January 2026 Newsletter

Recent Updates

OSCAT Winds Anticipated this February 

OSCAT Winds data implementation in the NESDIS cloud (NCCF) is expected to begin operational delivery in February 2026. The OSCAT Winds Product reports measurements of the 10m wind speed and direction above the sea surface by use of scatterometer data.

NWS sites who are receiving OSCAT data today are relying upon the TOWRpro package, which provides a migrational (non-operational) data flow path from NESDIS STAR to NWS. TOWRpro will also allow for a smooth transition when NESDIS promotes OSCAT product generation to NCCF.

Please reach out to the TOWR-S Team with any questions.

Looking Ahead

QuickSounder

QuickSounder is the first small satellite in NOAA’s Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON), with an Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) in the NESDIS Low Earth Orbit (LEO) program. The ATMS data will both provide microwave imagery and be used to augment current polar blended products, enhancing climate monitoring and weather forecasting.

Quicksounder is currently in the interface testing phase, working with downstream partners to validate end-to-end data flows, interface compatibility, and data distribution pathways in preparation for operations. These efforts are focused on ensuring readiness across ground systems and user access points ahead of launch. The mission remains in a pre-launch configuration, with launch now expected toward the latter part of 2026. 

Additional updates will be shared as interface testing concludes and launch and data distribution timelines are further refined.

Please reach out to Derek VanPelt with any questions.

ASOS SCPs Update

The GOES-R ASOS Satellite Cloud Products (SCPs) are text products providing hourly satellite-based estimates of cloud cover, supplementing ASOS reports.

The TOWR-S team, in conjunction with NESDIS, will update how selected Northeastern U.S. ASOS stations are represented in the ASOS SCPs. For some stations, cloud-cover estimates have historically been generated independently from both GOES-East and GOES-West. However, several far-northeastern stations fall beyond the GOES-West Local Zenith Angle (LZA) 80-degree boundary, resulting in reduced viewing quality  from GOES-West. 

To improve data consistency and accuracy, beginning late March these stations will now be reported only from GOES-East, which provides the closer and higher-quality view. This change will affect all stations in the Northeastern states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. 

Currently, stations in the far west are reported singly by GOES-West, and stations in the far southeast are reported singly by GOES-East. All remaining ASOS stations with favorable viewing geometry from both satellites will continue to be reported in the SCPs using dual satellite estimates.

Please reach out to the Stuti Deshpande with any questions.

ICYMI

Himawari-9 Data Back in Service  

Himawari-9 imagery and derived products were restored on November 26, following an upstream disruption that began on October 11, 2025. During the disruption, JMA switched back to Himawari-8 for operations. On October 12, the NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF) successfully resumed full production using Himawari-8 data, and PDA customers were advised to ensure Himawari-8 subscriptions were enabled.

Following the data restoration on November 26, Himawari-9 imagery and associated products again became available through standard distribution pathways.

Please reach out to Derek VanPelt with any questions.

Updated GMGSI Available through TOWR-Pro v26

The Global Mosaic of Geostationary Satellite Imagery (GMGSI) provides global coverage from five satellites. This hourly product produces imagery from longwave infrared, shortwave infrared, mid-wave infrared (water vapor) and visible data. 

The GMGSI transitioned to run on the NOAA NESDIS Common Cloud Framework (NCCF). Support for the legacy on-prem GMGSI is scheduled to end on Friday, January 30, 2026. The TOWR-S v26 release includes support for the NCCF version, with no change to how GMGSI appears or is accessed. Other than installing v26 in a timely manner, no additional user action is required.

Please refer to the OSPO notice for more information and reach out to the TOWR-S Team with questions.

Satellite Book Club

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Please visit the TOWRPro v26 for more details and installation instructions. 

for more details and installation instructions. The November 20, 2025 Satellite Book Club spotlights TOWRPro v26 updates. Additionally, this factsheet provides many of the details.

For questions, contact the #towr-s Slack channel or email the TOWR-S Team with questions.