NOAA envisions a world in which societal and economic decisions are coupled strongly with a comprehensive understanding of the environment. The NWS vision of improved weather services is in concert with NOAA's goals of advancing short term warnings and forecast services, implementing seasonal to interannual climate forecasts, and assessing and predicting decadal to centennial climate change. The NWS has a national infrastructure to gather and process data worldwide from the land, sea and air. The highly trained and skilled NWS workforce uses sophisticated computer models, and high-speed communications systems to generate and distribute the information. NWS staff also use trained community volunteers to enhance weather service operations.
Cooperative observers collect weather data that becomes part of the nation's climate records.
Storm spotters provide the NWS with visual confirmation of severe weather events. Partners, Customers and Benefits NOAA's NWS serves the American public, through partnerships with other Government agencies, academia, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. These extensive and varied partnerships form a unique weather and climate provider system supporting all our citizens and institutions, as well as meeting U.S. international obligations. Achieving a high level of customer satisfaction among a diverse user base is a challenge. NWS data and services are a public good, paid for by the taxpayer and needed to protect life and property, which is an inherently governmental function with direct benefit to the national economy.