Heat stress is a leading cause of weather-related deaths and can be especially dangerous in cities where phenomena like urban heat islands drive temperatures higher than surrounding rural areas. Now a new dataset developed by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) aims to provide city governments and health officials with information that could minimize heat impacts on residents. 

Researchers and practitioners from across the country came together to share ideas, resources, and practical approaches for building more heat-resilient communities.

INFUSSE 2026 brought researchers and students together for an intensive week of atmospheric observations along Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Turbulence can make a flight unpleasant or, in severe cases, dangerous. A turbulence avoidance tool created by researchers at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) is making flights safer by providing pilots with information that can help them avoid turbulence in real time. 

Better turbulence forecasts could soon mean smoother, safer flights, thanks to a new system that gives pilots more precise, real-time insight into bumpy air.

Congratulations to Olga Wilhelmi!

Scientists develop method to predict the rapid intensification of hurricanes up to five days in advance.

Partnering to help Gulf Coast communities prepare for severe weather.

Over the last year, researchers at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) and Louisiana State University (LSU) partnered on a project to enhance disaster preparedness, mitigation, and resilience to weather hazards in the Gulf Coast – an area that is vulnerable to multiple types of severe weather including hurricanes, flooding, and extreme heat. 

Wind is the driving force behind many damaging weather phenomena. It can fan the flames of wildfires, topple trees onto powerlines, and cause dangerous conditions for aircraft during takeoffs and landings. NSF NCAR researchers are working on a major new project to predict these small-scale wind events that have major impacts on society.