Glossary
NOAA
NOAA logoThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the federal umbrella for weather, climate, coastal, and inland flood services—including river forecast centers and the National Water Model.
Published May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Why it matters on the water
Rainfall upstream, wind on open water, and river flood waves all arrive through NOAA’s observing and modeling stack. Anglers watch marine and hazardous weather; reservoir managers watch river forecast guidance when storms stack inflow against outlet capacity.
NOAA does not replace a project’s pool guide—but it explains the weather forcing behind a rising hydrograph.
NOAA pieces you will see near lakes
| Office / product | Typical use |
|---|---|
| NWS | Short-fuse weather, watches, and warnings |
| NWPS | River stage forecasts at forecast points |
| NCEI / climate | Long records, normals, and retrospective analysis |
On real lakes
Related lake intelligence
Fort Gibson Lake
/lakes/fort-gibson
Explore Fort Gibson Lake for live levels, pool context, and lake intelligence on Lake Insights. Published levels use NGVD29 relative to MSL unless the lake page notes otherwise.
Related lake intelligence
Lake Jocassee
/lakes/jocassee
Explore Lake Jocassee for live levels, pool context, and lake intelligence on Lake Insights. Published levels use Duke full-pond gauge (100.0 = full pond) unless the lake page notes otherwise.
Related lake intelligence
Lake Charlevoix
/lakes/lake-charlevoix
Explore Lake Charlevoix for live levels, pool context, and lake intelligence on Lake Insights. Published levels use MSL unless the lake page notes otherwise.
- What is NWPS?
National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) is NOAA’s river-forecasting presentation layer—often what people mean when they cite “NOAA river forecasts” on inland waters.
Related terms: NWPS · Hydrograph · NWS · Gauge · Flood stage · USGS
Reference information only. See data sources, editorial standards, or suggest a correction.