The National Weather Service is an agency within the Department of Commerce, under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Department of Commerce's mission is to promote the nation's economic growth.
As part of the Department of Commerce, the National Weather Service maintains a constant 24 hour vigil on the weather. In doing this, the NWS issues forecasts and warnings for hazardous weather situations, such as tornadoes, floods, and winter storms. This information is used by the public and private sectors to help safeguard life and property.
The mission of the National Weather Service nationwide is to reduce the loss of life and damage of property by various weather phenomena. The National Weather Service issues weather forecasts to many different areas, including the public, aviation, and marine communities.