USCG-NWS CONOPS Documents

National Weather Service CONOPS for Products, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Training/Outreach to the U.S. Coast Guard

In March 2020, Dr. Louis Uccellini (former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] Assistant Administrator for Weather Services) and Rear Admiral Richard V. Timme (U.S. Coast Guard [USCG] Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy) signed a national-level “Memorandum of Agreement between USCG and NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) Regarding the Management of Marine Weather Information''. Through this agreement (reference page 4), NWS provides USCG field units with weather information necessary for the safe and successful accomplishment of their assigned missions. While this document provides an overarching framework for interactions between USCG and NWS, it does not provide the detail necessary to carry out the objectives within. In addition, the USCG has no meteorology/forecasting arm internally. Thus, NWS has developed this Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for weather forecasting, Impact-based Decision Support Services (IDSS), and training that NWS will provide USCG nationwide in order to facilitate a comprehensive and consistent level of support to our USCG colleagues.

The goals of this CONOPS are the following:

1. To develop a document of detailed “best practices” for NWS to adopt nationwide in order to support the USCG’s mission. These best practices fall into the following categories:

a. NWS Forecast and Warning Products, Services, and Information Sources

b. IDSS, and

c. Training/Outreach.

2. To establish NWS as the primary source of weather information and support for the U.S. Coast Guard.

The CONOPS was officially approved by NWS and the USCG in 2023 and will be reviewed annually in April for any substantial changes.

Important Documents

National Weather Service CONOPS for Products, Impact Based Decision Support Services and Training/Outreach to the US Coast Guard

Appendix A: Mapping of US Coast Guard Facilities to NWS Offices

Appendix B: National Weather Service Products

Interactive Map (Click on the icon in upper right (Layer list) to display available layers)

Tutorial (Slideshow) about CONOPS

Webinar (recording)