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The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) is 1 of the 9 national centers under the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Our mission:
Aside from a flight delay due to storms, there are a variety of other hazards that could potentially impact a flight. The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) is tasked with forecasting these potentially hazardous weather conditions to help ensure the most accurate and up-to-date weather information is available for pilots across the flying community. The AWC is staffed 24/7/365 with skilled meteorologists who analyze atmospheric conditions, develop forecast for aviation threats, and issue advisory and warning-level products. Forecasters also coordinate with Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs), Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPAC), and advise FAA planners on weather concerns that may adveresly affect the safe and efficient use of the National Aerospace System.
Operations:
AWC operations are divided into two sections: The Domestic Operations Branch (DOB) and the International Operations Branch (IOB). The AWC DOB is responsible for issuing products for the lower 48 states and adjacent coastal waters. DOB has 5 operational desks: Turbulence, Icing, Ceiling and Visibility, Convective SIGMET, and Traffic Flow Management Convective Forecast (TCF). The AWC IOB is responsible for products in the Gulf of Mexico, parts of the Atlantic Ocean, parts of the Pacific Ocean, and high-level weather charts with global coverage. IOB's operational desks include Tropical, Global Graphics North, and Global Graphics South. AWC also has an Aviation Support Branch (ASB) which is responsible for dataflow, research to operations, maintenance of AviationWeather.gov, and a variety of other areas to keep AWC's products and services flowing to customers. Additionally, there is a group of National Aviation Meteorologists (NAMs) located at the FAA Command Center. The NAMs are fully integrated with FAA staff. They provide impact-based decision support services and deliver collaborative forecasts to support strategic planning.
AWC is a diverse organization staffed by talented meteorologists who ensure the flying community has the best forecasts available for safety of flight.
Visit AviationWeather.gov for the latest aviation weather information and forecasts.
There are a wide variety of positions available at the Aviation Weather Center. For more information on how to become an aviation meteorologist or work for the National Weather Service, please visit our Aviation Careers page.
Late 1800's - The Beginning
1890 - Meteorological responsibilities of the U.S. Army Signal Service are transferred to the newly-created civilian U.S. Weather Bureau.
<1870 - A new national weather service forms within the U.S. Army Signal Service. An example of a U.S. Army Signal Service weather map is seen above and dates back to Sunday, September 1st 1872 (source: NOAA photo library).
Pre 1930's - Expansion of Civic Responsibilities
1909 - The Weather Bureau begins its program of free-rising balloon observations.In 1890, meteorological responsibilities of the U.S. Army Signal Service are transferred to the newly-created civilian U.S. Weather Bureau.
1914 - An aerological section is established within the Weather Bureau to meet growing needs of aviation.
1917 - "The Aviator and the Weather Bureau", a book written by meteorologist Ford A. Carpenter at the San Diego office, is published. This is one of the first professional works by the Weather Bureau personnel to address aviation weather.
1925 - Starting in 1925 through 1943, the Weather Bureau and the Army Air Corps operated a network of 30 aircraft stations nationwide to collect upper air observations. Click here to learn more.
1926 - The Air Commerce Act directs the Weather Bureau to provide weather services to civilian aviation. This included provided services to the Post Office Department and the shipment of mail by air, as pictured above.
1940 to 1970 - New Accomplishments and New Agencies
1943 - The first manned plane flys into the eye of a hurricane for data collection. The single engine plan was flown by pilot-trainer Colonel Joseph Duckworth into a category 1 hurricane near the Galveston, Texas coast. Click here to learn more about this hurricane named "The Surprise Hurricane of 1943".
1956 - Air Force unit joins Severe Local Storms (SELS) and MKC Weather Bureau.
1956 - The Weather Bureau initiates a National Hurricane Research Porject to study hurricanes. During the first few years, scientists flew on Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft. They gathered data which led to the first understanding of the structure and energy budget of hurricanes.
1960 - The world's first weather satellite is launched. Click here to learn more.
1961 - National Severe Storms Forecast Center (NSSFC) is established in Kansas City, MO. Special training begins for Federal Aviation Authority employees to begin briefing pilots as part of a joint FAA-Weather Bureau program. U.S. Air Force Air Weather Service issues the first official forecast of clear air turbulence.
1970 to Today - Aviation Modernization
1970 - U.S. Weather Bureau becomes the National Weather Service.
1973 - The first deep-ocean wave measurement in a hurricane is taken. The measurement was obtained by aiming a microwave antenna (see picture above) out of the back of a C-130 aircraft. The measurement of 40 ft waves was made in the Pacific Hurricane Ava. The storm's 130 kt winds would be classified as a Category 4 hurricane using today's Saffir Simpson scale.
1978 - The Convective SIGMET unit is established within the NSSFC.
1982 - The National Aviation Weather Advisory Unity (NAWAU) is formed.
1995 - The NSSFC becomes the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and the NAWAU becomes the Aviation Weather Center (AWC).
1999 - The AWC relocates to its current location near the KMCI airport, which is shared by several NWS offices.
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