Overview

• More than 560 National Weather Service employees left through layoffs and early retirement incentives in early 2025, forcing some forecast offices to cut hours or suspend overnight operations.
• NOAA obtained a public safety exemption to recruit roughly 125 meteorologists, hydrologists, technicians and specialists for mission-critical field positions.
• Staff shortages have driven a 17%–20% reduction in weather balloon launches and threaten to limit hurricane hunter aircraft missions, raising alarms over model accuracy.
• NOAA predicts an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season with 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes, and officials are urging communities to prepare.
• Veteran meteorologists and members of Congress are calling for broader funding and restored staffing levels to ensure timely warnings and protect public safety.