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Friday. July 12 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon . The National Weather Service in Colorado 1976-1996 and Beyond Robert T. Glancy National Weather Service The National Weather Service (NWS) has experienced significant and ongoing changes since the changes since the 19708. The advent of personal computers and improvement in overall computing capabilities have directly impacted weather forecasts and warnings at Weather Service offices across the country. In 1976, the NWS Forecast Office in Denver received paper copies of meteorological maps and used facsimile machines and teletype systems to access data and send forecasts.. The network radar was located in Limon and forecasters only had access to paper copies of the radar screen. By the mid 1980s, the Denver Forecast Office became a testbed for the NWS computer system of the future. This system allowed the integration of satellite, Doppler radar, and other weather data on a computer screen. Composing and transmitting forecasts and warnings became much . simpler on this computer system. In 1993 the Nexrad doppler radar became avaiJable. Located just east of Denver, and twice as powerful as the older radars, forecasters can monitor the radar output over the flash flood prone areas along the foothills of Colorado. In the 19908 the NWS has begun a reorganization to upgrade all offices with these new systems. New forecast offices at Grand Junction, Pueblo and GoodIand will also have forecasters and Nexrad radars. By the year 2000, the Denver Forecast office will concentrate primarily on the weather problems in northeast and north centtal Colorado. This paper will discuss the changes in National Weather Service Offices and how those changes will allow forecasters to provide accurate short term information, especially in flash flood situations. . 13