National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Strong to Severe Thunderstorms in the East; Heat in the Central and Western U.S.

Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts are forecast Thursday from parts of New England into the Mid Atlantic and Carolinas. Significant heat will expand across the West and Central Plains through Friday, potentially breaking daily high temperature records. Dangerous heat will then build into the Eastern U.S. this weekend through much of next week. Read More >

National Weatherperson's Day

February 5th is National Weatherperson's Day, commemorating the birth of John Jeffries in 1744. Jeffries, a Boston physician and one of America's first weather observers, began taking daily weather observations in Boston in 1774. He took the first balloon weather observation over London in 1784. He carried a thermometer, a barometer, and a hygrometer to the height of 9000 feet.

This is a day to recognize and thank the men and women who provide Americans with the best weather, water, and climate forecasts and warning services of any nation. Despite all the weather technology it still takes a dedicated group of meteorologists to correctly intepret the weather data, deliver the most-accurate forecasts to help plan your day, and most importantly - warn you when dangerous weather threatens.

John Jeffries