The National Weather Service is the source of all the data used for forecasting, whether the forecast comes for the NWS, the Weather Channel or some other entity. But firings and funding cuts instituted by the Trump administration have curtailed the weather balloon launches that gather some of that crucial data, and have put the agency's ability to maintain its weather radar systems (the only way we can spot tornadoes remotely) at risk. Former NWS directors, TV meteorologists, and industries such as insurance that depend on this information are extremely alarmed.
What are the stakes: Concerted federal government investment in studying the weather and building up U.S. observation systems have brought tornadoes warnings from virtually non-existent even in the mid-20th century to an average warning time of 8 to 18 minutes. Where hurricanes formerly rapidly intensified into monster storms with little or no foresight, we now have the ability to predict that likelihood at least a couple of days in advance. These advancements among many others have saved countless lives and billions of dollars. Improvements in hurricane forecasting alone have saved the nation $5 billion
per storm since 2007.
What the experts say: “Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life,” wrote five former NWS directors from both Democratic and Republican administrations in an open letter on May 2.—Andrea Thompson
