US EditionNOAA losing key storm satellite
UNITED STATES, JUN 30 – Cutting off microwave data from three Defense Department satellites will reduce hurricane forecast accuracy by up to 50%, experts warn during an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.
- The US Department of Defense plans to cut off microwave data collected by three Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites by the end of June 2025, impacting NOAA forecasting.
- This decision follows a 2016 failure of the F-19 satellite and concerns about aging satellites, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and unclear government reasons for the cutoff.
- Experts warn the data loss will reduce microwave data by about half, hindering early storm detection, rapid intensification tracking, and accuracy in forecasting hurricane paths and intensity.
- Hurricane expert Michael Lowry warned that the loss of key satellite data will greatly hinder the accuracy of hurricane predictions this year and in the future, impacting millions of people living along vulnerable coastlines.
- The termination could weaken forecast accuracy during critical periods, but NOAA and meteorologists plan to rely on other data sources while a new microwave satellite is tested.
139 Articles
139 Articles
Hurricane forecasters are losing 3 key satellites ahead of peak storm season—meteorologist explains why it matters
About 600 miles off the west coast of Africa, large clusters of thunderstorms begin organizing into tropical storms every hurricane season. They aren't yet in range of Hurricane Hunter flights, so forecasters at the National Hurricane Center rely on weather satellites to peer down on these storms and beam back information about their location, structure and intensity.
The Conversation
Hurricane forecasters are losing 3 key satellites ahead of peak storm season − a meteorologist explains why it matters
Many coastal communities rely on satellite data to understand the risks as hurricanes head their way. Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty ImagesAbout 600 miles off the west coast of Africa, large clusters of thunderstorms begin organizing into tropical storms every hurricane season. They aren’t yet in range of Hurricane Hunter flights, so forecasters at the National Hurricane Center rely on weather satellites to peer down on these storms and beam bac…
The case against ending an essential NOAA hurricane satellite
The U.S. Department of Defense is planning to discontinue data from one of its satellites—data that plays a critical role in hurricane forecasting. Here’s why KPRC 2 Chief Meteorologist Anthony Yanez says it could set us back.
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