Bill > S3919

This bill, titled the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program Enhancement Act, amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to strengthen the nation's hurricane forecasting capabilities. The core of the bill focuses on enhancing the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program, which is managed by the Under Secretary and involves collaboration with the U.S. weather industry and academic institutions. The program's primary goal is to reduce loss of life and property from hurricanes by improving the accuracy and communication of forecasts, predictions, and warnings. Key areas of improvement include better understanding and prediction of rapid intensity changes and storm paths, more accurate forecasting of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges, and the integration of social, behavioral, and economic sciences to inform response efforts. The bill also emphasizes incorporating innovative observation technologies, such as new sensors, drones, and instruments on commercial vehicles, and supports research grants in these areas. Furthermore, it mandates the development and deployment of probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology, the incorporation of social science research into hurricane modeling, and the expansion of computational resources for higher-resolution modeling. Finally, the bill requires an annual report until 2029 detailing operational challenges, unmet forecasting needs, workforce plans for data collection, and progress on developing and transitioning new hurricane forecasting technologies into operational use.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3919/all-info