Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
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Would reauthorize and substantially expand NOAA's weather research, forecasting, and public communication programs through FY2030, authorizing hundreds of millions of dollars annually for programs covering tornado and hurricane prediction, next-generation radar, commercial weather data acquisition, and agriculture and water management.
It would also require NOAA to develop a plan to replace the aging NEXRAD radar network by 2040 and migrate key forecasting infrastructure to cloud-based platforms by 2030, while expanding private-sector partnerships and improving weather coverage in underserved communities.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would reauthorize the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 through FY2030 and add a wide range of new requirements. It would provide statutory authority for NOAA's VORTEX tornado research program and a hurricane forecast improvement program, establish an atmospheric rivers forecast program targeting the western U.S., and create a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program. It would require NOAA to develop a replacement plan for the NEXRAD weather radar network by 2040 and transition the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to a cloud-based environment by September 30, 2030. A revamped Commercial Data Program would direct NOAA to purchase satellite, airborne, and ground-based weather data from private companies and test compatibility with agency systems.
The bill would also reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act and the National Landslide Preparedness Act through FY2030, amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998, and expand drought, soil moisture, and precipitation forecasting programs supporting farmers and water managers. It would modernize NOAA Weather Radio to expand rural coverage and require a cloud-based overhaul of the National Weather Service's internal communications platform.
Key provisions
- 1Would reauthorize NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research weather research programs through FY2030, with detailed annual appropriations totaling roughly $835 million over five years.
- 2Would establish statutory authority for the VORTEX tornado research program, directing NOAA to transition from warn-on-detection to warn-on-forecast and evaluate the tornado rating system.
- 3Would require NOAA to develop a plan to replace the NEXRAD weather radar system, with a procurement deadline of September 30, 2040, and authorize contracting with third parties to fill radar data voids.
- 4Would establish a revamped Commercial Data Program authorizing $100 million per year for FY2026–2030 to purchase satellite, airborne, and ground-based weather data from private companies for operational use.
- 5Would require NOAA to transition the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to a cloud-based operational environment by September 30, 2030, to enable a more mobile and flexible workforce.
- 6Would direct NOAA to establish atmospheric river and coastal flooding forecast improvement programs, with program plans due within 180 days of enactment.
- 7Would reauthorize and expand the National Mesonet Program and establish a National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network to support drought and agricultural forecasting.
Who would be affected
NOAA and its offices — including the National Weather Service, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service — are the primary implementing agencies. Private weather data companies would gain new contracting opportunities through the Commercial Data Program. Emergency managers, state and local governments, farmers, water managers, coastal communities, and the general public would benefit from improved forecasts and communications, with targeted improvements for rural, urban, and other underserved or under-observed areas.
Why it matters
If enacted, more Americans — including those in rural and underserved communities — could receive more timely and accurate severe weather warnings. Farmers and water managers in the West and Midwest would gain more reliable drought and precipitation forecasts. The NEXRAD replacement mandate and cloud infrastructure transition would modernize the backbone of daily weather forecasting used by every Weather Forecast Office, with hard statutory deadlines to drive implementation.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Reauthorizes Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) (Title I–III)
Extends NOAA weather research, commercial data, and forecasting programs through FY2030 and adds new programs including VORTEX, atmospheric rivers, and precipitation forecasting.
Amends Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3202 et seq.) (Sec. 105)
Updates tsunami warning center operations, adds GNSS network requirements, mandates an alert-level evaluation, and reauthorizes at $30 million per year through FY2030.
Reauthorizes National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) (Sec. 116)
Extends funding through FY2030, adds definitions for atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation, and establishes regional partnerships for landslide research.
Amends Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) (Sec. 117)
Expands program scope to freshwater systems, creates EPA freshwater activities section, establishes a national observing network, and reauthorizes at $27.5 million per year through FY2030.
Amends Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) (Sec. 501)
Establishes two pilot projects for subseasonal-to-seasonal precipitation forecasting supporting western water management and central-states agriculture, authorized at $50.3 million per year.
Reauthorizes National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) (Sec. 502)
Extends the drought information system through FY2030, adds flash drought and ecological drought provisions, and requires transition to probabilistic forecast products.
Amends Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) (Sec. 113)
Adds a ships-of-opportunity pilot program to contract with commercial vessels for ocean and atmospheric data collection, terminating by September 30, 2030.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Program plans for atmospheric rivers and coastal flooding forecast programs due
- Commercial Data Program standards and specifications published
- NOAA Weather Radio access assessment completed
- GAO report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather events
- National Weather Service cloud-based communications solution replacing NWSChat
- Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System cloud transition completed
- NEXRAD radar replacement procurement deadline
Funding and costs
- $100,000,000
Commercial Data Program — acquiring private sector weather and environmental data for operational use
- $163,794,000
NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research weather research programs (FY2026; escalates annually to $170,444,000 by FY2030)
- $50,000,000
National Mesonet Program environmental observations network (FY2026; escalates to $70,000,000 by FY2030)
- $50,300,000
Weather and climate information programs for agriculture and water management
- $46,000,000
National Water Center operations and mission support
- $30,000,000
Tsunami warning, education, hazard mitigation, and research programs
- $27,500,000
Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research, monitoring, and response
- $20,000,000
NESDIS joint venture partnership program for next-generation satellite technology
- $15,000,000
National Integrated Drought Information System (FY2026; escalates to $17,000,000 by FY2030)
How implementation would work
NOAA's Under Secretary would implement most provisions through competitive grants, interagency coordination agreements, and contracts with private weather data providers. Multiple program plans — including for atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding, and commercial data standards — are due within 180 days of enactment. The Commercial Data Program would use a pilot contract mechanism to evaluate private data before full operational adoption. Hard statutory deadlines govern the NEXRAD replacement (2040) and the cloud transition of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (2030). Annual budget submissions to Congress and biannual briefings would provide oversight accountability across major programs.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Official CRS summary
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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.
Legislative subjects
Aquatic ecology; Atmospheric science and weather; Aviation and airports; Computers and information technology; Disaster relief and insurance; Emergency communications systems; Hydrology and hydrography; Natural disasters; Public contracts and procurement; Public-private cooperation; Science, Technology, Communications; Spacecraft and satellites; Water quality