Saving Lives & Property…
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:
NSSL News
How NSSL Research Provides Real-Time Precipitation Estimations and Flash Flood Prediction for High-Impact Events
Flash flooding — the rapid rise of water in a normally dry area — is mostly related to excessive rainfall resulting in significant groundwater runoff and quick rises in waterways. NOAA National Weather Service forecasters rely on accurate quantitative precipitation estimations.
Researchers study costliest severe thunderstorm event
One year ago, a severe thunderstorm with extreme winds — called a derecho — tore through the Midwest United States. The event brought extensive damage, totaling an estimated $7.5 billion in damage.
Using a Dual-Pol Radar Feature to Anticipate Downburst Development
Downbursts—an area of strong winds in a thunderstorm—can damage trees and buildings, disrupt air travel, and cause loss of life. Decades of work by scientists has revealed a lot of information about downbursts including certain…
New Release: Pod-Sized Science Podcast
The NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory is excited to share with you its first podcast! Researchers at NSSL are using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) to study storm damage in rural areas.
New video: Studying tornado damage with Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
Researchers at the NOAA National Severe Storms Lab are using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) to study storm damage in rural areas .Learn about the multispectral camera on the UAS, and how it provides important imagery for researchers.
Researchers studying impacts of severe weather threats on community assets, including critical infrastructure
Severe weather hazards such as hail, high wind speeds, and tornadoes, can impact essential community infrastructure. Researchers are studying the impacts of severe weather threats on a range of community assets.
NSSL Video
Threats in Motion
In nature, hazardous weather is almost always in motion. New research and technology are making it possible to provide more continuous information about the storm and its movement. Threats in Motion (TiM) is the next step in the evolution of how weather information is provided to the public. Learn more →
Advanced Technology Demonstrator
Radar research at the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory has taken another step forward. The Advanced Technology Demonstrator is the first full-scale, S-band, dual-polarization phased array radar built from the ground up and designed specifically for use as a weather radar. Learn more →
