Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Improve Extreme Weather Prediction with AI
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) have introduced bipartisan legislation to enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s use of artificial intelligence in predicting and responding to extreme weather events and wildfires. The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act aims to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts, strengthen federal agencies’ analytic capacity, and foster public-private partnerships in weather forecasting and disaster prevention.
The proposed legislation seeks to address the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, which have caused significant economic damage and loss of life in recent years. In 2023, the United States experienced a record 28 disasters that caused nearly 500 deaths and cost at least $1 billion in damages each. The Lahaina wildfire on Maui, which killed over 100 people, was one such disaster indirectly linked to Hurricane Dora.
Key Provisions of the TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act
- Directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a U.S. global weather dataset to train AI forecasting models
- Mandates partnerships with the private and academic sectors to innovate AI weather and wildfire forecasting products
- Supports the integration of AI weather models into forecasts used by the American people
“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more deadly, and AI can be a powerful tool in saving lives and livelihoods,” said Schatz. “Our bill will harness AI’s immense processing and prediction capabilities to improve weather forecasts and help communities better prepare for and respond more quickly to extreme weather events.”
The bill also aims to bolster the security of AI weather models by developing a U.S. weather dataset, reducing dependence on foreign data. Currently, AI weather models rely on a dataset created and maintained by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
The TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act is co-sponsored by Senators Peter Welch (D-Vermont) and Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), with a companion bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Florida). The legislation reflects a bipartisan effort to leverage AI technology in disaster prevention and response, potentially saving lives and reducing economic impacts.
