S613-119

What This Bill Does

The Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act codifies the National Mesonet Program. The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere must maintain a program that obtains observations from networks around the country to improve forecasting for floods, drought, fire weather, agriculture, and other hazards. The program turns state, local, academic, and private weather observations into operational data for the National Weather Service.

Who Benefits and How

Farmers benefit because better mesonet observations can improve short-term agricultural forecasts and drought monitoring. Flood forecasters benefit from more ground-level observations that improve warning accuracy. Emergency managers benefit from weather data that supports fire, severe-weather, and flood decisions. State mesonet operators benefit from a maintained federal program that can buy or coordinate use of their observations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NOAA must maintain the National Mesonet Program and manage observation procurement and data standards. National Weather Service offices must integrate mesonet observations into forecast operations. Mesonet operators must meet data quality, availability, and reporting requirements to participate. Federal taxpayers fund the program's observation purchases and administration.

Key Provisions

• Requires the Commerce Under Secretary to maintain the National Mesonet Program.
• Uses observations to improve understanding and forecast capabilities for floods, drought, agriculture, and other hazards.
• Supports use of nonfederal observing networks in federal weather forecasting.
• Creates a statutory basis for continuing mesonet data acquisition and coordination.