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Staffing Shortages Strain National Weather Service During Deadly Kentucky Tornadoes

Despite a 31% vacancy rate, the Jackson, Kentucky, forecast office maintained 24/7 operations with surge staffing and nearby office support during storms that killed 14 in the state.

Debris are scattered across the Sunshine Hills neighborhood after a series of tornadoes hit Laurel County, in London, Kentucky, U.S. May 17, 2025. REUTERS/Seth Herald
A destroyed home is seen from above after a severe storm passed through the area, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in London, Kentucky.
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Overview

  • The Jackson, Kentucky, National Weather Service office, operating with a 31% vacancy rate, relied on all-hands staffing and neighboring offices to issue timely tornado warnings on May 16–17.
  • Federal staffing cuts, implemented by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, have left multiple NWS offices unable to maintain 24/7 coverage, including Jackson.
  • The tornado outbreak caused at least 14 fatalities in Kentucky and 21 nationwide, with significant damage reported in Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
  • NOAA announced plans to transfer 155 meteorologists and specialists to critically understaffed offices, but a federal hiring freeze continues to limit long-term solutions.
  • Union leaders and meteorologists warn that ongoing staffing shortages could jeopardize disaster response capabilities ahead of hurricane season and other severe weather events.