Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program.
Atmospheric rivers: research: forecasting methods: experimental tools.
Atmospheric Rivers: Research, Mitigation, and Climate Forecasting Program.
Extreme Weather Forecast and Threat Intelligence Integration Center.
Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts ActThis bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program.In carrying out the program, NOAA must seek to reduce loss of life and property and other economic losses caused by atmospheric river events through research and development on accurate, effective, and actionable forecasting and warnings. The program must generally involve the establishment of quantitative atmospheric river forecast skill metrics, the development of an atmospheric river forecast system within a unified forecast system, and the development of tools and products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration, among other activities. The program must periodically test and evaluate the value of incorporating innovative observations (e.g., observations from radar, aircraft, ocean buoys, and other sources) to facilitate the improvement of modeling and forecasting. The program must also consider the development of best practices for communicating the existence and severity of atmospheric river events, as well as other information about atmospheric rivers. The program may seek to improve precipitation modeling, with an emphasis on forecasting for complex terrain. The bill also requires NOAA to acquire and sustain adequate crewed and uncrewed aircraft (i.e., drones), equipment, and personnel necessary to meet air reconnaissance mission requirements annually during the expected atmospheric river season (November through March).
Fire Information and Reaction Enhancement Act of 2025 or the FIRE Act of 2025This bill establishes certain programs to improve wildfire forecasting and detection within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).Specifically, NOAA is directed to establish one or more weather research testbeds with industry and academic partners. (Testbeds are collaborative spaces where researchers and forecasters work together to integrate new observation systems into models, test and streamline data assimilation methods, and otherwise improve weather products and services for the benefit of the public.)Further, NOAA is directed to establish an additional program to develop and extend accurate wildfire forecasts and warnings in order to reduce injury, loss of life, and property damage. Through this program, NOAA may develop, test, and deploy satellite detection, fuel moisture and danger assessments, and atmosphere and fire modeling, among other tools.
Smarter Weather Forecasting for Water Management, Farming, and Ranching Act of 2025This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish pilot projects to support improved subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasting for water management in the western United States and for agriculture nationwide. (Under current law, subseasonal means the time range between two weeks and three months, and seasonal means the time range between three months and two years.)Specifically, NOAA must establish a pilot project to address challenges to improving forecasting and related product development for water management in the western United States. The project must address, among other items, improvements to operational modeling in mountainous regions and to the forecasting of atmospheric rivers. NOAA must also establish a second pilot project to address challenges to improving forecasting and related product development for U.S. agriculture. The project must address, among other items, improvements to operational modeling of warm-season precipitation and to the prediction of certain spring and summer weather patterns. Each pilot project must include activities that engage with and leverage the resources of academic institutions and entities within NOAA, and that achieve measurable objectives for operational forecast improvement. NOAA’s authority with respect to these pilot projects expires five years after the bill’s enactment.
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025