The National Weather Service of Argentina

The National Weather Service of Argentina (SMN by its Spanish acronym ), according to Law No. 12.945/45-Decree 1678-1673, is the institution responsible for leading the national meteorological activity and development of hydro-meteorological and geophysical activities related; understand the provision of public services for inspection, forecasting and advisory; act technically with the international and foreign organizations related to air and aerospace and make agrometeorological activities in coordination with the Ministry of Economy to attend the security, defense and the social and economic development of the nation.

Meteorological offices were born in the second half of the nineteenth century. Argentina was a pioneer in this area in the southern hemisphere. On October 4, 1872, the Argentine Congress voted to Law No. 559, which created the Argentina Meteorological Office (OMA by its Spanish acronym), which preceded the National Weather Service of Argentina. The OMA was the third meteorological office in the world. The Hungarian Meteorological Office had been created in 1870, and the Meteorological Office of United States, in 1871.

Until 1966, the National Weather Service reported to the Ministry of Education of Argentina. Later the Air Force of Argentina controlled the office, but since January 1, 2007, the office reports to the Ministry of Defence. The National Weather Service has economic and financial autarky and legal personality.

The public only knows the SMN through its weather forecasts, but the agency provides many services to the community as: weather alerts, especial weather reports, status of rivers and rainfalls, satellite images, ozone measurements, information for sailing and flying, among others.

In addition, the MSN is the official adviser of the Argentine government on all aspects of meteorology. And also Argentina, through the MSN, is part of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

For more information please enter http://www.smn.gov.ar/ call (011) 5167-6767 or write an email to smn@smn.gov.ar.