The Economics and Social Benefits

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Weather and water extreme events including droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, wildland fires, etc., cause $11 billion in damages each year in the United States. NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) has a mission to "provide weather, hydrologic, 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." Accordingly, the NWS issues more than 15,000 severe storm and tornado watches and warnings each year. With so much at stake, NOAA's role in understanding, observing, forecasting, and warning of environmental events is expanding.

NOAA provides decision makers with weather and water data for analyses, predictions, and warnings for a range of conditions, including those relating to water supply, air quality, space weather and other natural hazards. Economic business sectors, government, and non-governmental organizations use these data to improve operational efficiencies, to manage environmental resources, and to create a better quality of life.

The information in this goal is organized into three categories:

• Data Users
• Extreme Events
• Observing Systems

NOAA Weather & Water Goal Performance Objectives:

• Increase lead time and accuracy for weather and water warnings and forecasts
• Improve predictability of the onset, duration, and impact of hazardous and severe weather and water events
• Increase application and accessibility of weather and water information as the foundation for creating and leveraging public (i.e., Federal, state, local, tribal), private and academic partnerships
• Increase development, application, and transition of advanced science and technology to operations and services
• Increase coordination of weather and water information and services with integration of local, regional, and global observation systems
• Reduce uncertainty associated with weather and water decision tools and assessments
• Enhance environmental literacy and improve understanding, value, and use of weather and water information and services