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.