NOAA’s National Weather Service Saves Lives Every Day

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

The National Weather Service was established on February 9, 1870 and we have President Ulysses S. Grant to thank for it. However, he wasn't the first person in our country's history to recognize the importance of weather tracking. Weather patterns are so critical to our daily life and survival that even our Founding Fathers made regular weather observations and recorded temperatures. In fact, Thomas Jefferson owned one of the only barometers in America at that time. Unfortunately, there was no way of making large scale, impactful insights until the invention of the telegraph. Momentum started building in 1849, when the Smithsonian Institution provided basic meteorological instruments to telegraph companies like Bell. With the help of telegraphs, 150 people that year were able to record weather patterns and temperatures side by side, and then share them with the network to create the very first weather maps.

The Growth of the National Weather Service

Just over a decade later, there were roughly 500 weather stations set up throughout the US, all tracking weather observations on a daily basis. For the first time, enough people were measuring weather patterns at the same time to be able to chart the data and make predictions about the weather. During the next decade, the first national weather service - later officially called The National Weather Service, grew from a volunteer network of various weather stations. Back then it was a division of the Army, but by 1890, Congress passed legislation that reassigned weather services to the U.S. Weather Bureau in the Department of Agriculture. In the next year, they started issuing the first flood warnings.

Establishing the Hurricane Warning Service

Just at the turn of the century, cable connections were made between the U.S. and Europe, allowing for weather warnings to be passed back and forth at greater distances. By this point, communication was beginning to be so expansive that the Weather Bureau could actually forecast events and weather conditions up to three days in advance. Having already established a hurricane warning network in the West Indies, the Weather Bureau was able to start the hurricane warning service in 1935. With the growth of the Weather Bureau came the realization that weather services weren't just an invaluable tool for farmers and workers in the Agriculture industry, so the whole assembly was transferred to the Department of Commerce in 1940. In 1950, the first official tornado warning service was established, and in 1960 the first weather satellite started orbiting our stratosphere.

The Expansion of the National Weather Service

By 1970, the Weather Bureau was renamed to the National Weather Service after being absorbed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). What started out as 150 volunteers sharing weather observations and weather radar was now a major national organization with over 11,000 weather stations.Today, the National Weather Service is more accurate and expansive than ever. A person can easily check their weather forecast, storm maps, and local Doppler radar information on the National Weather Service website. More importantly, even during emergency situations with power outages, it's still possible to receive weather updates on a weather radio with a hand crank or solar powered functionalities. The National Weather Service (NWS) makes it possible to get weather updates and check the weekly forecast from your phone by downloading the National Weather Service app. However, critical weather alerts in your area are sent to your phone via SMS, regardless if you have the app installed. But of course the classic method of communication was the NOAA weather radio. A weather radio is still a great tool to this day.

NOAA’s NWS Saves Lives

Every year, the National Weather Service saves thousands of lives with their weather alerts. Prior to their detailed forecasts, the population had little to no warning of severe weather or storms. Today, thanks to major technological advances, strong communication, and better forecasting than ever, the National Weather Service can predict and broadcast alerts about major events such as Hurricane Harvey, which resulted in fewer than 100 casualties. NOAA was even able to fly a drone inside hurricane Sam and show the world what it's like inside the eye of a hurricane. During hurricane season, NOAA is especially helpful with the weather information they’re able to provide to the population. Extreme weather is dangerous, but this weather enterprise has been able to save countless lives. The National Weather Service can also warn of smaller but also deadly conditions such as rip currents. NWS forecasters have been warning people of severe thunderstorm conditions and other hazardous weather phenomena such as tornadoes, wind, and hail for decades. Meteorologist teams have been able to take weather data and other weather map technologies to predict wind and rain along with other precipitation events. NOAA’s National Weather Service and its severe weather warnings save lives everyday.