The Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO) was established in 2021, and extends cooperative programs between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Oklahoma (OU) that has existed continuously since 1978. CIWRO builds upon cooperative agreements of the former institute at the University of Oklahoma, CIMMS.
CIWRO provides a mechanism that links the scientific and technical resources of OU and NOAA. CIWRO scientists and students conduct research in weather radar and operations, mesoscale and stormscale modeling, forecast applications improvements, subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction for extreme weather events, and social and socio-economic impacts of weather. CIWRO is one of 16 NOAA Cooperative Institutes.
Our research contributes to the NOAA mission by improving the observation, analysis, understanding, and prediction of weather elements and systems and climate anomalies ranging in size from cloud nuclei to multi-state areas. The continued advances in observational and analytical techniques lead to an improved understanding of the evolution and structure of these phenomena that provides more accurate prediction of hazardous weather and anomalous regional climate. This in turn contributes to improved social and economic welfare. Because small-, meso-, and regional-scale phenomena are important causes and manifestations of climate, CIWRO research furthers the understanding of the global climate system and regional climate variability.
Altogether CIWRO promotes collaboration between scientists at OU and those within NOAA, by providing a center where these two groups may work together to learn about, and apply their knowledge of, mesoscale weather and regional-scale climate processes.
Five Year Review Process
Pursuant to NOAA Policy NAO 216-107A, Section 4, The Cooperative Institute for Severe and High Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO) has entered into the period for a CI Five-Year Renewal Review. Supporting this process, this webpage provides relevant documentation, links to research reports, and other materials needed for the external review panel to appropriately assess performance metrics pursuant to the Renewal Review.
Science Review: April 22 - 23, 2025
Administrative Review: April 24, 2025
Please see the supporting documents on the right panel to reveiw and download the documents and information related to the review.
For any questions related to the information, please contact Dr. Greg McFarquhar, CIWRO Director, or Cassie Eads, CIWRO Executive Director, Finance and Operations.
