Local NWS Office Tour Information

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Our office during a rare snowfall

Located at 5241 NE 122nd Avenue, it is here from which local forecasts and weather warnings are issued. About 35 people work inside, keeping a watchful eye on the sky for good and bad weather.

This office serves southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon. During the National Weather Service modernization , which began in 1988, new technologies allowed offices to forecast with better accuracy than before. With the new NEXRAD radar, the need for more offices increased. However, placement of the offices was governed by the range of the radar, about 250 miles. Services from offices like Eugene, Salem and Astoria were merged under one roof, while other offices experienced increased staffing and services. In Oregon, Pendleton and Medford have offices similar to Portland. Nationally, over 300 offices were condensed into 118 forecast offices, such as Seattle and Medford.

The Pacific Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC) also calls this yellow building home. The NWRFC staff provide river data and computer model output to the Weather Service. There are 13 river forecast centers nationally, each responsible for a major river drainage area. The NWRFC has a responsibility for the Columbia River basin as well as the Oregon and Washington coastal streams.

Live In-Person Office Tour Information
We do offer personal tours of our office. Some restrictions apply, but generally we offer tours to groups on Monday through Friday, between 10 am and 2 pm (special times can be arranged). Tours can be cancelled if weather is expected to be inclement, or we have sudden staff shortages, such as those staff that may be sick or on leave.

If you wish to find our more, please contact us by phone at (503) 326-2340, extension 246, or you can send email us.

NOAA's National Weather Service       5241 NE 122nd Avenue       Portland, OR 97230 Phone: 503.326.2340 Weather Line: 503.261-9246, -9247 Webmaster's email:        w-pqr.webmaster@noaa.gov		Disclaimer Privacy Policy Credits About Us Glossary Career Opportunities This website provided as a service by: The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.