National Water Prediction Service Replaces Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

The National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) is live! Use the following link for the latest river observations and forecasts: https://weather.gov/desmoines/water | Backup link

Key NWPS links:

The next generation of National Weather Service (NWS) water forecast services has arrived. We are changing our delivery mechanism for river observations and forecasts on the Web.

As outlined in the NWS Strategic Plan, the NWS is investing in its infrastructure. This strategy includes the modernization and replacement of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) Web dissemination platform with NWPS on March 27, 2024.

We recognize that AHPS provides you and others with critical hydrologic information, especially during extreme hydrologic events and as such we are sharing information here about the transition not only to help you prepare but also to ensure there are no gaps in service.

Below is key information for you:

What is NWPS?
- The NWPS Web dissemination platform will be the replacement for AHPS. NWPS will leverage the NWS’ Dissemination Cloud infrastructure, a modernized Web technology framework incorporating geospatial technology and Web services to disseminate critical hydrologic information to you year round. In addition to the enhanced Graphical User Interface (GUI), NWPS will include an Application Programming Interface (API) that will allow you to integrate operational forecast information within your own applications.
- NWPS will be available on a preview site until the official switchover on March 27, 2024. The URL for the NWPS preview site is https://preview.water.noaa.gov/.
Service Change Notice and Public Information Statements
- A Service Change Notice (SCN) (listed at https://www.weather.gov/notification/#scn) was posted on Friday, January 12, 2024, announcing the 75-day transition of the experimental NWPS service to operational status.
- A related Public Information Statement (PNS) was issued on November 16, 2023.
- Information on AHPS URLs that will be changing to NWPS are outlined in this Public Information Statement (PNS) that was issued on March 6, 2024.
Operational Implementation
- On March 27, 2024, NWPS will become fully operational. The NWPS Web site will replace the AHPS Web site as the primary source for NWS water prediction information. When NWPS becomes fully operational, NWPS information will be available at https://water.noaa.gov/ which before the operational implementation of NWPS was used for National Weather Service (NWS) Office of Water Prediction information. This information will be migrated into the new NWPS.
- The legacy AHPS interface available at https://water.weather.gov/ will continue to be accessible for 60 days after NWPS is operationally implemented. The continued accessibility of AHPS will facilitate the user transition to NWPS before the retirement and shutdown of AHPS URL. On May 27, 2024, all users will be redirected to https://water.noaa.gov/.
- On March 27, 2024, the preview site for NWPS will become unavailable.
Additional NWPS Resources
- Visit https://weather.gov/owp/operations (scroll down after visiting the hyperlink) to find resources and informational material that aid in the transition to NWPS. Available materials include Information the NWPS access, use, evaluation as well as training material, Webinars, fact sheets, flyers, ArcGIS story mapsand a user's guide.
- NWS news story about NWPS
- A User's Guide to NWPS (ArcGIS Story Map)
- NWPS Product and User's Guide
- NWPS Service Description Document (SDD)
- NWPS Fact Sheet
- Slides from NWS Des Moines NWPS Partner Webinar on March 5, 2024

Thank you for your partnership with the NWS. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding these new Web capabilities please contact us. We look forward to continuing to work with you as the NWS transforms into a more nimble, flexible and mobile agency providing essential mission services to you.