NOAA Air Quality Forecasters Focus Group Workshop Banner

Workshop Background:
The National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC) program was established by the National Weather Service (NWS) in 2004 to provide numerical forecast guidance for state and local Air Quality (AQ) forecasters nationwide. The program is designed to foster partnership with EPA and Air Quality Forecasters. AQ forecasters' feedback has played an important role in establishing the NAQFC program and advancing NOAA’s air quality modeling suite. This office has conducted AQ Focus Group Workshops nearly every year since its establishment.

Workshop Objectives:
The objectives of the workshop is to

  • Evaluate the accuracy of the AQ model (AQM) output as real-time forecast guidance for state and local AQ forecasters in their respective locations
  • Critically examine current model development and research initiatives, and
  • Provide feedback to identify gaps and/or misalignment between model performance, current R&D initiatives, and forecasters’ needs.

Desired Outcomes:
The desired outcomes of this year’s workshop include

  • Cultivation of interactions and collaborations between AQM developers and the end-users of operational AQM guidance
  • Development and/or refinement of strategic initiatives to continually improve the skill and value of AQM guidance
  • Forecaster input on long-term NWS initiatives related to AQM guidance, such as probabilistic Impact-Based Decision Support Services (pIDSS) and subseasonal to seasonal AQ prediction.

When/Where:
The 2026 workshop will be held on November 19-20, 2026 at NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Maryland with options for virtual participation.

The registration for 2026 Air Quality Forecasters Focus Group Workshop is now open!

Register Here

Registration Deadlines:

Virtual: 30 October 2026
In-Person: 15 September 2026

Pending the availability of funds, we hope to provide travel support for 6-8 AQ forecasters through our partner, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)/Research Applications Laboratory (RAL), to support in-person participation. If interested in travel support, please respond accordingly in the registration form.

For questions please contact Youngsun Jung, Air Quality Program Manager at youngsun.jung@noaa.gov or Sikchya Upadhayay, Air Quality Deputy Program Manager at sikchya.upadhayay@noaa.gov. We look forward to your participation in the workshop.

Event Timing: November 19-20, 2026

Event Address: NOAA Center For Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP), 5830 University Research Ct, College Park, MD 20740
(virtual meeting via Google meet; details will be provided later)

NCWCP Venue Information Identification:
Please bring a government issued identification, such as a Passport or a REAL ID compliant driver's license.

Address:
NCWCP
5830 University Research Court
College Park, Maryland 20740

Parking:

  • Please enter at the security gate, using the right-most lane closest to the guard house.
  • Be prepared to show a form of identification.
  • Proceed to the undercover parking garage (see below map). Parking is free.
  • Park on the 2nd and/or 3rd level of the parking garage.
  • Use the visitor entrance in the front of the building and show identification at security.

Lunch: The Kloud Cafe is available onsite, via a separate entrance from outside. Check back for Lunch/drinks/snacks purchase link.

Group Dinner: TBD

Getting to the NOAA Center for Weather & Climate Prediction
5830 University Research Court,
College Park, MD 20740
(Note: - older GPS systems may reference Riverdale instead of College Park)

Directions:

  • From Maryland
    • Take I-495 East to exit 23A (Kenilworth Ave/MD-201 S). Stay on 201 S and make a right onto River Rd. Take the 1st right onto University Research Court. The NCWCP building is at the end of the cul-de-sac on the left-hand side.
  • From Virginia
    • Merge onto I-495 OUTERLOOP/Capital Beltway/ toward Alexandria. Take the I-295 N/National Harbor exit, EXIT 2A-B, toward Washington. Keep right to take DC-295 N toward US-50 E (crossing into Maryland stay in Middle lane) to 201 North Kenilworth Ave. Turn left onto River Rd. Take the 1st right onto University Research Court. The NCWCP building is at the end of the cul-de-sac on the left-hand side.
  • From Washington DC
    • Take I-295 North (Middle lane) to 201 North Kenilworth Ave. (Cross East-West Hwy/MD-410) left onto River Rd. Take the 1st right onto University Research Court. The NCWCP building is at the end of the cul-de-sac on the left-hand side.
  • Via Metrorail
    • The NCWCP is accessible via the Green Line to the College Park/University of Maryland station. It is a 15-20 minute walk (to the east down River Road) from the station to the NCWCP.