Joco Today

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Brian Schatz have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing weather forecasting tools. The legislation seeks to improve the collection of weather and soil moisture data, thereby increasing the accuracy of extreme weather warnings and agricultural forecasts.

"The mesonet and soil moisture monitoring probes are crucial tools for Kansans," stated Senator Marshall. "Weather affects everything on the farm, and a deeper understanding of what’s happening above and below the ground provides farmers more certainty when making crop decisions." He added that better data collection could help predict wildfires and tornadoes, potentially saving lives during extreme weather events.

Senator Schatz emphasized the importance of improved data for states like Hawai'i that are prone to floods, droughts, and severe weather. "For Hawai‘i and other states vulnerable to floods, droughts, and severe weather, better data means better forecasts, better prepared communities, and faster emergency response times," he said. He also noted that such data aids farmers and ranchers in managing drought conditions.

The proposed Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025 aims to formalize and expand the National Mesonet Program under NOAA. It also seeks updates to other vital programs like the National Drought Information System and the Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.