This bill would reauthorize and update the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). It changes NIDIS's listed activities to add research on flash droughts; support for subseasonal to seasonal forecasting; use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud technologies; better use of observational networks; refinement of drought indicators; improved decision-support products; and work to fill data gaps such as snowpack, soil moisture, and groundwater. The bill would also direct NIDIS to work with the National Mesonet Program on memoranda of understanding for coordinated data and require a plan, within one year, to incorporate NOAA drought products and improved dynamical and statistical modeling into probabilistic forecasts. The bill text shows it was introduced in the Senate by Tim Sheehy and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The bill authorizes funding for NIDIS as follows:
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.