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4mo ago

National Weather Service Faces Severe Staffing Shortages Ahead of Hurricane Season

With over 550 staff lost since 2021, critical forecast offices lack leadership and operations are scaled back, raising concerns about degraded severe weather warnings.

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FILE - This photo made available by NASA shows Hurricane Harvey over Texas on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, seen from the International Space Station. Studies show that climate change are making hurricanes wetter, because warm air can hold more moisture, and are making the strongest storms a bit stronger. Storms also may be stalling more, allowing them to drop more rain over the same place, like in 2017’s Harvey. They are also rapidly intensifying more often, experts say. (Randy Bresnik/NASA via AP, File)
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Overview

  • Thirty of the 122 National Weather Service forecast offices, including those in major cities like Houston, New York, and Tampa, lack meteorologists-in-charge, leaving leadership gaps in critical regions.
  • The hurricane-prone Houston-Galveston forecast office currently has no permanent manager, raising concerns about its preparedness for the upcoming hurricane season starting June 1.
  • Over 90 maintenance positions for weather radars and observation stations remain vacant, increasing risks of prolonged equipment outages during severe weather events.
  • Several forecast offices have reduced or eliminated daily weather balloon launches, which provide essential data for accurate weather forecasting models.
  • One office in Goodland, Kansas, has already ceased 24/7 operations, with a dozen more offices at risk of similar cutbacks, potentially compromising timely severe weather warnings.