NSF NCAR Earth Observing Laboratory

✈️ Registration for the 2026 AVAPS Users Group Meeting closes next week!

Don’t miss your chance to join the community advancing atmospheric observations and severe weather research.

📅 April 28–29, 2026

📍 NCAR Foothills Lab | Boulder, CO

🌐 Hybrid: in-person + virtual option

Following a strong 2025 meeting with participants from NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and international research teams, this year’s meeting will continue the conversations that drive real-world impact.

Did you know the NSF NCAR dropsonde program dates back to 1965? Originally designed to collect atmospheric data from aircraft, dropsondes remain a critical tool today—helping scientists better understand and predict severe weather around the globe.

That impact was evident as recently as Hurricane Melissa, where an NSF NCAR AVAPS dropsonde system confirmed record-breaking hurricane-force winds, providing crucial in situ validation of storm intensity.

The meeting will focus on in situ observations using dropsondes and related techniques, their role in forecasting and science, and the evolving needs of the atmospheric science community — exemplified by real-world cases like Hurricane Melissa.

🔗 Learn more and register: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/2026-AVAPS-Group-Meeting

We hope to see you there—register before the deadline!

Advancing Storm Forecasting with Dropsonde Innovation ✈️🌤️

NSF NCAR continues to lead the way in storm observation technology with its evolving dropsonde systems—developed over 50 years ago and still critical for understanding extreme weather like hurricanes. At the 27th AVAPS® Users Group Meeting (April 8–9, 2025), 80+ participants from NOAA, the U.S. Air Force, and global research teams gathered to share insights, operational successes, and the latest in hardware/software innovation.

Highlights included the successful transition to the advanced NRD41 dropsonde, expanded use across the Pacific and Atlantic, and ongoing efforts to ensure high-quality in situ atmospheric data. As storms grow more unpredictable and destructive, NSF NCAR's dropsonde innovations are delivering the real-time atmospheric intelligence that forecasters, emergency managers, and communities depend on to stay ahead of danger.

https://www.eol.ucar.edu/news/avaps-users-group-meeting-april-2025