In 1970, the name of the Weather Bureau was changed to the National Weather Service, and the agency became a component of the Commerce Department's newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NWS provides weather, water and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, to protect life and property and enhance the national economy. The NWS has a national infrastructure in place to gather and process data from the land, sea and air. The NWS' highly trained and skilled workforce uses sophisticated computer models, and high-speed communications systems to generate data, outlooks, forecasts and warnings. Trained community volunteers enhance weather service operations.
Cooperative observers collect weather data that becomes part of the nation's climate records.