by improving the understanding and capacity of 
coastal communities to perceive, comprehend, and 
respond to forecast information. 
(3) Incorporating data from in situ distributed 
sensors into predictive models and re-analyses. 
(4) Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, in-
cluding high tide flooding, and storm surge esti-
mates to complement worst-case scenario estimates, 
including for use in long-term planning and risk 
management by States, Tribal governments, local-
ities, and emergency managers in coordination with 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as ap-
propriate. 
(5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inun-
dation forecasting that quantify the benefits of dy-
namical modeling, data assimilation, and machine 
learning improvements in the probabilistic forecast 
of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and 
storm surge risk and impacts. 
(6) Improving operational regional storm surge 
models and, in collaboration with the United States 
Geological Survey, wave prediction models to en-
hance probabilistic guidance and messaging. 
(d) INNOVATIVE OBSERVATIONS AND MODELING.— 
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically 
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examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating 
enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or machine 
learning based prediction systems, and innovative observa-
tions, such as novel sensor technologies, observation net-
works, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instru-
ments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with 
respect to the improvement of coastal flooding, including 
high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, predictions, 
and warnings. 
(e) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall develop a plan that details the specific research, de-
velopment, data acquisition, and technology transfer ac-
tivities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, 
necessary to achieve the goal of the program under sub-
section (b). 
(f) ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PLAN SUBMISSION.—After 
the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (e), 
the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annu-
ally, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding 
with the activities identified in such plan. 
SEC. 3. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Director of the National Weather Service 
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and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, in consultation with the United States 
weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance 
with activities implemented through existing regional at-
mospheric, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing sys-
tems, shall carry out activities to ensure equitable and 
comprehensive weather observation coverage, impact- 
based decision support services, and emergency informa-
tion sharing in the United States, including the following: 
(1) Identifying regions in the United States and 
the territories of the United States that are under- 
observed or highly vulnerable to weather impacts 
that threaten human life, health, and the economy. 
(2) Identifying any challenges that contribute to 
the lack of operations under paragraph (1). 
(3) Increasing weather observations and devel-
oping new weather observational capabilities, such as 
urban heat island mapping campaigns, with respect 
to the regions identified under paragraph (1). 
(4) Establishing or supporting testbeds and de-
ployments of decision-support services to Federal, 
State, and local emergency operations centers to de-
velop and integrate new weather, water, and climate 
observation or emergency information sharing tools, 
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with respect to the regions identified under para-
graph (1). 
(5) To the maximum extent practicable, ad-
vancing weather and water forecasting and climate 
modeling capabilities for the regions identified under 
paragraph (1). 
(6) Undertaking workforce development efforts 
for emergency management officials and meteorolo-
gists in the regions identified under paragraph (1). 
(7) Using data-void-filling observations to bet-
ter resolve extreme rainfall in complex topography. 
(8) Contributing to a national integrated heat 
health information system. 
(b) INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT PILOT 
PROJECTS.—In carrying out this section, the Under Sec-
retary, acting through the Director of the National Weath-
er Service and the Administrator of the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency, shall establish an interagency 
partnership to support pilot projects that accelerate co-
ordination and use of localized weather data in infrastruc-
ture and emergency management decisions by Federal, 
State, and local officials. 
(c) PRIORITY.—At least one pilot project under sub-
section (b) shall address key science challenges to using 
mesonet data in local decision making and development 
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of new tools and training for owners and operators of crit-
ical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), 
such as dams, energy generation and distribution facili-
ties, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks. 
Æ 
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