ULM receives record $4.2 million federal contract for weather forecasting

Dr. Todd Murphy, professor of atmospheric science, and Dr. Ken Leppert, associate professor of atmospheric science, are leading the initiative. The project aims to improve the nowcasting and forecasting of weather hazards throughout the Southeastern United States, focusing heavily on the Lower Mississippi River Basin by expanding atmospheric observations to boost regional numerical weather prediction models.

A primary goal of the project is installing 50 new environmental monitoring stations across Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. These stations will mirror the current infrastructure of the Louisiana State Mesonet, a ULM-operated network that launched in 2024 with plans to establish 50 stations across the state. The new federal funding will establish one atmospheric profiling "supersite" and upgrade 13 existing state mesonet stations with advanced capabilities.

“We are specifically excited about the improvement in flood and drought monitoring capabilities and forecasting this project will enable,” said Murphy. “We know these are critical things important not only to our partners in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but also our regional partners in agriculture and forestry, the National Weather Service, emergency management, and other city and state officials.”

The multimillion-dollar agreement underscores federal trust in the technical capabilities of the university's atmospheric science team.

“Flood and drought nowcasting and forecasting requires dense, high-quality data collected across dozens of stations, and then the expertise to turn that data into a product that people rely on. The decision to not only fund an expansion of the current mesonet but the development of value-added products on top of that data shows the government sees ULM as a serious partner in solving real problems for the military and the people of the region,” added Murphy.

Dr. John Pratte, dean of the ULM College of Arts, Education, and Sciences, noted the expansive regional and academic advantages of the contract.

"The impact of this project on ULM, the state, and the region is immeasurable,” said Dr. John Pratte, Dean of the ULM College of Arts, Education, and Sciences. “For our students, it creates hands-on learning opportunities about weather and climate forecasting that will aid them in their future careers. For our faculty, it allows them to continue developing instrumentation, data, and models that will produce the next generation of tools for surviving extreme weather events. For the citizens of Louisiana and the Southeastern U.S., it will provide an extra layer of security for them and their businesses. The Atmospheric Science faculty has done a tremendous job in bringing this project to fruition."

Operations are set to begin immediately. The project will create up to four full-time positions, including a web developer, a second mesonet technician and research associates. It will also provide up to four part-time positions for ULM students to assist with station maintenance, deployment and data analysis, along with volunteer options.

“We are excited to be able to offer competitive, real-world, hands-on experience,” said Murphy. “These types of opportunities are so important for ensuring our students remain competitive in the job market, and to be able to offer that in-house is an incredible opportunity.”

The contract finances the initial year of research, with an option for an additional $4.2 million for a second year. A funding decision for the second year will be evaluated by the ERDC during the first half of 2027 based on first-year milestones.

Leppert explained that the program has long operated a daily regional weather model, and this agreement will help translate that data into practical tools for decision-makers.

“The thing that really excites me about this project is the opportunity to work with a research associate to upgrade our modeling system, incorporate all the data we're collecting to create the best forecast possible, and then produce useful flood, drought, and other products that substantially benefit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other decision makers in the region and state,” he added.

Both leaders expressed that the historic contract validates the university's efforts.

“The level of trust and confidence that the government is bestowing on the Atmospheric Sciences program and ULM by awarding such a large and complex award means a lot,” said Leppert.