The Laboratory is composed of four branches which develop and produce scientific techniques and technological tools which better enable forecasters to make accurate predictions and better disseminate information about weather, water, and climate effects to the general public. MDL is focusing its efforts through projects including: integration of global models to create consistent forecast products with probabilistic information (National Blend of Models), improved tools for project management and collaboration (V-lab), and interaction between forecasters and users (Impacts Catalog). The lab also aims to continue the production and verification of high-quality environmental models and deterministic and probabilistic forecast products (Statistical Post Processing, NDFD, Storm Surge).
The laboratory's home offices are located in the NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The laboratory currently employs approximately 70 federal and contracted employees, and is a frequent collaborator with many other national and interntational weather-prediction and research agencies.