NOAA has completed implementation of the final phase of a nine-year, $180 million contract by installing the newest generation of IBM supercomputers for weather and climate prediction.

The primary system, Stratus, and its backup, Cirrus, will allow NOAA to run more models in an effort to improve forecast accuracy and extend watch and warning lead times for severe weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes, air quality, wildfires, floods, tsunamis, and winter storms.

"This new technology will provide us with more sophisticated models of the earth's land, ocean, and atmosphere, giving meteorologists better accuracy and precision in both long-term and short-term forecasting," says Jack Hayes, director of NOAA's National Weather Service. "More accurate weather forecasts allow the National Weather Service to warn individual citizens and whole communities about impending dangerous weather well in advance so they can take action to protect lives and property."

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