The National Weather Service (NWS) obtains weather observations from a variety of sources, including:
- Cooperative Weather Observers: Approximately 11,000 volunteers who take daily weather observations and report them to the NWS.
- Weather Satellites: Thousands of weather satellites provide vital data on atmospheric conditions, cloud cover, and large-scale weather patterns.
- Weather Stations: Numerous automated weather stations, as well as those set up and operated by government meteorologists, collect real-time weather data.
- Radar Installations: The NWS utilizes a network of Doppler radar installations to monitor precipitation, storm development, and severe weather.
Thus, all the options listed contribute to the weather observations gathered by the NWS.