Space Science and Engineering Center University of Wisconsin-Madison

Sponsored by the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS), National Weather Service (NWS) Director Louis Uccellini held a Weather-Ready Nation Town Hall in August on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Speaking to an audience of 200, Dr. Uccellini clearly described the importance of supporting the mission of the National Weather Service and increasing community resilience for future extreme weather and water events. While the ability of the NWS to forecast severe weather events with longer lead times is improving, there is still work to be done so that the message delivered by forecasting offices is the message received and acted upon by local agencies and individuals.

Dr. Louis Uccellini delivers “Weather-Ready Nation” Town Hall. Image credit: SSEC

Along with the weather-ready nation message, Dr. Uccellini referenced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) reliance on, and longstanding partnership with, the UW-Madison, and the satellite and educational communities.  Chancellor Rebecca Blank, in attendance that evening, noted that Madison is considered the birthplace of satellite meteorology and is recognized as such around the world. SSEC and AOS boast established and enduring collaborations with federal agencies that have proven beneficial to the university research community and operational weather services. For this reason, NOAA has stationed federal scientists at the UW for decades, to continue research vital to our nation – research that has proven to save lives and mitigate property loss.

For more information about the “Weather-Ready Nation” Town Hall, see the SSEC News article: “A Weather-Ready Nation Vision:  Improving Forecasts, Communication, and Cooperation.”