2026 Joint AMS Washington Forum and Summer Community Meeting

2026 Joint AMS Washington Forum and Summer Community Meeting

21-23 July 2026, Washington, DC and Online

Given the rapid policy changes impacting the weather, water, and climate community, this year the AMS will hold the Washington Forum and the Summer Community Meeting as a joint meeting at the AAAS building in Washington DC, 21-23 July 2026.

The Board on Enterprise Economic Development (BEED) and Board on Enterprise Communication (BEC), both part of the AMS Commission on the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise (CWWCE) are working together to plan this joint meeting, hosted by the American Meteorological Society.

View our meeting's mission statement here.

Schedule Overview*

This year's theme is Capturing our Enterprise: Our enterprise has grown from a mere collection of core government agencies, companies, and academic institutions; it is now a sprawling, high-velocity conglomeration of trusted weather, water, and climate information providers, observing system developers, government innovators, expert educators and researchers, capable tech giants, agile start-ups, content creators, public communicators, local stakeholders, and national policymakers. In capturing our enterprise, we take a snapshot of this transformation in progress. As AI and traditional modeling converge, environmental data becomes our lifeblood, the lines between public and private sectors blur, and the urgency of resilience to extreme weather increases, this meeting is our window: focusing on where we stand today, assessing our challenges, and sharpening our vision for a successful tomorrow.

View the full program here.


Day 1: Tuesday, 21 July

  • Mahoney Lecture - Better Together - Enhancing Earth System Science Through Integration of Vantage Points, Approaches, Programs, and Communities
  • Chair: AMS President, Alan Sealls
  • LecturerJack Kaye

     ***Not attending the meeting but want to view the lecture online? Please fill out this form.

  • Call to Order & Forum Preview & CWWCE Remarks
  • Congressional Keynote
  • Congressional Roundtable
  • Sessions 1a & 1.b: Agency Discussions - Capturing our Agencies
  • Session 2: Fire Weather, Technology and Risk:  State of the Science and Opportunities
  • Closing Remarks
    • AWF/SCM Chairs
  • Networking Event - Evening mixer at City Tap, Penn Quarter

Day 2: Wednesday, 22 July

  • Call to Order
    • AWF/SCM Chairs
  • Enterprise Keynote
  • Session 3: Panel Discussion - National Weather Safety Board Act legislation (HR 7848)
  • Session 4: Social Media-rologists
  • Session 5: Extreme Heat/Health Science and Services: State of the Art, Challenges and Next Steps
  • Special Congressional Event Hosted by the American Weather Enterprise Association (AWEA)
    • This is a free event; however, space is limited. Please RSVP by July 15 at 5:00 PM EDT. Additional information will be provided to registrants prior to the event.

Day 3: Thursday, 23 July

  • Keith Seitter Breakfast Roundtable
  • Call to Order
  • Session 7: Panel Discussion: AI Ethics & Policy in the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise
  • Session 8: Confidence in Data Through Collaboration and Community Building
  • Session 9: Closing the Weather Information Gap with AI
  • AMS Leadership Panel
  • Closing Remarks 

*Schedule subject to change.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship opportunities are available!  Please contact Adam Kelly for more information. 

Registration

All attendees must register to attend the conference.  Registration must be completed online.  Everyone presenting and/or attending must be registered.  A free AMS account is required to access registration.  Registration rates are listed here.

Connect with us!

Use #AWF26 and #SCM26 and keep up to date with the latest conference info: @ametsoc

Special Needs

It is the Society's sincere desire to comply fully with both the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.  Attendees with special needs at the conference should check with the AMS Meetings Department by email ([email protected]) or phone (617) 226-3971, four–six weeks prior to the meeting to request special arrangements.  Special housing needs should be requested when making hotel reservations.

Professional and Respectful Conduct at AMS Meetings