Federal and local officials celebrate opening of  National Weather Service's new Weather and River Forecast Facility

August 01, 2018

NORTON, MASS. -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Condyne Capital Partners joined Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Town Manager Michael Yunits at a ribbon cutting officially opening the new state-of-the-art facility for the Boston/Norton Weather Forecast Office and Northeast River Forecast Center of the National Weather Service (NWS).

Speakers included Congressman Joe Kennedy III; GSA Acting Regional Administrator Glenn Rotondo; NWS Chief Operating Officer John Murphy; NWS Director, Eastern Region Jason Tuell; Town Manager Michael Yunits; Condyne Capital Partners Managing Partner Jeffrey O’Neill.

“Being unprepared for and unaware of extreme weather can have life-threatening consequences in our communities. With this advanced facility, NOAA and NWS can not only study our region’s weather patterns, but alert our neighbors whenever powerful, dangerous storms may be approaching,” said Congressman Joe Kennedy III.

“GSA provides cutting-edge workplace solutions while delivering cost savings and value for the taxpayer through smart asset management,” stated GSA Acting Regional Administrator Glenn Rotondo. “This is a state-of-the-art facility outfitted with the latest technology allowing NWS to better fulfill their mission of providing life-saving weather and water forecasts and warning services to the public and decision support services to partners across the region.”

“The National Weather Service’s Boston/Norton Weather Forecast Office and Northeast River Forecast Center are delighted to have been provided such a beautiful facility to call their home,” stated NWS Chief Operating Officer John Murphy. “This new state-of the-art-facility will allow forecasters to continue to deliver new and enhanced weather, water, and climate services to the entire region. As a recognized center of expertise and vital component of our national hydrologic fabric, the Northeast River Forecast Center is keeping watch over our Nation’s waterways. The Weather Forecast Office, which serves much of southern New England, uses the best scientific principles available to deliver timely and accurate weather forecasts and warnings.”

“As someone who is known to head out and chase thunderstorms, I am very excited to have the National Weather Service located in Norton,” stated Town Manager Michael Yunits.

“We are pleased and excited to have NOAA as part of the Norton Commerce Center,” said Condyne Capital Partners Managing Partner Jeffrey O’Neill. “As a person who spends a lot of time on the water, we rely on NOAA’s weather forecasts to keep us safe and out of harm’s way.” 

The project is a lease new construction that replaces the NWS office formerly located in Taunton, Mass. The new building is situated on 5.4 acres of land within the Norton Commerce Center industrial park.