No Hablo Inglés: Language Equity in Life-Saving Weather Information

The National Weather Service (NWS) continues to improve its products and services that help to fulfill its mission of “providing weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.” In the past several years, various NWS service storm assessments have addressed issues of citizens not having weather information in their language on an active weather day. An internal NWS Assessment conducted in 2023 identified seven barriers to achieving Equitable Services. One of these was Language. It states that “most NWS operational services (forecasts and warnings), as well as education and outreach materials, are conveyed exclusively in English. This leaves non-English and English as a Second Language speakers unable or compromised in understanding and acting on the valuable weather information we provide.”

In the summer of 2023, the NWS created a new position, the Language Program Lead, within the Office of Science and Technology Integration (OSTI), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBES) Program. This position seeks to further increase the access, reach, and comprehension of the products and services provided by the NWS in languages other than English. This presentation will highlight the goals and work that the Language Program Lead will do to continue expanding into multiple languages to ensure equitable services for a Weather-Ready Nation.