Nationwide weather forecasting is in imminent danger of reduced accuracy, putting the safety of people, property, air travel, the fishing industry and commerce in general in jeopardy. Due to indiscriminate layoffs of federal employees and a hiring freeze, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Gray, Maine, and others are reducing weather balloon launches. Data from the twice daily launches across the nation are fed into weather models that are used for forecasts. The absence of this data will affect the quality of models and therefore forecasts that we rely on.

The weather radar data stream was down during the first large Great Plains tornado outbreak this year due to lack of personnel. No warnings were posted and the town of Abilene, Texas, narrowly escaped a dangerous predawn tornado outbreak.

Doppler radar is a valuable tool in understanding and tracking severe weather, tornados, hurricanes, wind shear and microbursts, as all are visible. Radar is essential to improved safety on the ground and in the air.

The Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, has had its lease canceled. The repercussions will certainly ripple across the nation and the globe.

All U.S. weather forecasting, whether it comes from the NWS, website, TV or weather app, is totally dependent on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA was told to prepare for a 30% budget and 50% staff cut. If we are unwilling to fund science, then we are on track to return to the unreliable weather forecasting of the 1950s.

Catherine Chamberlain
Falmouth