Summary

This report focuses on the National Weather Service's (NWS) Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, which is designed to help local weather forecasters obtain meteorological data from state-of-the-art weather observing systems and national weather models, analyze trends, and disseminate forecasts and warnings to the public. This $525 million system is to be the centerpiece of NWS' massive $4.5 billion modernization and restructuring program. GAO discusses whether NWS' process for developing the system has shown that all proposed system capabilities will contribute to promised modernization outcomes--better forecasts, fewer weather offices, and reduced staffing.