S. 3923
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
Official summary
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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
III Commercial weather and environmental observations
IV Communicating weather to the public
In this title:
(1) Hazardous weather or water events. The term hazardous weather or water events means weather or water events that have a high risk of loss of life or property, including the following:
(A) Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.
(B) Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen precipitation and strong winds.
(C) Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.
(2) Institution of higher education. The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) Public cloud. The term public cloud means an information technology model in which service providers make computing services, including compute and storage and develop-and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand to organizations and individuals over the public internet or other means that allows for the widest dissemination of information.
(4) Watch; warning
(A) In general. The terms watch and warning, with respect to a hazardous weather or water event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by the general public, to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of such event and to inform action to prevent loss of life or property.
(B) Exception. The terms watch and warning do not include technical or specialized meteorological or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.
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