National implementation plan for modernization of the National Weather Service for fiscal year 1997

As reported in last year's National Implementation Plan, the Secretary of Commerce was conducting assessments of the National Weather Service modernization plan to see what adjustments were needed as implementation of the modernization reached its mid-point. The assessments were to draw upon actual operational experience with modernization so far and seek out and address concerns expressed by the public and users of weather services. Concerns had been expressed about degradation of service due to loss of local weather offices and inadequate Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) coverage, and the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) programs were at critical junctures.