AWIPS, the integrating element of the National Weather Service modernization, is undergoing an extensive re-architecture and conversion to a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Raytheon Technical Services will be converting the AWIPS infrastructure to an SOA over the next year, then migrating the current baseline software and functionality to the new architecture by FY2009. Deployment of the next generation of AWIPS is expected to be complete in FY2010.

Software applications developed at national laboratories and locally at the Weather Forecast Offices or River Forecast Centers exist within AWIPS. Each of these applications captures features which allow the forecaster to complete the operational mission of the NWS. These features, whether national or local, are to be migrated into the new architecture.

This paper provides an overview of the planning and strategies to accomplishing this migration prior to deployment of the SOA within AWIPS.