NWSChat is an Instant Messaging program utilized by NWS operational personnel to share critical warning decision expertise and other types of significant weather information essential to the NWS's mission of saving lives and property.

This information is exchanged in real-time with the media and emergency response community, who in turn play a key role in communicating the NWS's hazardous weather messages to the public.

NWS partners can use NWSChat as an efficient means of seeking clarifications and enhancements to the communication stream originating from the NWS during a fast-paced significant weather or hydrologic event.

In order to participate in NWSChat, you must meet at least one of the following standards:

• Be a member of the emergency management (EM) community with a need to actively participate in discussions with NWS on imminent weather or other hazards: Members of the EM community include public safety officials who serve as employees or contract agents of a government agency at the federal, state, local, or tribal level and are charged with protecting the public from hazards that are influenced by weather or weather-related events. Other members of this community include: safety and emergency personnel, from universities or other large entities with large populations, whose roles are functionally equivalent to the public safety officials described above, and Skywarn Net Control Operators, such as Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES).
• Be a government partner of a NWS office: This includes Government partners who have missions that require close coordination with the NWS. Government partners include (but are not limited to) the FAA, and water and land management officials.
• Be a member of the electronic media: Members of the electronic media are parties, and contract agents of parties who:
• Have a need to actively participate in discussions with NWS Forecast Offices on imminent weather or other hazards, and
• Operate systems that routinely and rapidly relay weather and water watches, advisories, warnings and forecast information to a significant part of the population served by an NWS office; via electronic information distribution such as radio, television, internet, cellular, and other wireless means.

Note: Individuals, companies, or other entities involved in ‘chasing’ weather events and posting or streaming text or pictures of the event, but do not otherwise have a need to communicate with NWS do not meet the qualifications for this Service, regardless of the number of ‘followers’ or recipients.