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yesterday

NOAA and NASA Secure One-Month Extension for Key Hurricane Forecasting Data

The agencies have postponed the end of microwave data sharing until July 31 without a long-term replacement plan.

FILE - A water rescue boat moves in floodwaters at an apartment complex in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 10, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
FILE - Natasha Ducre surveys the kitchen of her devastated home, which lost most of its roof during the passage of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Fla., Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
An SSMI image of Hurricane Ida in August 2021.
Image

Overview

  • NOAA plans to discontinue the ingest, processing, and distribution of SSMIS microwave data from three DMSP satellites after July 31.
  • Following expert warnings and interagency objections, NOAA and NASA persuaded the Defense Department to delay the civilian data cutoff from June 30 to July 31.
  • The SSMIS instruments account for roughly half of all microwave observations that reveal three-dimensional storm structure and track rapid hurricane intensification at night.
  • Meteorologists warn that losing these feeds will increase the odds of missing rapid intensification, underestimating storm strength, and misplacing hurricane paths.
  • No timeline has been set for alternative microwave data sources, raising concerns about forecast accuracy as hurricane season intensifies.