Forecast offices within the Southern Region of NOAA’s National Weather Service now feature Spanish language forecasts, watches, warnings, advisories and hazardous weather outlooks on the Internet.

Each Web site of the 32 Weather Forecast Offices in 10 southern states from New Mexico to Georgia and Florida, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, launches to a watch, warning and advisory map containing a link “Experimental: en español.” Selecting this sends visitors instantly to weather information in Spanish. This feature is available from each of the 32 southern region Web sites: http://www.srh.weather.gov.

“This exciting feature could well be a model for National Weather Service Web sites nationally,” said Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (ret.), director of the National Weather Service. “It provides an important opportunity to better communicate critical information to millions of people in fulfilling our mission of saving lives and property.”

“The Hispanic population in the United States is the fastest growing segments of our society,” said Bill Proenza, director, National Weather Service Southern Region. “This new service represents a major step forward in providing easier access to vital, life-saving weather information and significantly reduces the potential language barrier for millions of our citizens.”

According to U.S. Census Bureau data on persons over the age of five, approximately 28 million people come from homes where Spanish is spoken. In the National Weather Service Southern Region, nearly 13 million people come form Spanish-speaking households.

NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

National Weather Service: http://www.nws.noaa.gov

National Weather Service Southern Region: http://www.srh.weather.gov