Anti-government group threatens key US weather radar sites
CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Officials from the National Weather Service are on alert after an anti-government group publicly made threats against radar installations across the country.
Known as NEXRAD sites, or Next Generation Weather Radar, they are essential tools for meteorologists to monitor and forecast severe weather.
Extremist group Veterans on Patrol claims NEXRAD installations contain military-operated 'weather weapons' that are 'poisoning the skies.'
The group has not detailed how it intends to target the sites, but its founder, Michael 'Lewis Arthur' Meyer, publicly posted a response to the Washington Post on the messaging app Telegram.
FAA, Duffy face grilling over safety, delays at major US airports
Meyer said the group plans to 'take as many NexRads offline as possible.' He added that he has 'full authority' to do so.
In response, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the NWS, issued an internal warning advising employees to stay vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
'NOAA is aware of recent threats against NEXRAD weather radar sites and is working with other authorities in monitoring the situation closely,' a spokesperson told NewsNation.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has classified Veterans on Patrol as an anti-government militia. The group has claimed it is watching radar sites in several states and is allegedly exploring ways to disable the equipment.
These developments come at a challenging time for the National Weather Service, which has been operating under severe staffing shortages. Roughly one-third of its positions remain unfilled following a wave of layoffs initiated by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
2025 US Open week forecast: Full weather update at Oakmont Country Club
2025 US Open week forecast: Full weather update at Oakmont Country Club Show Caption Hide Caption Scottie Scheffler wins Memorial at course he once watched as a fan From fan to champion, Scottie Scheffler wins the Memorial on a course he once dreamed of playing. PGA TOUR U.S. Open 2025 week has arrived, and while excitement will start to build up for the third major of the year, there is some concern on how much golf will be played with potential weather problems. This year's U.S. Open will take place at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. It will be the 10th time the course will be the site of the championship, and the 2025 edition might present some major challenges to every golfer. The week is expected to start with rain and thunderstorms as practice rounds begin, and while the weather should clear up by the time the first round tees off, things could get tricky by the third and final round on the weekend, making it either tough to play or stopping it all entirely. Here is the forecast breakdown for each day of the tournament from the National Weather Service, AccuWeather and The Weather Channel. US Open 2025 forecast Monday, June 9 A slight chance of showers in the morning with cloudy conditions to start the day, but then potential for thunderstorms and showers in the afternoon with a high of 81 degrees. Winds will range from 5 to 9 mph, with potential gusts at 23 mph. Tuesday, June 10 Conditions should improve compared to Monday with a mostly sunny day with a high around 77. There is a small chance of precipitation. Winds could be slightly stronger around 6 to 11 mph, and gusts could reach 25 mph. Wednesday, June 11 The weather becomes most ideal in the final day of practice rounds with sunny skies with a high temperature around 82 degrees. Thursday, June 12 (first round) First round action tees off with one of the hottest days of the week. Forecasts call for mostly sunny skies as morning temperatures will reach around 86 degrees and stay consistent throughout the day, and it could feel hotter with the humidity making it feel around 94 degrees. Winds will be 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 22 mph. Friday, June 13 (second round) The day will start relatively calm with light winds accompanying a partly sunny morning around 83 degrees. It will feel hotter as the day goes by despite clouds rolling in thanks to the humidity, making it feel around 95 degrees. Winds should continue to be calm throughout the day. There is a small chance of precipitation. Saturday, June 14 (third round) After the cut is made, that's when the weather could become an issue. The morning forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies with the possibility of rain, but thunderstorms could develop in the afternoon, which could suspend play. Scattered thunderstorms could continue into the night. Winds will be in the 5 to 10 mph range with gusts up to 14 mph. Sunday, June 15 (final round) Rain will remain a heavy possibility on championship day with showers in the morning with the chance of thunderstorms developing into the afternoon, possibly making it tough to get a full round of play in. The chance of rain is about 50%, and winds will be at 5 to 10 mph with potential gusts of 21 mph. The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NOAA predicts ‘above normal' Atlantic hurricane season. CT experts say outlook is a call to action.
Experts are predicting the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season to be 'above-normal' this year, as scientists say warm sea surface temperatures may lead to more frequent and intense storms, urging those along the East Coast to be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said the outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, predicts a 30% chance of a near-normal season, a 60% chance of an above-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season, according to officials. Hurricanes, fueled by warm ocean waters and thunderstorms, often form at sea and then move toward land where they can cause catastrophic damage and loss of life, according to Dr. Jennifer Marlon, senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. According to NOAA, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season produced 18 named storms. Of those, 11 became hurricanes and five strengthened into major hurricanes. Bob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESSThese boats broke from their moorings and were blown onto rocks in New London, Connecticut on Friday, Sept. 27, 1985, during Hurricane Gloria. Winds of more than 90 miles per hour battered Connecticut's coast during the storm, but damage was minimal. John Long / Hartford CourantScenes like this one, at Groton Long Point during Hurricane Gloria last Sept, may become more common in CT as the green house effect causes the sea level to rise. Michael McAndrews / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria's damage seen on the shoreline in Milford. Stephen Dunn / Hartford CourantHurricane Gloria hit the coast line hard sending dozens of pleasure boats up onto the railroad tracks looking like parallel parked cars in Stonington. Show CaptionBob Child / ASSOCIATED PRESS1 of 5Boats lie on the shore in Milford harbor on Sunday, Sept. 29, 1985, two days after Hurricane Gloria hit Connecticut. The same thing happened to boats all along the Connecticut more as they were torn from moorings by the hurricane winds in excess of 90 NOAA is forecasting 13 to 19 named storms this year with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are expected to reach hurricane strength, officials said. 'The projected above-normal activity is due to warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Atlantic (Ocean),' said Marlon. NOAA said that additional factors including weaker winds and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes, is another reason for the projection. All of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation. The higher heat on the ocean surface provides more energy to fuel storm development, while weaker winds allow the storms to develop without disruption, Marlon said. 'In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we've never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,' said NOAA's National Weather Service director Ken Graham. 'This outlook is a call to action. Be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you're ready before a storm threatens.' The last hurricane to make landfall in Connecticut was Category 1 hurricane Gloria in 1985 that brought heavy rainfall and winds of 74–95 miles per hour, according to NOAA. The commonly called 'storm of the century' killed at least six people, caused power outages for about 700,000 residents, and was considered the worst hurricane to hit Connecticut since 1938. Connecticut has been impacted by several strong tropical storms over the past few decades. Tropical Storm Irene impacted the state in August 2011. As a result of its 96 miles of coastline, some Connecticut towns are subject to storm surges during major weather events. While it was a hurricane initially, it weakened to a tropical storm by the time it hit the state. Hurricane Sandy hit Connecticut in 2012, but it was also not a hurricane by the time it reached the state. Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit the state in 2020, caused widespread power outages and over $50 million in damage. The names in the 2025 hurricane season are Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van, and Wendy, according to the National Hurricane Center. Recommendations from the National Weather Service include understanding whether your home is vulnerable to storm surge, flooding, or wind and this should be checked long before any storm might hit. Know your zone: Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the evacuation site website. Because of the coastline along Long Island Sound, Connecticut has multiple evacuation areas, data shows, Assemble Emergency Kit: Put together a basic emergency. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters. Have a Family Emergency Plan: Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the emergency plan webpage. Review insurance 'policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@


Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Americans Told to Stay Indoors in Three States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality alerts were in effect for three U.S. states on Monday morning, with officials cautioning that heightened levels of air pollution could present a health risk to certain members of the population. Sensitive groups, such as older adults, children, and those with respiratory conditions are at particular risk during periods of poor air quality, experts say. The National Weather Service (NWS) published alerts for Maine, Ohio, and New Hampshire. An alert for Maine warned that smoke from Canadian wildfires would linger in the state's Northern region through Sunday evening. Smoke from Canadian wildfires can be seen partially obscuring the skyline of downtown Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Smoke from Canadian wildfires can be seen partially obscuring the skyline of downtown Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Nick Ingram/AP Photo "The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects," it advised. "People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors," it added. This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.