Hawaiian Forecast Office History
- August 14, 1940
- A weather station was established at Honolulu International Airport.
- January 27, 1946
- The Weather Bureau Airport Station (WBAS) established at Honolulu International Airport and began forecast operations.
- July 14, 1946
- Hourly weather observations began at the WBAS.
- June 1, 1957
- The WBAS began Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) operations.
- October 11, 1962
- All WBAS operations moved to the Administration Building at Honolulu International Airport.
- November 15, 1968
- NOAA Weather Radio (KBA99) began 24 hour continuous broadcasts.
- October 1, 1970
- The United States Weather Bureau became the National Weather Service and the office was renamed Weather Service Forecast Office (WFO).
- January 10, 1974
- Observing operations moved to the Honolulu International Airport Observatory Annex.
- July 14, 1975
- The National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) Honolulu Satellite Field Services Station (SFSS) began providing satellite data support to the forecast office and other offices in the Pacific.
- October 1, 1983
- The SFSS became part of the WFO.
- June 16, 1995
- WFO operations (except observations) moved from Honolulu International Airport to the Manoa Campus of the University of Hawai`i.
- November 1, 1996
- A private contractor took over observing operations at the Honolulu International Airport Observatory Annex.
- February 15, 2000
- New headings for products went into effect. The WFO identifier was changed from PHNL to PHFO.
- July 14, 2000
- The new computer system, Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), is commissioned.
- October 25, 2000
- The new WFO Honolulu Webpage debuts.
- July 1, 2001
- WFO Honolulu becomes a WMO RSMC (World Meteorological Organization Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre).
- July 15, 2004
- WFO Honolulu changes from 8 geographic zone areas, and 2 geographic marine areas, to 28 and 24, respectively to better serve the islands.
- January 19, 2006
- WFO Honolulu began issuing products with VTEC coding.
- February 1, 2006
- Point and Click forecasts available for Hawai`i.
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