Our Stories (old) - National Weather Service Heritage

The U.S. Weather Bureau office in Glasgow, Montana, in 1963, an example of the types of smaller offices that existed before the National Weather Service's modernization efforts in the 1990s.

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 MoreAboutThe Many Faces of a Weather Bureau Office »

Birthday Cake - Celebrating the National Weather Service's 150th Birthday on Feb. 9, 2020

The National Weather Service at 150: A Brief History

The National Weather Service celebrated its 150th Birthday on February 9, 2020. Read MoreAboutThe National Weather Service at 150: A Brief History »

Current Weather Forecast Office Structure of the NWS

The NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 2)

Implementing the NWS's Modernization was a monumental task. Read MoreAboutThe NWS Modernization and Associated Restructuring - A Retrospective (Part 2) »

A U.S. Weather Bureau employee launches an unmanned, tethered

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 MoreAboutThe Trusty Weather Balloon »

A color photograph of a man using a yellow measuring tape on a thick palm tree trunk. The surrounding ground is covered in debris, including broken bricks, mud, and fallen palm fronds, indicating significant flood damage. Many other palm trees stand in the background under an overcast sky. The scene shows the environmental aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

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 MoreAboutThe Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004: A Wake-Up Call »

A color photograph of severe ice storm damage. In the center, a red vehicle is nearly completely obscured and crushed by a massive tangle of large, fallen tree branches, all heavily coated in a thick layer of clear ice. The ground around the car and the entire scene is covered in snow and ice, emphasizing the extreme winter weather conditions.

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 MoreAboutThe Great Ice Storm of 1998 »

The Blizzard of ‘96 In Retrospect

Past and present NWS employees reflect on their experiences during the "Storm of the Century". Read MoreAboutThe Blizzard of ‘96 In Retrospect »

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 MoreAboutTerror in Texas: Tropical Storm Allison »

Teletype machines at the Weather Bureau office in Louisville, Ky., in the mid 1960s.

STOP SHOUTING THE FORECAST!

Decades after teletypes were phased out, the NWS finally begins eliminating the ALL-CAPS FORMAT of its products. Read MoreAboutSTOP SHOUTING THE FORECAST! »

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 MoreAboutScratching the Surface: A Photo History of Surface Analyses at the Weather Prediction Center »

National Weather Service Heritage

Protecting Lives and Property for More Than 150 Years

National Weather Service Heritage

Protecting Lives and Property for More Than 150 Years

Our Stories

Content with Time Periods Revolutionizing Observations, Forecasts & Dissemination (1990-Today) .