HR 5285119th CongressIntroduced

TWISTER Act

Introduced: Sep 10, 2025

Environment & ClimateInfrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

TWISTER Act is a proposed amendment to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. It expands the goals of the existing tornado warning improvement and extension program by adding explicit priorities for research and development of innovative tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings. The bill directs the Under Secretary (of the relevant federal department) to focus on three areas: fast-developing storm systems (such as derechos), areas historically lacking tornadoes, and evening or nighttime tornadoes. The intention is to improve warning accuracy and timeliness for these challenging situations and populations, potentially guiding funding and program direction within the NOAA/NWS weather research framework.

Key Points

1The bill amends Section 103 of the 2017 act to broaden the program’s goals from general improvement to targeted focuses.
2New explicit focuses: (A) fast-developing storm systems like derechos; (B) areas historically absent of tornadoes; (C) evening or nighttime tornadoes.
3The expansion requires the Under Secretary to prioritize development of innovative forecasts, predictions, and warnings in these areas.
4The act retains its overall structure, with changes implemented through the amendment to the existing program.
5Status: Introduced in the House (Sept. 10, 2025) by Ms. Stevens and referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Public safety and residents in tornado-prone regions, especially those in nocturnal tornado events and communities impacted by derechos.- Regions historically lacking tornadoes that may still be at risk or experience changing weather patterns.Secondary group/area affected- National Weather Service and NOAA (classification and execution of the tornado warning program), emergency management agencies, and local/state authorities responsible for warning dissemination.- Utilities, transportation, and other critical infrastructure sectors affected by windstorm events (e.g., derechos) and the reliability/timeliness of warnings.Additional impacts- Research funding and program priorities—blueprint for future grants, collaborations with academia/industry, and targeted technology development (radar, sensing, data analysis, and warning systems).- Public communication and alert systems (e.g., how warnings are issued and conveyed to the public during nocturnal events).- Potential timeline and implementation considerations, including capacity to shift or increase resources toward these specified focus areas.

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