Overview

• NOAA has reduced or eliminated weather balloon launches at 11 sites, representing about one out of nine U.S. launch locations, due to staffing shortages caused by recent job cuts.
• Meteorologists warn that the reductions will degrade the accuracy of weather forecasts, particularly during the critical spring severe weather season when tornado outbreaks are common.
• Weather balloons provide unique atmospheric data essential for forecasting severe storms, filling gaps that satellites and ground-based systems cannot cover.
• The affected sites are concentrated in northern U.S. regions, where the jet stream drives weather systems, making the data loss especially concerning.
• The cuts are part of broader operational challenges at NOAA, including helium shortages and coastal erosion, compounding risks to forecasting capabilities.