bureau, including an interesting anecdote about "finding" the Jet Stream. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Women in the Weather Bureau During WWII - Shirley E. Kodalen Buhmann
Shirley Buhmann shares her story working with the Weather Bureau during World War II and after. Read More »
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Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today), ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), Early Growth (1912-1941), The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912), Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The Many Faces of a Weather Bureau Office
The Weather Bureau sets up shop in whatever facility they can find -- not always a fancy government building, either. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)The Weather Bureau's Northernmost Outpost
The Weather Bureau begins work in 1946 to help assemble a modern geophysical laboratory and meteorological observatory in Greenland. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980)The Weather Office of the Future: Introducing AFOS
In the 1970's, the NWS introduces plans for the Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS), an ambitious computer network to replace the teletype networks of the past, and to automate some forecasts. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)
Francis Reichelderfer: Sailor, Aviator, Meteorologist, and Director of the U.S. Weather Bureau
For a quarter century, Francis Reichelderfer presided over the most revolutionary era in the history of the National Weather Service, guiding the organization through World War II and bringing modern technology to weather forecasting. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)The Mount Weather Research Observatory
The Weather Bureau establishes an observatory in the early 1900's in the Blue Ridge Mountains, to conduct meteorological research. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)StormReady: Connecting with Communities to Save Lives
A tragic storm leads to an inspired idea to connect directly with communities. Read More »
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Becoming a Weather-Ready Nation (Today and Beyond)The Great Flood of 1993
The size and impact of the Great Flood of 1993 was unprecedented and has been considered the most costly and devastating flood to ravage the U.S. in modern history. Read More »
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Women in the Weather Bureau During World War II - LaVera Roland
LaVera Roland describes her experiences working with the Weather Bureau Read More »
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Women in the Weather Bureau During World War II - Virginia Tredinnick Denmark
Virginia Denmark shares her reflections of her time with the Weather Bureau Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)Cool Off at Stampede Pass
In 1956, the Weather Bureau shares the story of one of its more "extreme weather" offices, at Stampede Pass, Washington. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)John P. Finley's Rules for Tornado Forecasting
Signal Corps Sgt. John P. Finley extensively studies tornadoes in the 1870's and 1880's, coming up with 15 rules for tornado forecasting. Read More »
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ESSA to NOAA and Environmental Focus (1965-1980), The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)Supporting the Space Race
The Weather Bureau accepts NASA's request to provide weather support for the space program. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)Censoring the Weather During World War II
If snow falls and everyone sees it, did it still occur? Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)40,000 Calls a Day via WE6-1212
In 1939, the Weather Bureau's New York office begins an automated forecast service via telephone, with instant success. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912), Signal Service Years (1870-1891)A Brief History of Signal Flags
In 1881, the Signal Service expands its forecast relay methods to include visual displays. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)The Tale of the Weather Bureau Kiosk
In 1908, the Weather Bureau introduces a new method for distributing observations and forecasts to the public. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)The Blizzards of 1888
Two blizzards, one in January 1888 that struck the northern Plains and a second in March, would forever change the face of weather forecasting. Read More »
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Signal Service Years (1870-1891)
Signal Service Reflections
In 1922, Weather Bureau employee Henry E. Williams asks Signal Service veterans to share their stories on their impressions of the Signal Service years. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)Weather Bureau Kite Observer Killed
On August 28, 1919, a Weather Bureau employee at Ellendale, ND, is killed by lightning while assisting with a kite observation. Read More »
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Weather and the War (1942-1945)
Weather Bureau Meteorologists Lost at Sea
The sinking of the USS Muskeget on September 9, 1942 northeast of Newfoundland results in 121 casualties, including four Weather Bureau meteorologists. Read More »
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Early Growth (1912-1941)
A Half Century of Service
In early 1941, Dr. Francis W. Reichelderfer writes a letter to Weather Bureau personnel to mark the 50th anniversary of the Weather Bureau as a civilian agency. Read More »
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The Satellite Age Begins (1960-1965)First Woman Meteorologist-in-Charge
Mrs. Hazel Tatro becomes the Weather Bureau's first woman Meteorologist-in-Charge in 1964, when she is selected for the position in Winston-Salem, NC. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)The Start of Tornado Forecasts
After Lt. John Finley of the Army Signal Corps began issuing routine tornado forecasts, the practice was discontinued until after World War II. Work by two meteorologists in the U.S. Air Force eventually led to the creation of what is now the Storm Prediction Center. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912), blogsThe Wright Brothers and the Weather Bureau
On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their first powered aircraft. Read More »
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Post-War Expansion (1945-1960)My Battle with Audrey
A Young Coast Surveyor's wife provides a graphic first-hand description of Hurricane Audrey's destruction. Read More »
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The Weather Bureau Rises (1891-1912)Galveston Storm of 1900
Join meteorologist Isaac Cline as he describes his experiences during the worst disaster to ever befall the United States. Read More »
