Weather Forecasting

Preparing for the Extreme

Ocean observing is crucial for accurate weather forecasting, especially when it comes to protecting coastal communities living in the path of damaging tropical storms. The ocean plays a significant role in regulating Earth’s climates and weather, influencing everything from humidity to storm formation. Changes in the saltiness of the ocean, for example, can affect the surface temperature and lead to more intense hurricanes. Understanding and monitoring conditions like these allows scientists to more accurately forecast storm intensification and predict extreme weather events. This gives communities time to prepare for potential threats. Tracking these trends over time can also help decision makers plan for the future to mitigate devastating losses. In addition to tragic loss of life, the average U.S. hurricane causes $22.8 billion in damage.

IOOS data contributes to National Weather Service and other agency forecasts and models that protect people, place, and property across the nation.

IOOS IN ACTION

IOOS Regional Associations collect data and develop unique tools to support hurricane forecasting. In partnership with NOAA and the U.S. Navy, the IOOS hurricane underwater glider program continuously monitors and tracks ocean conditions linked to hurricane intensity changes. Gliders also capture information on how the ocean shifts below passing storms. These uncrewed, underwater vehicles provide long-term sampling throughout the entire hurricane season, keeping global ocean models on track. In 2023, IOOS Regional Associations deployed 83 gliders along the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic coasts, in the Caribbean, and in the Gulf.

Regional Association Support

IOOS Regional Associations support a wide array of tools that help communities and stakeholders plan for other extreme weather events, including marine heatwaves and storm surges. These resources empower informed decisions, enhancing community resilience and safety during severe weather conditions.

Our Partners in Action: IOOS Making a Difference

New Jersey and the Northeast are one of the most economically vulnerable regions to hurricane impacts in the country. I work with IOOS (MARACOOS) to transmit real-time oceanographic data to the National Weather Service to aid in improving hurricane intensity forecasts. Without this, critical service hurricane forecasts would have less certainty and our coastal communities would be at enhanced risk to dire impacts.

Travis Miles, Rutgers University

The NWS in San Diego uses SCCOOS data on a regular basis to support operational forecasts and greatly enhance our mission of saving lives and protecting property. SCCOOS data assists the NWS with daily coastal flooding, beach hazards, ocean temperature, ocean currents, wave height, surf, wind, tidal, and tsunami forecasts and warnings for the maritime and beach community. NWS forecasters monitor the online websites and the data directly ingested at our office on a daily basis.

Alex Tardy, NOAA National Weather Service, San Diego

The network of instruments, weather stations, and buoys from CARICOOS is critically important to our National Weather Service San Juan operations. This network plays a vital role in validating forecasts and is especially crucial to gathering ground truth data during tropical storms and hurricanes impacting the U.S. Caribbean. The data and network provided by CARICOOS are also indispensable for navigation safety and search and rescue operations

E. Rodríguez, Meteorologist-in-Charge NWS San Juan, Puerto Rico

We use the weather buoys supported by GLOS to help determine if the weather is safe for our fishing tournaments held in the Great Lakes.

Gale Frazee, Member, Metro West Steelheaders

At work, I use IOOS products on a weekly and at times daily basis to plan my scientific field operations here in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In my personal life, I use IOOS products nearly every weekend to plan my fishing and other water/weather related activities. In my region, IOOS (PacIOOS) is central to planning and decision making.

Nathan Van Ee, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife

Mariners in the region use IOOS (AOOS) weather data for planning research efforts on Prince William Sound; it is key to safe maritime operations. Recreational users also rely on IOOS-funded weather information for boating decision-making, avalanche safety, and more. This data supports economically important activities in the Prince William Sound region, reducing the potential for maritime and other casualties.

Katrina Hoffman, Prince William Sound Science Center