Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to improve how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communicates hazardous weather risks, prepare a forecasting strategic plan, review the tornado rating system, and survey storm damage.

Official title: TORNADO Act

Next stop Senate floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

Senate

Introduced 27-JAN-2025

Referred 27-JAN-2025

Approved by committee 05-FEB-2025

Reported 02-JUN-2025

On the calendar 02-JUN-2025

Key points

Requires NOAA to simplify hazardous weather terminology, set up a tornado hazard communication pilot program, and fund related research.
Requires a strategic plan within one year for high-resolution probabilistic forecasts and warn-on-forecast capabilities.
Requires post-storm surveys for significant events, with the data made public as soon as practicable, and updates the tornado rating system if it is found inaccurate.
Amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to rename the tornado program VORTEX-USA and authorize $11,000,000 per fiscal year for 2025 through 2032.

AI-generated from the Reported to Senate text of 02-JUN-2025 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Covers an older version. The newest CRS summary describes the bill as of "Introduced in Senate" (27-JAN-2025); the text has changed since (Reported to Senate, 02-JUN-2025).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Senate)

Policy area

Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) Cosponsors · 9

■ 7 R■ 2 D

7 Republicans

2 Democrats

congress.gov page Reported to Senate (02-JUN-2025) Introduced in Senate (27-JAN-2025)