A key contract that supports the network service provider for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is set to lapse this week, threatening internet access and the transmission of internal data nationwide for much of the agency.

The N-Wave system — often referred to as “NOAA’s network” — provides internet and acts as a pipeline transmitting weather and environmental data. It’s used by NOAA, which is best known for operating the National Weather Service, and by branches of the armed forces, including the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

A short-term work order that underpins the foundation of N-Wave is set to expire early Thursday morning, according to an internal document seen by Bloomberg, which warns of the potential for severe disruptions and says staff are working to secure an extension.

“If we didn’t have N-Wave, we wouldn’t have internet,” said Alan Gerard, who was a division chief at NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory until he retired in March. “I can’t really think of a time when N-Wave itself was down.”

The network supported research projects at the Oklahoma-based lab, which develops advanced forecasting tools to improve tornado prediction and early warning systems, he said.

N-Wave additionally supports the flow of information between supercomputing facilities and data centers, functions that are similarly facing potential disruptions.

NOAA, which sits under the Commerce Department, did not return a request for comment. Several services at the agency supported by contracts — from forecast translations to tools for studying regional climate — have gone dark in recent weeks, only to later return once NOAA secured new agreements with its vendors.

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(With assistance from Brian K. Sullivan.)

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