H.R. 5089

Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsor: Frank D. Lucas

26 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research. 

For example, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 programs that are administered by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the U.S. Weather Research Program. It also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA).

The bill also requires NOAA to establish programs that support weather forecasting technology, including improvements to radar accuracy, weather forecasting in underserved areas, and coastal flooding forecasting. NOAA must also acquire weather-related data from the private sector and establish a pilot program to test the compatibility of this data with NOAA infrastructure. 

In addition, NOAA must improve weather-related communication systems, including those related to hazardous weather events, through system upgrades that use more modern technology (e.g., cloud-based services) and that allow for expanded coverage (e.g., in rural areas).

Finally, NOAA must administer programs that support weather forecasting for agricultural and water management, including pilot programs to improve precipitation forecasts in the western and central states and a soil moisture monitoring network. 

Text of the bill

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I Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017

Sec. 115. Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act

(a) Definitions. Section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(a)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and

(2) by inserting before paragraph (4) (as so redesignated) the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(1) Atmospheric river. The term atmospheric river means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that—

(A) produces significant quantities of rain or snow; and

(B) may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding.

(2) Atmospheric river flooding event. The term atmospheric river flooding event means an atmospheric river that—

(A) results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy; and

(B) is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.

(3) Extreme precipitation event. The term extreme precipitation event means precipitation quantities exceeding the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific location.

(b) Requirements. Section 12(d)(1) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (15 U.S.C. 9707(d)(1)) is amended by inserting , such as precipitation resulting from hurricanes, atmospheric river flooding events, and extreme precipitation events before the period at the end.

II Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation

III Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations

IV Communicating Weather to the Public

V Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management