The National Weather Service mission is the protection of  lives and property of the United States and to enhance the national economy.  So, you could say that we are in the weather data collection and distribution business. Your local office in Lubbock is staffed with 23 professionals who are proud to serve the South Plains, Rolling Plains and extreme southern Texas Panhandle by producing accurate and timely warnings, watches and forecasts. Our office is staffed 24 hours a day monitoring for hazardous weather and issuing routine forecasts and summaries. Included in our staff is a group of crack electronics and computer technicians who work hard to keep our equipment properly calibrated and in excellent repair. In addition to our popular Internet site, we also operate three 24 hour radio stations that can alert you to life-threatening weather, even when you are asleep, as well as a 24 hour forecast information telephone line.

As a Federal Government agency, we are totally supported by taxpayer dollars.  It costs each U.S. resident just $2.78 per year to support the entire NWS.  And although we are part of the Federal Government, we pride ourselves on NOT being a stereotypical Federal Government bureaucracy.  In fact, we are members of your local community.  We shop at the same stores you do and our kids go to school with your kids.  We strive to be accessible to the public and to provide information and answer inquiries in a timely and friendly manner. 

We are the weather experts for West Texas.  Most of our professional meteorologists had a burning desire to be a meteorologist at a young age.  Most of us were educated in either Texas or Oklahoma and many of us either grew up, or have spent the majority of our careers around the region.  We combine our specialized local knowledge with model output from some of the most sophisticated computers in the world to produce as accurate a picture of the weather as possible.

Our office is on the constant look-out for severe weather.  We utilize data from the most powerful and scientifically oriented Doppler radar in the region.  Our warning system also includes working closely with local government officials, local media, spotter groups, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and amateur radio groups to warn you when lives or property are in the path of potentially destructive weather phenomena.     

All of our data, forecasts, watches and warnings are freely available. The information provided is accessible in many formats and through many avenues.  When that isn’t enough and you need to discuss a weather issue, all you have to do is pick up the phone and one of our professional meteorologists will be happy to speak with you.

I invite you to browse our site and get familiar with everything we have to offer.  If you can’t find what you are looking for, drop us an email at SR-LUB.Webmaster@noaa.gov or give us a call at 806-745-4260.  In fact, if you ever have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to email me at Justin.Weaver@noaa.gov or give me a call at the number above. Once again, welcome to the National Weather Service in Lubbock and thanks for visiting!