Private companies couldn't match NOAA's vast public weather data powers
Feb. 11 (UPI) -- When a hurricane or tornado starts to form, your local weather forecasters can quickly pull up maps tracking its movement and showing where it's headed. But have you ever wondered where they get all that information?
The forecasts can seem effortless, but behind the scenes, a vast network of satellites, airplanes, radar, computer models and weather analysts are providing access to the latest data - and warnings when necessary. This data comes from analysts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, and its National Weather Service.
Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen, who is a former National Weather Service forecaster, explained NOAA's central role in most U.S. weather forecasts.
When people see a weather report on TV, what went on at NOAA to make that forecast possible?
A lot of the weather information Americans rely on starts with real-time data collected by NOAA satellites, airplanes, weather balloons, radar and maritime buoys, as well as weather stations around the world.
All of that information goes into the agency's computers, which process the data to begin defining what's going on in different parts of the atmosphere.
NOAA forecasters use computer models that simulate physics and the behavior of the atmosphere, along with their own experience and local knowledge, to start to paint a picture of the weather -- what's coming in a few minutes or hours or days. They also use that data to project seasonal conditions out over weeks or months.
NOAA's data comes from many sources to provide a more complete picture of developing climate and weather conditions. Communities and economies rely on that constantly updated information. NOAA
When severe weather is on the way, the agency issues the official alerts you'll see in the news and on your phone.
All of this analysis happens before the information reaches private weather apps and TV stations.
No matter who you are, you can freely access that data and the analyses. In fact, a large number of private companies use NOAA data to create fancy maps and other weather products that they sell.
It would be extremely difficult to do all of that without NOAA.
The agency operates a fleet of 18 satellites that are packed with instruments dedicated to observing weather phenomena essential to predicting the weather, from how hot the land surface is to the water content of the atmosphere.
Some are geostationary satellites which sit high above different parts of the U.S. measuring weather conditions 24/7. Others orbit the planet. Many of these are operated as part of partnerships with NASA or the Air Force.
Some private companies are starting to invest in satellites, but it would take an enormous amount of money to replicate the range of instrumentation and coverage that NOAA has in place.
Satellites only last so long and take time to build, so NOAA is continually planning for the future, and using its technical expertise to develop new instruments and computer algorithms to interpret the data.
NOAA's low earth orbiting satellites circle the planet from pole to pole and across the equator 14 times a day to provide a full picture of the year twice a day. The agency also has geostationary satellites that provide continuous coverage over the U.S. NOAA
Maritime buoys are another measuring system that would be difficult to replicate. Over 1,300 buoys across oceans around the world measure water temperature, wind and wave height -- all of which are essential for coastal warnings, as well as long-term forecasts.
Weather observation has been around a long time. President Ulysses S. Grant created the first national weather service in the War Department in 1870. It became a civilian service in 1880 under the Department of Agriculture and is now in the Commerce Department.
The information its scientists and technologists produce is essential for safety and also benefits people and industries in a lot of ways.
Could a private company create forecasts on its own?
It would be difficult for one company to provide comprehensive weather data in a reliable way that is also accessible to the entire public.
Some companies might be able to launch their own satellite, but one satellite only gives you part of the picture. NOAA's weather observation network has been around for a long time and collects data from points all over the United States and the oceans.
Without that robust data, computer models and the broad network of forecasters and developers, forecasting also becomes less reliable.
Analyzing that data is also complex. You're not going to be able to take satellite data, run a model on a standard laptop and suddenly have a forecast.
And there's a question of whether a private company would want to take on the legal risk of being responsible for the nation's forecasts and severe weather warnings.
NOAA is taxpayer-funded, so it is a public good -- its services provide safety and security for everyone, not just those who can pay for it.
If weather data was only available at a price, one town might be able to afford the weather information necessary to protect its residents, while a smaller town or a rural area across the state might not. If you're in a tornado-prone area or coastal zone, that information can be the difference between life or death.
Is climate data and research into the changing climate important for forecasts?
The Earth's systems -- its land, water and the atmosphere -- are changing, and we have to be able to assess how those changes will impact weather tomorrow, in two weeks and far into the future.
Rising global temperatures affect weather patterns. Dryness can fuel wildfires. Forecasts have to take the changing climate into account to be accurate, no matter who is creating the forecast.
Drought is an example. The dryness of the Earth controls how much water gets exchanged with the atmosphere to form clouds and rainfall. To have an accurate weather prediction, we need to know how dry things are at the surface and how that has changed over time. That requires long-term climate information.
NOAA doesn't do all of this by itself - who else is involved?
NOAA partners with private sector, academia, nonprofits and many others around the world to ensure that everyone has the best information to produce the most robust weather forecasts. Private weather companies and media also play important roles in getting those forecasts and alerts out more widely to the public.
A lot of businesses rely on accuracy from NOAA's weather data and forecasts: aviation, energy companies, insurance, even modern tractors' precision farming equipment. The agency's long-range forecasts are essential for managing state reservoirs to ensure enough water is saved and to avoid flooding.
The government agency can be held accountable in a way private businesses are not because it answers to Congress. So, the data is trustworthy, accessible and developed with the goal to protect public safety and property for everyone. Could the same be said if only for-profit companies were producing that data?
Christine Wiedinmyer is associate director for science at CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder and ">Kari Bowen is an atmospheric scientist, program manager at CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Hampshire covered in rain, smoke as summer begins. Here's the forecast for the season
It may be summer, but the weather in New Hampshire remains gray and rainy. In fact, most of the region has seen measurable rainfall every weekend for the past 13 weeks, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Gray, Maine. Together with the rain, smoke from the wildfires in Canada is clouding the skies, blocking the summer sun and causing poor air quality throughout New Hampshire and Maine. After 13 weeks, you may be wondering if the rain in New Hampshire will ever end, as well as when the smoke will clear up. Here's what to know. As of right now, this coming weekend will also see rain in New Hampshire. The NWS forecasts the potential for showers on Saturday, June 14 and measurable rainfall the night of Sunday, June 15. However, neither day is expected to be a washout, and the NWS says both days will be salvageable. While it cannot be determined with certainty when it will stop raining on the weekends in New Hampshire, the NWS predicts that this pattern may be active for a while. "We're not going to be getting into a dry spell anytime soon," said Sarah Jamison of the NWS. "I can't rule out precipitation going through the end of June." Jamison said that spring and early summer are seeing more rain this year as the climate recovers from the drought last fall, with May 2025 in the top three wettest May's ever recorded in southern New Hampshire. Because rain continues to hit the ground, water continues to be fed into the precipitation system, causing more frequent rainfall. While there are stretches of dry weather between the rain, the NWS predicts that an active pattern will continue to come every few days, possibly through the entire summer. NH summer weather: When will it get hot in New Hampshire? See Farmers' Almanac summer forecast As smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to travel down into the U.S., New Hampshire and Maine are blanketed with gray, hazy skies. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection have both issued an an air quality alert due to particle pollution, which is making the air unhealthy for sensitive groups. Both states advise that individuals limit outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects, including irritated sinuses, stinging eyes, coughing, shortness of breath and even a rapid heartbeat. People who may be especially sensitive to the air pollutants include children, the elderly, those with heart disease and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or bronchitis. Currently, the air quality alerts are in effect through the morning of Monday, June 9, but they may be extended as the fires continue. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH weather: When will it stop raining on the weekends?


Washington Post
35 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Stifling heat hits the Pacific Northwest with 100-degree days through midweek
Stifling conditions are settling into the Pacific Northwest and Columbia River Basin to start the week, with triple-digit temperatures and readings flirting with records. The brief but intense heat wave will last through the middle of the week, replaced with near- or below typical warmth. An extreme heat warning has been issued for parts of eastern Washington until 9 p.m. Tuesday; heat advisories cover the eastern half of the state, and the Rainier and Willamette Valleys in western Washington and Oregon respectively. Even some of the high terrain of Northern California will experience the heat.


Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: 8 States May See Aurora Borealis Monday
Geomagnetic storm conditions are possible Monday after a recent coronal mass ejection, potentially bringing the northern lights to several states in the northern U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some geomagnetic storm conditions are expected after a coronal mass ejection that left the sun last ... More week, forecasters said. NOAA forecast auroral activity with a Kp index of three on a scale of nine for Monday night, suggesting the aurora borealis may be visible farther from the poles and be 'quite pleasing to look at' for those in the right areas. NOAA noted the Kp index may be upgraded to just over four, signaling higher confidence of the northern lights being seen in parts of Maine and South Dakota, saying a 'minor' geomagnetic storm is possible Monday because of the lingering effects of a coronal mass ejection that left the sun on June 6. Similar auroral activity is expected Tuesday and Wednesday, with a maximum Kp index of three and four forecast for either day, respectively, according to NOAA's three-day projections. Parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin have a low, but potential, chance of seeing the northern lights. Most of Canada and Alaska have a higher likelihood of viewing the phenomenon. (See map below.) Monday's view line. NOAA recommends traveling to an unobstructed, north-facing and high vantage point away from light pollution to see the northern lights, which the agency said are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Photography experts told National Geographic it's best to use a tripod to stabilize the image, while also using a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting. With a smartphone, NASA recommends enabling night mode, disabling flash and opting for a slower shutter speed, if possible. An increase in solar events like coronal mass ejections and solar flares will likely persist into early 2026, according to NASA's projections. This rise coincides with activity on the sun's surface achieving a 'solar maximum' in October 2024, which occurs over the sun's 11-year cycle that includes a 'solar minimum' and a decline in solar events. Geomagnetic storm events ramped up in intensity last year, after one of the strongest storms in 20 years disrupted Earth's magnetic field and led to the northern lights being spotted in all 50 states.