Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA)

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Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8513 ) is amended to read as follows: The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and information integration from new sources. The goal of the program under subsection

(a)shall be to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to tornadoes, with a focus on the following: Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings. Optimizing lead time and providing actionable information beyond one hour in advance. Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-forecast. The Under Secretary shall ensure the program under subsection

(a)periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings. The Under Secretary shall award grants for research, including relating to the following: Implementing key goals and achieving program milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report, Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan . In coordination with the National Science and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of information critical for reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes. Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling, and tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of tornadoes on the built and natural environment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes. In awarding grants under subsection (d), the Under Secretary may prioritize awarding grants to minority-serving institutions. In this subsection, the term minority-serving institution means— a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1061 )); a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502(a) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) )); a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) )); an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) )); a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) )); a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 318(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) )); an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 320(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059g(b) )); or a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as defined in section 319(b) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1059f(b) )). In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 403(a) of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, shall— conduct and transition to operations the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather phenomena; incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences; enhance workforce training on radar interpretation and use of tornado warning systems; and expand computational resources, including cloud computing, to support higher-resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-forecast. The Under Secretary, in collaboration with local communities and emergency managers, shall— evaluate the system used as of the date of the enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes; determine whether updates to such system are required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of tornados; and if determined necessary, update such system. The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this section $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which not less than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for prioritized grants awarded under subsection (e). . The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows: Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA). .

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Sec. 103

Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA)

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