A South Florida weather expert claimed that the lack of National Weather Service ( NWS ) personnel had a negative effect on forecast accuracy. Weather forecaster John Morales reflected on his forecasting for the 2019 hurricane season earlier this week on NBC affiliate WTVJ, saying,” Conveniently, I went on TV, and I told you,” It’s going to move. You don’t need to fret; it will change. Then he raised questions 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 undermining, the hammer strike on science in general.” Morales also made reference to specific personnel issues, saying,” And this is a multigenerational effect on research in this region. Okay, but let’s talk about the federal government’s funding cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service especially. Did you know that the National Weather Service Central and South Florida agencies are essentially 20 to 40 % understaffed from Tampa to Key West, including the Miami business, which is 20 to 40 % understaffed? This kind of staffing shortage is currently having effects across the country as a result of a almost 20 % drop in temperature bubble produces and launch that carry those radiosondes. Under Elon Musk’s administration, which has since stepped down from the position, the Department of Government Effectiveness has implemented drastic reductions at NWS and NOAA, which are responsible for providing normal weather forecasts, fast storm alerts, climate surveillance, and tracking extreme weather conditions. The agency terminated hundreds of weather forecasters in February and put other federal NOAA employees on probation before cutting more than 1, 000 positions. Nearly half of the NWS forecast facilities had filled by April, with about 20 % of positions still unfilled. However, The Hill’s report from Monday made it clear that NWS would be looking to hire 126 new employees in response to significant workforce reductions. Prior to now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ), the parent organization of NWS, had cut back on staff as part of government reduction efforts. The season starts on Sunday, and Florida and other southeast US states are regularly threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. The NOAA leadership responded to The Hill on Tuesday by email, stating that they are taking action to help those who choose to take a voluntary early retirement option. In order to fill positions at NWS field locations with the greatest operational need, NWS is still conducting short-term Temporary Duty assignments ( TDYs ) and is currently preparing a number of Reassignment Opportunity Notices ( RONs ).
