Forecasts and Service

•     Resources
• NWS Safety Messages
• Education
• Forecast Process
• IDSS
• Observations
• Warning Issuance Process
• Warning Dissemination

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. These services include Forecasts and Observations, Warnings, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Education in an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. The ultimate goal is to have a society that is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate events.

With 122 Weather Forecast Offices, 13 River Forecast Centers, nine National Centers, and other support offices, the NWS collects and analyzes more than 6.3 billion observations per day and releases about 1.5 million forecasts and 50,000 warnings each year. Forecasters build their forecasts with observations from surface stations, weather balloon readings and satellite data that feed numerical weather, water and climate models whose output is analyzed and scrutinized using individual scientific expertise. Forecasters communicate this information and potential impacts to the public, emergency managers, and other core partners to help make decisions that save lives and protect property.

NWS forecasts, warnings, and data and products form a national information database and infrastructure used by other governmental agencies, the private sector, the public, and the global community. This enables our core partners to make decisions when weather, water or climate has a direct impact on the protection of lives and livelihoods. NWS forecasts and warnings are provided directly to decision makers in local communities, as well as at state and Federal levels, to protect lives and property in your neighborhood and community. Learn more about the services provided by your National Weather Service at the links on the right.