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Latest news and features

Oceans & Coasts

Take a virtual dive into the blue with NOAA Sanctuaries. No scuba required.

You can have this chance encounter with a sea lion in a Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary kelp forest -- all without leaving home. Check out NOAA Sanctuaries' 360-degree Virtual Videos online at sanctuaries.noaa.gov/VR.

Staying in? Keep learning with science activities that kids and families can do at home

A screenshot of the introduction page of the Investigating Coral Bleaching activity, part of Data in the Classroom

EXPLAINERS //

Science and shipwrecks: Preserving America’s maritime history

USS Conestoga (AT 54), the last known broadside photograph taken likely during WWI when the tugboat was equipped with a 3-inch 50 caliber naval gun and two machine guns. The tugboat was later equipped with only a single 3-inch 50 caliber gun when it disappeared while en route from Mare Island to America Samoa, by way of Pearl Harbor in 1921.

STORIES //

60 years ago, the world's 1st weather satellite 'changed our perspective'

TIROS-1, the world's first weather satellite, was launched by NASA on April 1, 1960.

NEWS //

Unusual warmth pushed March 2020 into top-10 hottest for U.S.

A March 3, 2020, photo from the NOAA National Weather Service post-storm survey in East Nashville, Tenn., showing heavy damage to a neighborhood after tornadoes ripped through the region March 2-3.

VIDEO //

Winter driving: Watch out for these 4 'sneaky' hazards

If you're thinking about driving in winter weather, you'll want to watch our Sneaky Winter Hazards videos on YouTube at https://youtu.be/te2S9YvD7Io.

PHOTOS & GALLERIES //

Getting ready for the Atlantic hurricane season

More than 2500 students in the 4th and 5 grade took a tour of the NOAA WD-3D Orion Aircraft and met the crews who fly into the storms. The kids will take that information home to see if their families are ready for hurricanes. May 9, 2019.

INFOGRAPHICS //

When beaches are trashed, who pays the price?

Litter such as plastic detergent bottles, crates, buoys, combs, and water bottles blanket Kanapou Bay, on the Island of Kaho’olawe in Hawaii. This region is a hot-spot for marine debris accumulation.

LATEST MEDIA RELEASES //

NOAA teams with pioneering explorer to understand and map the deepest parts of the ocean

Caladan Oceanic's Deep Submersible Support Vessel Pressure Drop launching the full ocean depth submersible called Limiting Factor, from Triton Submarines.

NOAA, DOE announce winners of the Powering the Blue Economy Ocean Observing Prize

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measurements and observations

ocean exploration

NOAA and the U.S. Department of Energy announced the winners of the Powering the Blue Economy Ocean Observing Prize.

New NOAA program to support and expand agency’s use of unmanned systems

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unmanned aircraft

Hexacopter drone used to photograph Beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

FOR THE MEDIA //

NOAA to announce U.S. Spring Outlook and flood risk on March 19

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media teleconference

climate outlooks

An aerial view of Offutt Air Force Base and the surrounding areas affected by flood waters March 17, 2019. An increase in water levels of surrounding rivers and waterways caused by record-setting snowfall over the winter in addition to a large drop in air pressure caused widespread flooding across the state of Nebraska. See more Air Force photos at https://www.afspc.af.mil.

NOAA to announce annual report of U.S. seafood and fishing trends February 21

February 20, 2020

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commercial fishing

recreational fishing

Fishing vessels docked at Point Judith, Rhode Island.

NOAA monthly U.S. and global climate call is February 20

February 18, 2020

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climate analyses and statistics

A collage of typical climate and weather-related events: heatwaves, drought, hurricanes, wildfires and changes in sea ice coverage.

More NOAA features

Unusual warmth pushed March 2020 into top-10 hottest for U.S.

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climate analyses and statistics

A March 3, 2020, photo from the NOAA National Weather Service post-storm survey in East Nashville, Tenn., showing heavy damage to a neighborhood after tornadoes ripped through the region March 2-3.

60 years ago, the world's 1st weather satellite 'changed our perspective'

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satellite launch

TIROS-1, the world's first weather satellite, was launched by NASA on April 1, 1960.

Tiny creatures in underwater forest might hold promise for future medicines

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ocean exploration

Researcher Brian Helmuth of Northeastern University examines a sample of wood from the ancient underwater forest off the coast of Alabama for shipworms and other organisms that could be useful for future medicines.

Guiding cargo ships safely through port

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A container ship safely enters a seaport

Scientists using AI to identify endangered beluga whales

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endangered species

Beluga whales seen swimming in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

New species of algae named after NOAA scientist

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This microscope image of a newly discovered species of diatom -- or micro-algae -- is named for NOAA scientist Dr. Joan Browder.

Kids at home? We've got resources for 'weather school'

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Image - illustration - Owlie - NWS education resources - NWS - Landscape

Arctic sea ice reached its annual high on March 5

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Arctic Ocean sea ice hit its annual peak for this year on March 5, 2020: This color-coded map shows Arctic sea ice concentration on March 5, 2020. Darkest blue indicates open water or ice concentration less than 15 percent. Shades of lighter blue to white indicate 15–100 percent ice cover. The gold line shows the median ice extent for this date over 1981–2010, an area of 6.04 million square miles (15.64 million square kilometers). Median falls “in the middle” because half of the years in the 1981–2010 reference period had larger extents, and half had smaller extents.

Hawaiian monk seals showed some signs of recovery in 2019

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Monk seals resting on one of the few haul-out areas at Mokumanamana in the Hawaiian Islands in 2019.

February 2020 ends as 2nd warmest on record for globe

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climate analyses and statistics

This global map shows where February 2020 temperatures were up to 11° F (6° C) cooler (darkest blue) or warmer (darkest red) than the 1981-2010 average.

For NOAA employees and contractors: Latest COVID-19 information and guidanceoffsite link

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). For official, up-to-date information about the virus and how to prevent its spread, please visit the CDC's website, www.cdc.gov

Earth just had its 2nd-hottest February on record

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climate analyses and statistics

A collage of typical climate and weather-related events: heatwaves, drought, hurricanes, wildfires and changes in sea ice coverage.

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