This Center is one of several centers under the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) part of theNational Weather Service (NWS) in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Center serves the public by assessing and forecasting the impacts of short-term climate variability, emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events, for use in mitigating losses and maximizing economic gains. (See: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov)