The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is utilizing AI technologies to help translate weather forecasts into languages other than English through the National Weather Service (NWS).
Currently, the agency plans to roll out weather, water, and climate terminology in Spanish and Simplified Chinese using AI, as these are the two most common languages in the United States after English.
“Getting timely weather alerts ahead of a dangerous storm in multiple languages helps ensure that potentially lifesaving information is available to everyone,” said Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science. “By capitalizing on the advancements of AI technology, we will be able to provide these alerts in even more languages in the near future.”
The agency will also look to use this new technology to translate information into Samoan and Vietnamese soon. Additionally, the agency will work with Lilt – a machine learning technology company – to develop the translated weather models.
“This language translation project will improve our service equity to traditionally underserved and vulnerable populations that have limited English proficiency,” said Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service.
“By providing weather forecasts and warnings in multiple languages, NWS will improve community and individual readiness and resilience as climate change drives more extreme weather events,” Graham added.
The website will host information that includes navigation, instructions, and descriptions available in each of the supported languages, provide maps in supported languages warning people of coming weather, and alert banners when weather hazards are in certain areas.
Furthermore, NOAA wants to receive public comments on its experimental language translation website through September 2024.
“I want to applaud the National Weather Service and Lilt for working with me to meet people where they are. By helping to be more inclusive and further increase safety in our many diverse communities, we can protect more people from severe weather storms in the United States,” said Rep. Meng.
