Bill > HR4302

This bill aims to improve atmospheric river forecasting and water management predictions in the western United States through two main initiatives. First, it establishes a subseasonal to seasonal forecasting pilot project within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enhance precipitation forecasts, with specific objectives including improving model resolution, understanding atmospheric rivers, and predicting winter storm patterns. The pilot project is authorized $15 million annually from 2026 to 2030 and will coordinate with academic institutions and existing NOAA research centers. Second, the bill creates an atmospheric river forecast improvement program designed to reduce loss of life and property by developing more accurate forecasting techniques, which includes establishing new forecast skill metrics, advancing modeling systems, improving scientific understanding of atmospheric rivers, developing better prediction tools, and incorporating social and economic sciences into forecasting. The program will also focus on innovative observations, data collection, and reconnaissance, with an emphasis on partnering with academic and industry experts to enhance weather monitoring and prediction capabilities. The bill ultimately seeks to provide more precise and actionable forecasts of atmospheric rivers, which are narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere that can cause significant precipitation and potential flooding.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4302/all-info