- 1970: The Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) becomes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with Dr. Robert White assuming the role of its first administrator.
The U.S. Weather Bureau becomes the National Weather Service.
- 1972: Rainfall from Hurricane Agnes floods the East Coast, killing 105 people.
A devastating flash flood in the Black Hills of South Dakota kills 237 people.
- 1973: The National Weather Service purchases its second generation radar, the WSR-74.
- 1975: The first "hurricane hunter" Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) is launched into orbit; these satellites with their early and close tracking of hurricanes, greatly reduce the loss of life from such storms.
- 1976: Real-time operational forecasts and warnings using Doppler radar are evaluated by the Joint Doppler Operational Project, spawning a third Generation Weather Radar (WSR-88D).
The Big Thompson Canyon Flood in Colorado kills 139 people.
- 1977: The success of weather satellites results in the elimination of the last U.S. weather observation ship; real time access to satellite data by national centers advances hurricane, marine and coastal storm forecasts.
- 1979: Dr. Richard Hallgren is appointed director of the National Weather Services. He serves until his retirement in 1988, when he becomes executive director of the American Meteorological Society.
- 1979: A Nested Grid Model (NGM) becomes operational; a Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) developed.
AFOS Computer system is deployed, connecting all Weather Service forecast offices. AFOS is the most ambitious computer network created at the time, setting records for volume of data and number of entry points while supporting full range of word processing and other capabilities.
- 1980: Mt. St. Helens, a dormant volcano in Washington state, erupts; weather satellites spot eruption and alert FAA.
"Dean of the Cooperative Weather Observers," Mr. Edward H. Stoll of Elwood, Nebraska, is honored at the nation's Capitol and meets President Jimmy Carter at the White House. Mr. Stoll had faithfully served as a Cooperative Observer since October 10, 1905.
Various "hot weather topics" become of general public concern, such as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation as a factor in U.S. weather, and global warming.
- 1981: Weather-related science event: World's first reusable space shuttle, Columbia, is launched, completing its mission three days later.
- 1982: El Chicon volcano erupts in Mexico; NOAA polar weather satellites track movement of its cloud around the earth as a possible global climate impact.
- 1984: The National Weather Service provides special forecast for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Weather-related event: First successful solo balloon crossing of the Atlantic by pilot Joe Kittinger, 83 hours and 45 minutes.
September 11-13: The first official Air Transportable Mobile Unit (ATMU) dispatches to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest wildfire. The ATMU is dispatched by plane from Redding, California while the forecaster is flying from Sacramento, Calif. These mobile fire units are deployed nationwide in 1987. ATMUs permit NWS forecasters to set up remote observing and forecasting offices anywhere in the world within hours of a request for on-site fire weather support.
- 1985: Harvard's Blue Hill Observatory celebrates 100 years of continuous monitoring of the atmosphere.
President Ronald Reagan awards Dr. Helmet Landsberg the National Medal of Science, the most prestigious service award a civilian can receive.
- 1986: The Voyager aircraft completes the first nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world in nine days with assistance of continuous weather support from retired, volunteer and current NWS employees.
- 1988: The National Weather Service operates several remote forecast operations in Yellowstone National Park to assist in fighting week-long wildfire.
The National Hurricane Center provides continuous advisories and early forecast on movement of giant hurricane Gilbert to assist Caribbean and U.S. coastal areas with evacuation plans.
- 1987-88 major drought experienced by nation's midsection, with some of lowest river levels in 50 years observed on the Mississippi.
Dr. Richard Hallgren retires as NWS director to become executive director of the American Meteorological Society.
Dr. Elbert W. “Joe” Friday, Jr. becomes director of the National Weather Service. He serves until 1997.
- 1989: U.S. assists clean-up efforts following San Francisco Earthquake with mobile forecast unit.
Miami Hurricane Center plays central role in limiting loss of life from gigantic Hurricane Hugo which causes $7 billion damage.
Eight year national plan for the modernization and restructuring of the National Weather Service is announced. The massive $4.5 billion overhaul of the agency from will last a decade and change the way the agency operates, resulting in improved capabilities to protect lives and livelihoods. To modernize its operations, the NWS developed and implemented five major technologies:
- Automated Surface Observing System, or ASOS, which replaced manual weather observations
- Next Generation Weather Radar, or NEXRAD, a network of advanced Doppler radars that contributed to increased lead times in predicting severe weather events, such as tornadoes, hail, and flash floods
- A new series of satellites that provided improved, all-weather data for longer-term forecasting
- Advanced computer systems that increased the computing power to support National Centers tenfold
- Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or AWIPS, which allowed communication among forecast offices and distribution of centrally collected data as well as offered field forecasters access to the data provided by the other new technologies