Essential Data for a Changing Coast: NOAA, National Weather Service, National Ocean Service

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by US Harbors

The National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Ocean Service (NOS), both offices of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), provide life-saving weather and tidal forecasting in the U.S.. Weather forecasting from the NWS is used daily to ensure that farmers’ crops are protected, safe travel plans are made, and weather-related risks are mitigated (tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, blizzards). In addition, marine weather forecasting and buoy data observations are relied upon by ship captains, tugboat captains, recreational boaters, and commercial and recreational fishermen and women to ensure safe passage. The National Ocean Service (NOS) provides tidal predictions and high tide coastal flooding forecasts that are becoming more important each year for coastal business owners and waterfront homeowners. The National Weather Services and National Ocean Service provide the forecasts on your phone, computer, VHF radio, and TV – delivering a public stream of weather information that a private company could never match.

As extreme weather becomes more common and damaging, Americans are turning to the National Weather Service to provide weather and coastal flooding observations, forecasts, and warnings to protect life and property and to enhance the national economy.


A 2019 study found that every $1 invested in the NWS produces $73 in value for Americans

NOAA has always been a good value for the American taxpayer. A 2022 study of their work forecasting hurricanes brought an estimated $7 billion in savings due to NOAA forecast improvements since 2009—20 times the agency’s hurricane forecasting system budget during the same period.


NOAA’s NOS & NWS provide data and critical information used by millions of Americans every day.

Part of the mission of NOAA is to make its data freely available, thus allowing the private sector to use the information. The sharing of this data provides the backbone of the American weather enterprise. Some of US Harbors’ tidal and weather data comes from NOAA, and others are from private paid data sources. US Harbors curates weather data to provide a unique mix of coastal information relevant to our audience.

NOAA’s Mission: Science. Service. Stewardship.
– To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts.
– To share that knowledge and information with others.
– To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

Another study from 2024 found that increasing NOAA’s budget would actually save the U.S. even more money. According to the World Bank, There is “growing evidence that investing in improvements in weather forecasting is a highly cost-effective means of reducing damages from extreme weather.” The work of NOAA, the NOS and the NWS has never been more important as the financial toll of extreme weather continues to grow and could reach $2 trillion annually by the end of this century.

NOAA’s NWS and NOS provide data and critical information regarding extreme weather and natural disasters that is used by millions of Americans every day. Contact your federal legislators and let them know how important the work of NOAA, the National Ocean Service and the National Weather Service is to you.
*updated 2/25/2025 at 4:14 pm EST with additional information about the National Ocean Service (NOS)

RESOURCES

2022 Hurricane Study $7B savings (source)
Increasing NOAA budget would benefit US Article Quote (source) https://www.federaltimes.com/opinions/2024/04/30/noaas-budget-is-too-small-thats-costing-the-us-billions-of-dollars/
Value to Americans
https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/assets/File/policy/CoFU2_JKL_2024.pdf
Private Weather Industry Article Quote Source (FROM 2020) (source) https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimfoerster/2020/01/24/whats-the-difference-between-private-weather-companies-and-the-national-weather-service/
NOAA Strategic Plan 2022 (source)
“A nationwide survey indicates that weather forecasts generate $35 billion in economic benefits to U.S. households, about 6 times the cost spent on weather forecasting and research.”
https://www.weather.gov/media/wrn/NWS_Weather-Ready-Nation_Strategic_Plan_2019-2022.pdf
WEATHER FORECASTS SAVE MONEY FOR THE U.S. (source)
https://internetofwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/03-National-Weather-Service.pdf
https://www.federaltimes.com/opinions/2024/04/30/noaas-budget-is-too-small-thats-costing-the-us-billions-of-dollars/
The Economic Benefits of Weather Forecasting
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/impactevaluations/economic-benefits-weather-forecasting
Extreme Weather Risk Exposure of $2 Trillion Annually (source 1)(source 2)
NOAA MISSION
https://www.noaa.gov/our-mission-values-and-vision
Hurricane Milton satellite image, taken Oct 9, 2024 Photo by NOAA