In the evening of March 25, 1948, a tornado roared through Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, causing considerable damage, a few injuries, but no fatalities. However, the destruction could have been much worse. A few hours earlier Air Force Captain Robert C. Miller and Major Ernest J. Fawbush correctly predicted that atmospheric conditions were ripe for tornadoes in the vicinity of Tinker AFB. This first tornado forecast triggered a chain of events, which led to the present day severe storms forecast system and a vast national research program investigating these killer storms.

Through a tremendous investment in research, observing systems such as the Doppler radar, and forecasting technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service issues more than 15,000 severe storm and tornado watches and warnings each year. The average lead time for warnings has increased from 6 to almost 12 minutes from 1994 to 1998. This means that individuals and communities have more time to prepare for tornadoes by seeking shelter and securing property, thereby reducing loss of life and limiting the economic costs of property damage. Several centers and laboratories within NOAA are dedicated to research efforts to further improved forecasts and daily forecast operations to protect life and property.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC), located in Norman, Okla., provides short-term guidance products for hazardous weather over the contiguous United States. The Center coordinates with National Weather Service (NWS) field offices around the country for short-term aspects of hazardous weather such as flash floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, blizzards and freezing precipitation. The SPC is the primary NWS center of expertise for forecasting hazardous weather and economically-disruptive weather events.

The Center makes maximum use of observations, numerical forecast models, Doppler Radar and geostationary satellites to generate forecasts. By creating timely and accurate guidance of hazardous weather across the continental United States, the SPC helps NWS field offices effectively accomplish their public safety functions. In addition to working with National Weather Service field offices and other National Centers, the Storm Prediction Center collaborates with local, national and international meteorological communities, various NOAA offices and academia. The Storm Prediction Center provides internal scientific support and techniques development. This support includes developing, evaluating and testing forecast methods. The Center also enhances its operations and trains meteorologists and customers to use SPC products.

NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) is one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's internationally-known Environmental Research Laboratories, leading the way in investigations of all aspects of severe weather. Headquartered in Norman OK with staff in Boulder CO, Seattle WA, Salt Lake City UT, and Madison WI, the people of NSSL, in partnership with the National Weather Service, are dedicated to improving the Nation's severe weather warnings and forecasts in order to save lives and reduce property damage.

The NSSL and the SPC work together closely to make sure the latest scientific advances are rapidly incorporated into severe weather watches. This close cooperation between the two centers will continue to improve severe weather forecasts to the American people.