Areas of Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall Today

Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of damaging wind gusts and some hail are expected this afternoon and evening from the Upper Ohio River Valley into the Northeast, and from the Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic States. Excessive rainfall from heavy thunderstorms may produce areas of flash flooding from southern New Mexico into the western and northern Gulf Coast into Wednesday. Read More >

History of the Smithsonian Institute's involvement in the Cooperative Observation Program

Joseph Henry's first major project at the Smithsonian was his plan to obtain weather reports from a countrywide network of voluntary observers; his plan is detailed in the Institution's 1848 Annual Report. Voluminous reports, maps, tables, and charts were prepared and published on all phases of the work -- rainfall, snowfall, temperatures, barometric pressure, storms, meteors, auroras, and other phenomena.

In 1869, when Congress established the Weather Bureau of the United States Signal Service, the Smithsonian system of meteorological reports was turned over to the new bureau.

The Smithsonian continued to work on the material collected up to the time of transfer, however, and over the next few years issued reports, tables, and maps.

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Areas of Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall Today

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