California's weather forecasting system is in trouble. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are facing deep cuts. These cuts could make it harder to predict and respond to dangerous weather events, like fires and floods. The cuts are part of a broader plan to reduce the workforce by about 15%. This means fe...
The White House has sent a budget draft to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The draft is for the fiscal year 2026. It suggests big changes to space-related activities. This includes the Geostationary Extended Observations program. This program is set to launch a new generation of weather satellites in the early 2030s. The budget draft wants t...
Solar storms are a big deal. They can mess with our power grids, GPS signals, and even satellites. Imagine a storm so strong it could cause a trillion-dollar disaster. That's what some experts are worried about. In 2024, a series of solar storms, known as the Gannon Storm, hit Earth. It was the first extreme geomagnetic event since 2003. While it was dramatic, it als...
The latest addition to the weather-watching family, GOES-19, is now fully operational. This satellite, part of the GOES-R series, has taken over the role of GOES East. It is now keeping a close eye on the Western Hemisphere from a whopping 22, 236 miles above the equator. This isn't GOES-19's first time sending back pictures. It started sharing preliminary images and...
The National Weather Service is facing a significant challenge. They have had to reduce the number of weather balloon launches. This means less data is being collected from the skies above the United States. The reason behind this? Budget cuts from the government. These cuts have led to hundreds of federal workers losing their jobs. About 10% of the workforce at the...
In the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a big deal. It's the main source of weather and climate information, both at home and abroad. But recently, NOAA has been hit with significant job cuts. More than 800 employees were let go in February alone, and more cuts are expected. This has raised serious concerns about the future...
The Department of Government Efficiency is planning to end the lease of a key NOAA facility in Maryland. This facility is crucial for weather forecasting across the United States. It is often referred to as the "nerve center" for weather predictions. The decision comes just as the tornado season is starting. This season typically sees about 70% of all U. S. tornadoes...
The recent dismissal of many employees from NOAA, the agency responsible for U. S. weather forecasts, has sparked concern among scientists. This move, part of a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce, could have serious consequences. Lives are at stake, especially during extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate chang...
In the vast landscape of federal agencies, there's one that often goes unnoticed but plays a huge role in our daily lives. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for keeping us safe from extreme weather, guiding ships through treacherous waters, and even managing our fisheries. It's like the silent guardian of our skies, seas, and l...
Imagine this: hundreds of dedicated scientists and experts suddenly lose their jobs. This wasn't some corporate downsizing. It was a government agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), saying goodbye to a big chunk of its workforce. These weren't just any employees; they were the folks who help us understand and predict weather patterns, cl...