The US National Weather Service (NWS) reported nationwide internet and communications problems on Friday, November 13, raising concerns about access to weather forecasts, radar information and official alerts across the country.
The disruption came at a particularly unusual time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had also experienced a major communications failure that led to a nationwide ground stop for departing flights.
The timing has prompted questions about whether the two incidents are connected, whether the United States is facing a broader technology disruption, and whether a cyberattack could be involved.
However, there is an important distinction between what officials have confirmed and what remains unknown: the NWS reported internet and communications problems, but it has not publicly confirmed that a cyberattack caused the outage.
Why Is the National Weather Service Down?
On November 13, the National Weather Service announced that it was experiencing internet and communications problems across the United States.
The agency warned that users might be unable to access certain products on its websites or could see information that was no longer up to date.
NWS technicians were reportedly working to resolve the disruption as quickly as possible. However, the agency did not provide a confirmed technical explanation or a specific restoration timeline in its initial notice.
The reported issue affected access to online weather information, making it difficult for some users to retrieve the latest forecasts and weather products directly from NWS websites.
Is the Entire National Weather Service Shut Down?
No. The reported internet and communications disruption should not be confused with a complete shutdown of the National Weather Service.
According to reporting on the agency's announcement, local NWS offices continued issuing weather forecasts and alerts during the disruption.
This distinction matters because the National Weather Service performs several functions beyond operating its public website. Its responsibilities include monitoring weather conditions, issuing warnings and providing information to emergency managers and the public.
Even if some online services become unavailable or display outdated information, that does not automatically mean meteorologists have stopped monitoring weather conditions.
People should continue checking official emergency alerts and reliable alternative weather sources when the NWS website is experiencing problems.
Is the NWS Outage Connected to the FAA Nationwide Flight Grounding?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding the incident.
On November 13, the Federal Aviation Administration experienced a major telecommunications disruption affecting air traffic control communications. The problem led the agency to order a nationwide ground stop for departing flights.
The FAA's disruption affected 22 regional air traffic control centers responsible for directing aircraft between airports.
The NWS reported its own nationwide internet and communications problems around the same period.
The timing has naturally raised questions about a possible connection between the two incidents. Both agencies depend on complex communications and technology infrastructure, and both reported disruptions within a short period.
However, there is no confirmed public evidence establishing that the FAA and NWS outages were caused by the same technical failure or a coordinated attack.
The incidents should therefore be treated as separate disruptions unless investigators or the agencies establish a connection.
Was the National Weather Service Hacked?
There is currently no confirmed public evidence that hackers caused the National Weather Service outage.
The agency's reported notice described internet and communications problems. It did not identify a cyberattack, ransomware incident or malicious intrusion as the cause.
A communications outage can happen for several reasons, including:
- Network or telecommunications provider failures
- Hardware or infrastructure problems
- Software or configuration errors
- Data center or connectivity disruptions
- Cybersecurity incidents
These are possible categories of technical failure, not confirmed explanations for this particular event.
Until the NWS or relevant authorities publish more information, claims that the agency was hacked should be treated as speculation.
What Weather Services Are Affected?
The NWS warning indicated that some products on its websites might be inaccessible or display outdated information.
This could affect people trying to access:
- Local weather forecasts
- Weather radar and mapping products
- Severe-weather information
- Watches and warnings
- Other forecast and meteorological products
The exact scope of the disruption was not fully detailed in the initial public notice.
It is also important to distinguish website availability from the underlying work of weather offices. Local NWS offices continued issuing forecasts and alerts, according to reporting on the incident.
Could the Recent Microsoft Outage Be Related?
The NWS disruption also occurred shortly after a major Microsoft 365 outage affected services including Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and other products.
Microsoft said its incident was caused by a technical problem involving network capacity and a subsequent network change, rather than a cyberattack or artificial intelligence issue.
The close timing of the Microsoft, FAA and NWS disruptions has attracted attention. However, there is no confirmed evidence that the Microsoft incident caused the NWS outage or that all three events share a common source.
A similar timeline does not establish a technical connection.
Where Can You Check US Weather Updates During the NWS Outage?
If the National Weather Service website is slow, unavailable or showing outdated information, users can try the following official resources:
- National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/
The agency's main website for forecasts, watches and warnings. - NWS Telecommunication Operations Status: https://tgftp.ncep.noaa.gov/tgstatus/
Provides operational status information for NWS telecommunications systems. - NWS Central Operations: https://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/
Provides information about National Weather Service operations and weather data services. - NOAA: https://www.noaa.gov/
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's main website.
For urgent weather threats, people should not rely on a single website. Follow official local emergency notifications and instructions from local authorities.
When Will the National Weather Service Be Back Online?
The NWS did not provide a confirmed restoration deadline in its initial public notice.
Technicians were working to resolve the nationwide internet and communications problems, but the agency had not publicly identified the root cause or announced a definitive timeline.
The restoration of individual websites and weather products may also differ. Some services could become accessible before others.
Users should check the official NWS website and its operational status resources for updates rather than relying on unverified social media claims.
What Happens Next?
The main unanswered question is what caused the disruption.
The National Weather Service will need to restore affected services and clarify whether the problem originated in its own infrastructure, an external telecommunications provider or another part of the network.
The timing of the FAA communications failure will likely keep attention focused on the reliability of critical US infrastructure. But a confirmed connection between the incidents has not been established.
More information from the NWS, NOAA and relevant technical authorities will be important in determining the actual cause.
Final Takeaway: Why Is the National Weather Service Down?
The National Weather Service reported nationwide internet and communications problems on November 13, 2026, warning that some online weather products could be unavailable or outdated.
The disruption occurred around the same time as the FAA's nationwide air traffic control communications failure, creating questions about a possible wider infrastructure problem.
However, there is no confirmed evidence that the NWS outage was caused by a cyberattack or that it was directly connected to the FAA incident.
For now, the confirmed explanation is limited: the NWS experienced internet and communications problems, technicians were working to resolve them, and local offices continued issuing weather information.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the National Weather Service down?
The NWS reported nationwide internet and communications problems on November 13, 2026. The agency did not publicly confirm the underlying technical cause in its initial notice.
2. Was the National Weather Service hacked?
There is no confirmed public evidence that the outage was caused by hackers. The NWS described it as an internet and communications problem.
3. Is the National Weather Service completely shut down?
No. The reported disruption affected access to some online products. Local NWS offices continued issuing forecasts and alerts.
4. Is the NWS outage connected to the FAA flight grounding?
No confirmed connection has been established. Both agencies reported disruptions around the same period, but that does not prove a shared cause.
5. Are US weather forecasts still available?
Local weather offices continued issuing forecasts and alerts. Some NWS website products, however, could be unavailable or outdated.
6. When will the National Weather Service website be restored?
The agency did not provide a confirmed restoration deadline in its initial notice. Users should check official NWS updates.
7. Where can I check weather alerts if weather.gov is down?
Users can try official NOAA and NWS operational resources, local emergency notifications and other reliable weather services.
8. Could a telecommunications failure affect weather forecasts?
Yes. Weather services rely on communications networks to distribute forecasts, observations and other data. A network disruption can affect access to information even when meteorologists continue working.