Regulations and Government
U.S. Wx Service Budget Cuts Threaten Forecasting Accuracy
National Weather Service is forced to curtail data-collection activities
meteorology
© Iowa State University

Budget cuts at the U.S. National Weather Service are beginning to show effects in weather forecast preparations, a panel of experts said during a session yesterday at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference.

The agency released a bulletin this week noting that, due to a “lack of Weather Forecast Office staffing,” it would be immediately suspending weather balloon launches at its offices in Omaha, Nebraska, and in Rapid City, South Dakota. This followed earlier announcements that balloon launches in several other locations would also be suspended or curtailed due to staffing issues.