National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Dangerous Heat and Possible Flooding This Week

Hot temperatures and high humidity are forecast to continue across much of east Texas into the mid-Mississippi Valley through this week. Heavy to excessive rainfall occurring at times through Friday could bring areas of flooding across parts of the central Plains into the upper Midwest and Four Corners states. Read More >

Upper Air Observations


Decoded Upper Level Winds

Plotted Upper Air Soundings

GOES Derived Atmospheric Vertical Soundings

Alternate Sources for Upper Air Soundings
Ohio State

California Wind Profiler Data Can be Found Here

Why Do Forecasters Still Rely on Weather Balloons?

Twice every day, from nearly 100 locations in the United States, the National Weather Service launches weather balloons, carrying instrument packages called radiosondes. Radiosonde sensors measure upper-air conditions such as atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction. The data is important for aviation safety, and meteorologists use radiosonde information to prepare weather forecasts.