National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Thunderstorms in the Central U.S.; Upper Level Low Over California

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today across central and eastern Minnesota, Iowa, and western Wisconsin. A few tornadoes, isolated very large hail, and damaging winds may occur. An upper level low will help trigger scattered thunderstorms over portions of central and southern California today along with a few inches of snow in the central Sierra Nevadas. Read More >




Luis J. Cano
Director, Office of Dissemination

National Weather Service National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration


Mr. Luis J. Cano is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Director for the Office of Dissemination. He has served in this role since April 2015 and is helping to ensure a Weather-Ready Nation by optimizing the delivery of scalable and robust capabilities organized around dissemination infrastructure, communication networks, and other warning-delivery services.

In addition, Mr. Cano was designated to serve as the NOAA Integrated Dissemination Program (IDP) manager in January 2013. In this role, he is responsible for providing the NWS dissemination foundation for upcoming multi-billion dollar environmental satellite systems, enhanced models from NOAA’s operational supercomputers, radar data, and the growing need for enterprise web services.

Previously, he served as the acting NWS Operations Division Director responsible for systems and engineering processes in support of NWS provision of meteorological and hydrological services including related management, operations, and maintenance of real time operational systems. He also served as the acting NWS Telecommunication Operations Center Director responsible for 24x7 operational systems and services for the exchange of critical weather data within the NWS and its partners including emergency managers, other government entities, private companies, academia, and international organizations.

From June 2010 to January 2013, he was the Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System (WCOSS) Program Manager. He led the acquisition of NOAA’s next generation supercomputers for its operational environmental numerical prediction models. The numerical model guidance is used to predict and understand atmospheric and oceanic phenomena for weather and climate aimed at forecasting environmental changes, providing decision makers with reliable, and timely scientific information.

Other positions Cano has held include Enterprise Architect for National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and Chief of the NCEP Central Operations Shared Infrastructure Services Branch. He also served in other management and leadership positions for NWS and U.S. Navy.

Mr. Cano has a M.S. in Technology Management, B.S. in Computer & Information Science, is certified as a Project Management Professional, and is certified as a Chief Information Officer.

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