South Florida meteorologist warns viewers NWS staff shortages will impact his hurricane forecasts
A South Florida meteorologist warned viewers that National Weather Service (NWS) shortages will impact his forecasts.
In a segment that aired Tuesday on WTVJ, a local NBC television station, meteorologist John Morales talked about previous coverage of a hurricane in 2019, saying, '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.''
'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,' he added.
'Specifically, let's talk about the federal government cuts to the National Weather Service and to NOAA,' Morales said later. 'Did you know that Central and South Florida National Weather Service offices are currently basically 20 to 40 percent understaffed? From Tampa to Key West, including the Miami office, 20 to 40 percent understaffed.'
The Hill reported on Monday that the National Weather Service (NWS) was looking to rehire 126 people after expansive layoffs at the agency resulted in offices being understaffed.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which NWS is a part of, had previously fired hundreds of workers as part of an attempt to lessen the size of government.
Florida, like other states in the U.S. Southeast, is often at risk of hurricanes from the Atlantic. Hurricane season just started on Sunday.
'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,' NOAA said in an emailed statement to The Hill on Tuesday.
'Additionally, a targeted number of permanent, mission-critical field positions will soon be advertised under an exception to the Department-wide hiring freeze to further stabilize frontline operations.'
Updated at 9:48 p.m. EDT
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Iroquois County to retest warning sirens next week after sirens fail to sound
WATSEKA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Iroquois County EMA will be retesting all sirens across the county this upcoming Monday after the normal monthly test didn't go as planned. Coordinator for the county EMA Scott Anderson said in a press release Friday that following the regular monthly test of the warning sirens throughout the county, it was discovered that all the sirens — except for those in Watseka — failed to sound. As a result, all the sirens in the county will be re-tested between 10 a.m. and noon on June 9. NOAA weather radio stations coming back online after planned outage for NWS upgrades Additionally, Anderson said all residents need to remember that outdoor warning sirens are designed to be heard by those that are outside, not necessarily inside buildings or homes. He also recommends a number of other sources people can use to receive real-time warnings, including: NOAA Weather Radio: A national network that broadcasts continuous weather updates from the National Weather Service (NWS). Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Sent to mobile phones by authorized government agencies such as NWS. Mobile Weather Apps: These apps provide severe weather alerts and more information. Local Media: Important sources of official storm watch and warning information. Emergency Alert System (EAS): This distributes alerts through a number of different media channels. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sen. Moran tries to protect NWS meteorologists from federal hiring freezes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas congressman on Friday introduced legislation to exempt National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists from federal hiring freezes. U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) – both members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies – introduced the Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions and Storm Tracking (FORECAST) Act. Multiple cars damaged in fire on Aspiria campus in Overland Park If passed, it would exempt certain NWS employees from any executive order or memorandum imposing a hiring freeze. Click to read the full legislation. The roles included in the exemption include positions responsible for issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment and protecting life and property. Additionally, this legislation requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report after one year of enactment on staffing levels at the NWS for those covered positions. 'Staffing National Weather Service offices, particularly in rural parts of the country, is a constant challenge, and recent staffing shortages have led to some offices, including in Kansas, being unable to provide 24/7 weather forecasting,' Sen. Moran said in a news release. 'As we work to install new technology and modernize the National Weather Service, it is important the NWS is able to continuously fill critical public safety roles as they become vacant to make certain communities across the country receive timely, accurate weather data.' Sen. Peters said the bill would help protect 24/7 weather monitoring in the Upper Peninsula and ensure communities are kept informed and protected. 'We know that in the Upper Peninsula, weather can change on a dime,' Peters said. 'That's why we need a team of full-time meteorologists working around the clock to notify the public when extreme weather impacts the region.' Sen. Moran said he recently secured a national exemption from the federal hiring freeze to enable the NWS to hire meteorologists and weather forecasters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
When is the full moon in June? Strawberry moon in Indiana will be a sweet sight
The month of June is going to be a sweet feast for Indiana skywatchers. Not only can Hoosiers witness the Strawberry Moon but also the Milky Way, "the bright central bulge of our galaxy," writes NASA, which should be visible through August. Here are some quick facts about the Strawberry Moon that skywatchers can snack on as it soars across the heavens. Wednesday, June 11, 2025, is when the sweet Strawberry Moon shines in the night sky. The moon's phases in June are: According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, moonrise for the Indianapolis area will happen by roughly 10:09 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, crossing the meridian at 1:38 a.m. before setting at 6:01 a.m. Thursday. You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online. Story continues after photo gallery. Skies around Indianapolis are predicted to be mostly clear Wednesday night, June 11, with a low of around 60, according to an advanced forecast from the National Weather Service. Similar to the Pink Moon, June's Strawberry Moon takes its name from seasonal plant growth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Many ripening berries were ready to be harvested around this time in the northeastern United States. Other names for June's full moon from Native American tribes include the Birth Moon, Hot Moon, Blooming Moon, and the Green Corn Moon. The Milky Way can best be viewed somewhere far away from bright city lights. Beverly Shores, near Gary, is an International Dark Sky location and therefore an excellent place for stargazing. You can also travel to Kemil Beach at Indiana Dunes State Park and Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park in Michigan, which also are designated dark sky locations, according to DarkSky International. According to NASA, traces of the Milky Way will appear as a "faint, cloud-like band arching across the sky toward the south." If you plan on observing the night sky this month, writes NASA, keep the following dates in mind for June 2025: The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations. The full Buck Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, July 10, 2025. When is the next full moon?: When every full moon shines in 2025. Dates, times and the history behind each name.
