Smarter Weather Forecasting for Water Management, Farming, and Ranching Act of 2024

This bill amends a 1985 agricultural law to establish two pilot projects improving weather forecasts for water and farming. It requires the government to create a western U.S. water management pilot focused on mountain weather patterns, atmospheric rivers, and snow/rain forecasts, and a nationwide agriculture pilot targeting soil moisture, summer storms, and drought prediction. The projects must use recommendations from a 2020 weather report, partner with universities and NOAA, and achieve measurable forecast improvements. The bill authorizes $45 million annually from 2024 to 2028 for these efforts, with the programs ending after five years. It directly affects water managers in the western U.S. and farmers across the country by aiming to provide more accurate, actionable weather data.