A South Florida weather expert told his audience alleging the negative the impact of National Weather Service (NWS) personnel shortages on forecast accuracy.During a broadcast, earlier this week, on NBC affiliate WTVJ, meteorologist John Morales reflected on his 2019 hurricane coverage, stating, “confidently, I went on TV, and I told you, ‘It’s going to turn. You don’t need to worry; it is going to turn.'”Then he expressed concerns about current capabilities, saying, “And I am here to tell you, that I am not sure I can do that this year, because of the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general.”Morales highlighted specific staffing issues, saying, “And this is a multi generational impact on science in this country. All right, but specifically, let’s talk about the federal government cuts to the National Weather Service and to NOAA. Did you know that Central and South Florida National Weather Service offices are currently basically 20 to 40% understaffed from Tampa to Key west, including the Miami office, 20 to 40% understaffed. Now, this type of staffing shortage is having impacts across the nation because there’s been a nearly 20% reduction in weather balloon releases, launches that carry those radiosondes. And what we’re starting to see is that the quality of the forecasts is becoming degraded.”Earlier this year, the Department of Government Efficiency, under Elon Musk’s leadership (who has now stepped down from the role), implemented severe reductions at NWS and NOAA, organisations responsible for delivering daily weather forecasts, immediate storm alerts, climate surveillance and tracking extreme weather conditions.In February, the agency dismissed hundreds of weather forecasters and placed other federal NOAA staff on probation, followed by additional staff reductions exceeding 1,000 positions. By April, approximately 20 percent of positions remained unfilled across nearly half of the NWS forecast facilities.However, The Hill’s Monday report indicated NWS’s intention to recruit 126 new staff following substantial workforce reductions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NWS’s parent organisation, had previously reduced staff numbers as part of government downsizing efforts.Florida and other southeastern US states face regular Atlantic hurricane threats, with the season commencing Sunday.NOAA responded on Tuesday via email to The Hill, stating, “NOAA leadership is taking steps to address those who took a voluntary early retirement option. NWS continues to conduct short-term Temporary Duty assignments (TDYs), and is in the process of conducting a series of Reassignment Opportunity Notices (RONs) to fill roles at NWS field locations with the greatest operational need.”
