NOAA selected commercial weather technology company Tomorrow.io to contribute data and capabilities to the nation’s weather forecasting operations on Sept. 17, as part of a broader strategy to integrate private-sector satellite data into the federal forecast enterprise.
The partnership affects public safety forecasting, aviation weather, agriculture, and emergency management, NOAA said.
Tomorrow.io operates a constellation of commercial weather-sensing satellites that collect atmospheric data independently from government-owned systems. Integrating that commercial data into NOAA’s operational forecasts is intended to improve accuracy and fill gaps in the government’s existing sensor networks.
For Americans who depend on weather forecasts for safety and economic decisions — including pilots, farmers, emergency managers, and the general public — the partnership promises more accurate predictions by expanding the volume and diversity of data feeding into NOAA’s forecast models.
The selection is part of NOAA’s Commercial Weather Data Program, which has been purchasing private-sector weather observations since 2016 and progressively incorporating them into operational systems. Tomorrow.io is the latest company to be integrated into the program.
NOAA’s National Weather Service issues forecasts that directly affect aviation safety decisions, severe weather warnings, agricultural planning, and emergency evacuation orders. The accuracy of those forecasts depends on the quantity and quality of observational data fed into computer models.
Government-owned weather satellites — operated by NOAA and the Department of Defense — provide the backbone of observational data. But commercial satellites can supplement coverage, particularly in underserved areas and during gaps between government satellite passes.
Tomorrow.io’s satellite constellation collects data on precipitation, humidity, temperature, and atmospheric conditions, the company said. NOAA will evaluate the data’s quality and integrate validated observations into its forecasting pipeline.
The American Meteorological Society has supported NOAA’s commercial data strategy as a cost-effective way to improve forecast capability.