Overview

• The National Weather Service paused its automated translation services on April 1, 2025, after its contract with AI provider Lilt expired.
• The translation tool, launched in late 2023, provided alerts in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan, replacing labor-intensive manual translations.
• Experts warn that the lack of multilingual alerts could endanger non-English speakers during extreme weather, as timely warnings are critical for safety.
• The lapse in service coincides with federal budget cuts and staffing shortages affecting NOAA and its agencies, further straining resources.
• Uncertainty remains over when or if the translation service will resume, leaving millions of non-English speakers at heightened risk.