Radar display of hook echo, May 4, 1999 Photo of flood, courtesy FEMA NSSL command vehicle observing Wyoming tornado, VORTEX2 2009

The National Severe Storms Laboratory serves the nation by working to improve the leadtime and accuracy of severe weather warnings and forecasts in order to save lives and reduce property damage. NSSL scientists are committed to their mission to understand the causes of severe weather and explore new ways to use weather information to assist National Weather Service forecasters and federal, university and private sector partners.

At NSSL, our basic and applied research focuses on understanding severe weather processes, developing weather observation technology, and improving forecast tools, with emphasis on:

  • WEATHER RADAR
  • HYDROMETEOROLOGY
  • FORECAST & WARNING IMPROVEMENTS