S. 3923
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
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Text of the bill
I Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
II Enhancing Federal weather forecasting and innovation
(a) In general. Not later than September 30, 2030, the Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an operational cloud-based environment.
(b) Services. The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following services:
(1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, including meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and radar data, for field offices and national centers of the National Weather Service.
(2) Acquiring and processing observational data from sensors and local sources.
(3) Providing an interactive communications system, including any relevant capabilities of the existing satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant employees and sites of the National Weather Service.
(4) Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, ecological, subseasonal to seasonal, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts in a rapid and highly reliable manner.
(c) Elements. The transition of operations required under subsection (a) may include the following:
(1) Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, and functional testing activities to facilitate remote evaluation and automated testing.
(2) Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and non-Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a).
(3) Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a quality user experience.
(4) Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network operations and support backup functions.
(5) Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).
(6) Development and deployment of virtualized systems to replace physical hardware at operational sites.
(7) Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.
(8) Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent with the mission and scientific expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(d) Updates to Congress. The Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives periodic updates on the implementation of this section.
(e) Continued innovation. Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities or sub-systems or implementing modeling advancements on the operational computing systems of the Administration.
III Commercial weather and environmental observations
IV Communicating weather to the public
V Improving weather information for agriculture and water management
VI Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research and control
VII Fire ready Nation
VIII Precipitation estimates and landslide preparedness
IX Importation of red snapper
X Improving cybersecurity and telecommunications for oceanic research
XI Other authorities
XII Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2026