Weather Monitoring

Program Leader: VACANT

Remote Automated Weather Stations. The Forest Service, along with other agencies, operates an extensive network of automated weather stations. Automated weather stations provide valuable local weather information for various land management functions. Find out more about them on our RAWS web site.

Weather Information Systems. The Weather Program provides critical weather information for the various Forest Service needs. The Weather Information Management System (WIMS) provides access to National Weather Service (NWS) information and data collected locally for fire danger and flooding.

Coordination with National Weather Service. The program provides a key link with the various programs of the NWS:

• assuring data quality standards for the 1200 remote automated weather stations operated by the agency nationally

• providing satellite support for data transmission, and

• providing forecasting products that meet managers' spot weather forecasts needs.

Participation on National Drought Commission. The Forest Service Weather Program is an active participant in the National Drought Commission. This Commission, established by Congress, completed a report on the situation in the United States and possible mitigation.