Cantwell Leads Unanimous Senate Passage of Weather Act Reauthorization

Weather Act would modernize weather forecasting and research

Creates an atmospheric river forecast improvement program, strengthens landslide preparedness, establishes an official Fire Weather Services Program and deploys new technology and tools to forecast droughts and heat waves that harm crops

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, celebrated unanimous Senate passage of the bipartisan Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Weather Act), sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Weather Act authorizes programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that would strengthen weather research and forecasting to save lives and better prepare our nation against dangerous weather disasters. Led by Sen. Cantwell and Commerce Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and John Curtis (R-Utah).

“Americans are facing increasingly dangerous and costly weather disasters, and better forecasts give communities more time to prepare and get out of harm’s way,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The Weather Act will advance next-generation weather radar, modernize lifesaving warning systems and improve forecasts for atmospheric rivers and wildfires, like the devastating fires that forced thousands to evacuate in Spokane last month. Senate passage brings us one step closer to giving forecasters, emergency managers and communities the tools they need to save lives and protect property.”

“Today, the Senate took a pivotal step toward ensuring Americans are prepared for severe weather,” said Sen. Cruz. “Texans know all too well the devastation storms can bring. The lives lost in the July 4, 2025, Texas floods are a heartbreaking reminder of what is at stake. The Weather Act brings together over a dozen bipartisan bills to modernize radar systems, deliver more accurate and timely forecasts, and improve warnings so families and first responders have more time to act, no matter where they are and no matter the time of day. These improvements will help protect property and, more importantly, save lives in Texas and across the country.”

“Delaware is the lowest-lying state in the nation. Our rapidly changing climate has changed the way we prepare for severe weather events,” said Sen. Blunt Rochester. “As severe weather damages communities more frequently, it couldn’t be more important for us to properly invest in NOAA’s weather forecasting. I’m grateful for the bipartisan coalition of colleagues on this bill. We must do everything in our power to help Delawareans, and folks across the country, prepare for whatever weather events are on the horizon. I look forward to working together to get our Weather Act passed into law.”

“We must invest in advancing and strengthening our preparedness, response, and mitigation capabilities to address natural disasters,” said Sen. Sullivan. “This is especially important for Alaska, where our vast geography, remote communities, and exposure to a wide range of hazards make accurate forecasting and timely warnings essential to protecting lives, property, and communities. The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act reinforces our existing federal programs, protects NOAA’s core weather research and forecasting framework, including authorization levels that direct adequate resources, including personnel, and bolsters NOAA’s forecasting, warning, and communication systems to be better prepared for natural disasters such as tsunamis, landslides, wildfires, and severe weather. It also incorporates bills I have introduced or cosponsored, including my Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments (HABHRCA) Act, which ensures robust prevention, identification and response to the harmful algal blooms that are increasingly found in both our coastal and inland waters, as well as several bills I have cosponsored: the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act; the Fire Ready Nation Act; the Accelerating Networking, Cyberinfrastructure, and Hardware for Ocean Research (ANCHOR) Act; and the Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Reauthorization Act. I am pleased to see all these priorities for Alaska advance through this comprehensive legislation.”

“As severe weather in Hawai‘i and around the country becomes more damaging and frequent, having better forecasting can make all the difference in saving lives and livelihoods,” said Sen. Schatz. “Our bill will help improve forecasts and weather communications so that communities can better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to extreme weather.” 

“Kansans, particularly farmers and ranchers, rely on access to timely and reliable weather data every day,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m pleased this bill incorporates my legislation, the FORECAST Act, to help make certain NWS offices remain staffed to provide lifesaving 24/7 weather forecasting to their communities. Passage of this legislation is an important step to improve access to timely weather data for Kansans.”

“The severity of the wildfires and extreme heat in Nevada this past summer reminded us just how important it is that we invest in the latest weather prediction technology and fund critical programs at NOAA,” said Sen. Rosen. “I’m glad that my bill, to ensure Nevada’s farmers and ranchers have access to forecasts that will improve their resilience to weather anomalies, is part of the bipartisan Weather Act that has now passed the U.S. Senate. I call on the House of Representatives to pass it soon so we can send it to the President’s desk without delay.”

“As severe weather grows more dangerous, costing us hundreds of billions of dollars in economic impact and harming thousands of Americans every year, we need to make sure communities have the tools they need to prepare and respond quickly and effectively,” said Sen. Sheehy. “Montanans know firsthand the devastation wildfires cause, and while fire season only seems to be getting worse, government response has largely stayed the same. Better forecasting helps save lives, protect homes and livelihoods, and strengthen our resilience. The Weather Act is a commonsense step toward a safer, better-prepared America, and I’m glad to see it pass the Senate.”

“This past year, communities across Minnesota faced severe weather that affected local businesses, agriculture, infrastructure, and safety. From forest fires impacting tourism on the North Shore to major crop loss from floods in Southern Minnesota, natural disasters have taken a toll on our industries,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “By investing in weather forecasting and research, the bipartisan Weather Act will help communities better prepare for severe weather. My provision to protect the Aerial Snow Survey Program was included in the bill, which is crucial for collecting data and monitoring snowpack to better predict water levels and downstream impacts for local communities.”

“North Carolina knows all too well the risks when major storms strike,” said Sen. Budd. “This bipartisan effort to reduce major gaps in our weather system will help us track future storms more effectively and efficiently, to help prevent loss of life and property.  I am grateful that two bills I authored were included as provisions to the Weather Act to help enhance the accuracy of hurricane forecasts and communication, as well as modernize our radar system to get warnings out quicker.”

“Colorado and the West are facing historic drought and relentless wildfires fueled by climate change,” said Sen. Hickenlooper. “Investing in NOAA’s operations and research gives Coloradans better tools and resources to forecast extreme weather, prepare for disasters, and save lives.”

“Over the course of this year’s fire season, Utah communities have faced extreme wildfires that have led to catastrophic flooding,” said Sen. Curtis. “I’ve seen the damage these floods have caused to homes and livelihoods firsthand, and it is devastating. This bipartisan bill will help support our rural communities facing increasingly powerful fires and floods by modernizing weather communication and radio services, and I hope to see it signed into law soon.”

The Weather Act would:

• Establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program to advance accurate, effective and actionable forecasts, and warnings for atmospheric rivers.
• Require NOAA to maintain and improve the system that communicates potential hazardous weather or water events to the public
• Direct NOAA to upgrade outdated weather radio technology to provide reliable and continuous weather and emergency alerts.
• Require the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and NOAA to incorporate risks from atmospheric rivers into landslide preparedness and response planning.
• Establish an official Fire Weather Services Program within NOAA and fund the research and acquisition of new technology to improve forecasts of wildfire conditions.
• Direct the National Integrated Drought Information System to advance and deploy next generation drought monitoring technologies and use observations from State or regional hydrological monitoring projects.

“Accurate weather forecasts are among the most direct ways science serves the public, and the stakes have never been higher as extreme weather grows more frequent and costly. The Weather Act Reauthorization Act would move research breakthroughs into operational forecasts faster, strengthening the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from severe weather. AGU applauds Congress’s bipartisan commitment to science-informed decision-making that safeguards communities across the country.” – Janice Lachance, Executive Director/CEO, American Geophysical Union

“Weather impacts everyone, every day, and the ability to provide timely, accurate weather information depends on a strong weather enterprise. The bipartisan Weather Act recognizes the importance of investing in the observations, science, technology, and forecasting capabilities that help us save lives, protect property, and support our economy. Strengthening those capabilities is an investment in the nation’s future.” – Alan Sealls, President, American Meteorological Society

“Passage of the Weather Act Reauthorization is a giant step forward for the Weather Enterprise and its delivery of forecasts that save lives, protect communities, support businesses, and bolster our national economy. This bill strengthens public-private partnerships by augmenting critical government systems with increased use of innovative commercial data, paving the way for needed advances in observations, modeling, and information delivery. The American people will benefit every day from this legislation – from improved aviation and agricultural operations to earlier warnings for extreme weather such as tornadoes and flash flooding.” – Douglas Hilderbrand, Executive Director, American Weather Enterprise Association

“Western Governors have long advocated for the improvement of forecasting abilities for weather and natural disasters, as evidenced by their efforts that led to the creation of the National Integrated Drought Information System.  Western Governors are encouraged by several provisions within the Weather Act which enhance and reauthorize drought monitoring, fire weather and disaster forecasting, water quality maintenance, and soil moisture sensing.  These programs are critical to enhancing the security and prosperity of the West’s communities and economies.  WGA applauds the efforts of Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Ted Cruz to advance the Weather Act through Congress and encourages the House to swiftly consider the legislation.” – Jack Waldorf, Executive Director, Western Governors’ Association

“We are tremendously appreciative of Sen. Cantwell’s continued leadership in protecting our natural resources, including our ocean. NANOOS is grateful that our policymakers understand the importance of the ocean to our weather, which is created and driven by many inter-related systems. We are excited that the Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) network, of which NANOOS is a key component, is reauthorized as a part of the larger Weather Act reauthorization legislation. We thank the bipartisan group of Senators engaged in this effort.” – Jan Newton, Director of the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS)

“This bill has the potential to greatly improve people’s lives on an everyday basis, as it will lead to advances in many areas — from observations and modeling to warnings and decision support — to reduce loss of life and property from extreme weather. It also will accelerate innovations in uncrewed observations and artificial intelligence/machine learning-enabled forecasting by directing NOAA to coordinate across federal, academic, and private partners as well as prioritize measurable forecast improvements for high-impact hazards, including atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding and storm surge, and extreme heat.” – Shuyi Chen, Professor of Meteorology at the University of Washington

Additional Highlights of the Legislation Include:

Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation

• Addresses NOAA’s aging radar network by directing the agency to design and deploy the next generation of weather radar technology by 2037. It also authorizes NOAA to manage existing gaps in the current radar network by supplementing weather radar coverage with data, services and technologies from third parties.
• Establishes an atmospheric river forecast improvement program to develop tools and improved forecast models to address the increasingly frequent and powerful atmospheric rivers impacting the United States, especially across the West coast.
• Directs the National Weather Service to include turbulence events and icing conditions in its forecasting capabilities and establishes an airborne observation program to acquire atmospheric data from commercial aircraft.
• Directs NOAA to improve accuracy and timeliness of weather, water and space weather forecasts and effective dissemination of critical information using artificial intelligence. 
• Creates a project to improve forecasts of coastal marine fog with the goal of enhancing vessel safety and reducing the economic impact of coastal marine fog events.

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness by Improving Communication

• Requires NOAA to maintain and improve how the National Weather Service (NWS) and other federal partners like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) support emergency managers and communicate potential hazardous weather or water events to the public.
• Requires upgrades to outdated weather radio technology to provide reliable and continuous weather and emergency alerts and expands radio coverage to rural areas that do not currently have access to the National Weather Radio alert system.

Modernizing Critical Research Programs

• Updates the Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program to evaluate tsunami alert levels, maintain fail-safe warning capabilities and align the analytic techniques and methodologies of the two existing tsunami warning centers in Hawaii and Alaska.
• Builds on the progress of the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project by establishing it as a long-term program that will incorporate social, behavioral, risk and communication science into modeling, forecasting and response guidance.
• Expands the goals of the Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, predictions and warnings by increasing lead times, improving forecasting and updating the system to rate the severity of tornadoes in collaboration with local communities and emergency managers.
• Provides funding for weather laboratories; tornado, severe storm and next generation radar research; and transitioning the latest scientific and technological advances into operations. 

Supporting Farmers and Ranchers with Better Tools for Agriculture and Water Management

• Directs the National Integrated Drought Information System to advance and deploy next-generation drought monitoring technologies and transition existing drought products to probabilistic forecasts, as well as use observations from State or regional hydrological monitoring projects.
• Reauthorizes the National Weather Service’s work to provide agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information and directs NOAA to establish at least two pilot projects to support improved subseasonal to seasonal extended range precipitation forecasts for agriculture and water management.
• Codifies and authorizes the National Mesonet Program, a network of automated weather stations that are used to monitor and observe weather events and microclimates. The program is directed to obtain observations to improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric, drought, fire and water events and increase the quantity and density of environmental observations.

Expanding Commercial Data Partnerships

• Increases NOAA’s access to critical forecasting data by expanding its authority to contract with the private sector to acquire commercial weather data.
• Codifies the Commercial Data Program to coordinate and acquire a variety of weather and environmental data and services from the private sector for operational use.
• Modifies the existing commercial data pilot program to be a testing program within the Commercial Data Program and authorizes the program to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation services, imagery, products and data from private sector entities.

Preparing for Disasters

• Establishes within NOAA an interagency committee to coordinate agencies’ activities and ensure a united Federal approach to reducing health risks from heat, as well as a NOAA system to improve the delivery of data, information, forecasts, warnings, prediction and projections related to temperature and extreme heat.
• Improves the monitoring, forecasting, prevention and mitigation of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia that threaten aquatic ecosystems, hurt local economies and endanger public health by reauthorizing and amending the National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program. Establishes a national harmful algal bloom observing network and a national incubator program and increases the avenues of assistance NOAA can provide to affected communities.  
• Requires the national landslide strategy to include an assessment of risks from atmospheric river flooding and extreme precipitation events and expands the National Landslide Hazards Database to cover areas needing further risk assessment due to factors such as hydrological changes and atmospheric river flooding.

Passage of the Weather Act is an important step in implementing Sen. Cantwell’s 5 Point Plan to bolster the United States’ weather readiness, which she outlined in a letter to President Donald Trump in July of last year. Sen. Cantwell continues to insist on deploying the best technology to help our weather forecasters. In June, Sen. Cantwell introduced the Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Recapitalization Act to codify NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter mission in federal law and authorize up to nine Hurricane Hunter aircraft to better prepare the nation’s first line of defense against stronger and more frequent hurricanes, atmospheric rivers and winter storms. Earlier this year, she introduced legislation to establish the Radar Next Program which will carry out deployment of the nation’s next generation weather radar system.

Last August, she introduced legislation to modernize the nation’s weather communication and radio service as the country faces increasingly powerful floods, fires and hurricanes. Both of these bills are included in the Weather Act passed today. Sen. Cantwell also called out the administration’s decision to cancel its plan to launch a large-scale test of a new advanced weather radar technology, called Phased Array Radar.

Sen. Cantwell is a long-time champion of NOAA and helped secure $3.3 billion in NOAA investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change, boost science needed to understand changing weather and climate patterns and invest in advanced computer technologies that are critical for extreme weather prediction and emergency response. Her Fire Ready Nation Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen NOAA’s ability to help forecast, prevent, and fight wildfires, passed the Senate in September of last year.

Readthe full bill text of the Weather Act HERE.

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