US EditionMore Tornadoes and Fewer Meteorologists Make for a Dangerous Mix that's Worrying US Officials
- On a recent Friday night, employees at the National Weather Service's Jackson forecast office worked extended hours to closely track deadly tornado storms that resulted in nearly 20 fatalities.
- This surge was necessary because the 2024 tornado season, the second-busiest on record, exposed critical staffing gaps, with some offices above a 20% vacancy rate deemed unsafe by experts.
- Key weather centers such as Jackson, Louisville, and Wichita show vacancy rates of 25%, 29%, and 32%, respectively, while improved tornado prediction technology cannot substitute for the expertise of a well-rested staff.
- Rich Thompson, lead forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center, acknowledged that reductions in staffing have increased the challenges faced by local offices as they strive to fulfill all of their essential responsibilities.
- The combination of increasing tornado frequency and dwindling meteorologist numbers suggests that similar staffing pressures will likely recur, raising concerns about how the U.S. Braces for future severe weather events.
119 Articles
119 Articles
Cuts to federal weather staffing are leaving communities vulnerable to tornadoes
Tornadoes that tore through parts of Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia this weekend killed dozens, exposing deep vulnerabilities in the nation’s weather alert systems as hurricane season looms.Juliette Kayyem reports for The Atlantic.In short:Forty-two people died as tornadoes swept across Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia, highlighting the importance of fast and accurate weather alerts to save lives during rapidly developing disasters. The Nation…
More tornadoes, fewer meteorologists make for a dangerous mix worrying US officials
The United States is on track to have its second-busiest tornado year ever, and some former weather service veterans worry that overworked meteorologists and violent weather are a dangerous combination.
More tornadoes, fewer meteorologists make for dangerous mix that's worrying U.S. officials
As tornadoes popped up from Kansas to Kentucky, a depleted National Weather Service was in scramble mode. The weather office in Jackson, Kentucky, where deadly storms hit, has been closing nightly due to lack of staffing in the wake of…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
