Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding in the West; Heat Expands in the Central U.S.

Monsoonal moisture will produce showers and thunderstorms with heavy rain over parts of the Southwest, Great Basin, and Central Rockies through Monday. Flash flooding is possible, especially in and around burn scars and in areas of steep terrain. Heat will persist across the Central U.S. early this week, spreading into the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic later this week. Read More >

History of the Smithsonian Institute's involvement in the Cooperative Observation Program

Joseph Henry's first major project at the Smithsonian was his plan to obtain weather reports from a countrywide network of voluntary observers; his plan is detailed in the Institution's 1848 Annual Report. Voluminous reports, maps, tables, and charts were prepared and published on all phases of the work -- rainfall, snowfall, temperatures, barometric pressure, storms, meteors, auroras, and other phenomena.

In 1869, when Congress established the Weather Bureau of the United States Signal Service, the Smithsonian system of meteorological reports was turned over to the new bureau.

The Smithsonian continued to work on the material collected up to the time of transfer, however, and over the next few years issued reports, tables, and maps.

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Heavy Rain and Flash Flooding in the West; Heat Expands in the Central U.S.

Observation Programs