WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.580 Welcome to this edition of the Meteorology Matters 00:00:02.580 --> 00:00:05.259 podcast. Great to be here. If you enjoy discussions 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:08.279 like this one, remember you can follow meteorologist 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:10.960 Rob Jones. He's on Instagram at Meteorologist, 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:14.160 TikTok at TVMeteorologist. And YouTube as well. 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:16.239 Right, YouTube, follow Rob Jones Hurricane. You 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:18.280 can also find the Meteorology Matters podcast 00:00:18.280 --> 00:00:21.219 playlist there. Good stuff. So today we're diving 00:00:21.219 --> 00:00:24.230 into some, well. pretty significant shifts within 00:00:24.230 --> 00:00:27.109 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 00:00:27.269 --> 00:00:30.850 NOAA, and the National Weather Service too. Yes, 00:00:30.929 --> 00:00:33.530 especially with a potentially active storm season 00:00:33.530 --> 00:00:37.200 basically upon us. It's concerning timing. Exactly. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:40.280 There are indicators that staffing levels at 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.200 the National Weather Service are facing some, 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:44.439 let's say, considerable challenges. So putting 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:46.920 it mildly. We want to look at what this might 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:49.820 mean for the forecasts and warnings, you know, 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:52.759 the ones everyone relies on. Accuracy, timeliness, 00:00:52.899 --> 00:00:55.119 all of that. It's definitely a situation worth 00:00:55.119 --> 00:00:57.280 watching closely. It's not just one thing. It's 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.240 a combination of factors really squeezing the 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.380 agency. OK, so let's start with the staffing 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:04.719 itself. I read about a recent federal buyout 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.879 offer. That's right. A buyout was offered, and 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:11.219 the expectation is that at least 300 National 00:01:11.219 --> 00:01:14.379 Weather Service employees are leaving because 00:01:14.379 --> 00:01:17.700 of it. The deadline was just this past Thursday. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.560 300 people? That sounds like a lot on its own. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:22.959 But this isn't the only reason for vacancies, 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:26.060 is it? No, not at all. This is layered on top 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:28.140 of existing shortages. You've got retirements 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:31.040 happening naturally, plus vacancies from previous 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.420 buyouts or separations that just haven't been 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:35.659 filled. It's been an ongoing issue. So the Weather 00:01:35.659 --> 00:01:38.340 Service Director, Ken Graham, he's actually spoken 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:41.019 about this. He has. He indicated that the situation 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:42.980 is getting quite serious, potentially leaving 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:45.980 several forecast offices with maybe only seven 00:01:45.980 --> 00:01:48.859 meteorologists. Seven. What's the usual number? 00:01:49.069 --> 00:01:51.549 Well, ideally, you'd want something like 12 to 00:01:51.549 --> 00:01:54.209 15 meteorologists in a typical forecast office 00:01:54.209 --> 00:01:56.469 to cover everything, you know, 24 hours a day, 00:01:56.590 --> 00:01:58.670 seven days a week, especially during active weather. 00:01:58.810 --> 00:02:01.629 Wow. So seven instead of 15. That's basically 00:02:01.629 --> 00:02:05.329 half. The workload must be immense. It effectively 00:02:05.329 --> 00:02:07.829 means each person is potentially doing the work 00:02:07.829 --> 00:02:10.330 of almost two people. That leads to burnout, 00:02:10.870 --> 00:02:13.650 fatigue and frankly increases the risk of errors. 00:02:13.810 --> 00:02:16.150 And looking bigger picture, the entire agency 00:02:16.150 --> 00:02:19.789 size. It's shrunk considerably. Yeah, the numbers 00:02:19.789 --> 00:02:22.229 suggest the Weather Service is nearly 20 % smaller 00:02:22.229 --> 00:02:24.650 now than it was when President Donald Trump took 00:02:24.650 --> 00:02:27.550 office. 20%. That's a significant chunk of their 00:02:27.550 --> 00:02:30.110 workforce gone. It really is. Yeah. And that's 00:02:30.110 --> 00:02:32.270 why you're hearing concerns, serious concerns, 00:02:32.689 --> 00:02:34.930 from meteorologists still on the job and from 00:02:34.930 --> 00:02:36.949 public officials too. What are they most worried 00:02:36.949 --> 00:02:39.990 about? The fear is that these kinds of staff 00:02:39.990 --> 00:02:43.150 reductions could have, well, potentially deadly 00:02:43.150 --> 00:02:45.990 consequences when severe weather hits. Fewer 00:02:45.990 --> 00:02:48.789 people means less capacity to monitor constantly, 00:02:49.409 --> 00:02:51.810 issue warnings quickly, communicate effectively 00:02:51.810 --> 00:02:54.129 with emergency managers. So it's a chain reaction. 00:02:54.330 --> 00:02:56.129 Exactly. Everything gets stretched thinner. And 00:02:56.129 --> 00:02:58.849 are these shortages spread evenly or are some 00:02:58.849 --> 00:03:01.189 areas feeling it more? It seems to be hitting 00:03:01.189 --> 00:03:03.530 the central part of the country particularly 00:03:03.530 --> 00:03:07.810 hard. Offices like Kansas City, Omaha, Louisville, 00:03:08.129 --> 00:03:10.960 Des Moines, Grand Rapids. They're reportedly 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:13.460 facing the biggest staffing gaps. And those areas 00:03:13.460 --> 00:03:15.979 get a lot of severe weather, don't they? Tornadoes, 00:03:16.139 --> 00:03:18.199 big thunderstorms. Precisely. It's a concerning 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:20.819 concentration of shortages in a very active weather 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:23.300 region. So how are the folks still working there 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:26.699 coping more hours? Definitely more over time, 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:30.180 significantly more from what we understand. Fewer 00:03:30.180 --> 00:03:32.719 shifts are fully staffed, which is risky. Meaning 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:34.740 sometimes there just aren't enough people physically 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:37.099 there. Right. And you're also seeing managers 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:39.270 having to step back from their you know, management 00:03:39.270 --> 00:03:41.849 duties to actually work the forecast desk just 00:03:41.849 --> 00:03:44.090 to keep basic services running. That can't be 00:03:44.090 --> 00:03:45.770 sustainable in the long run. I saw a quote from 00:03:45.770 --> 00:03:48.210 a former meteorologist in charge. Ah, but what 00:03:48.210 --> 00:03:52.050 about stretching things? You can only stretch 00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:54.289 things so much. Eventually things start to break. 00:03:54.990 --> 00:03:57.689 That really paints a picture. It does. It highlights 00:03:57.689 --> 00:04:00.490 the intense pressure and the potential breaking 00:04:00.490 --> 00:04:04.009 points. Well, delayed warnings, maybe less specific 00:04:04.009 --> 00:04:07.050 forecasts, missing subtle clues in the data. 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.800 because people are just overloaded. Human error 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:11.960 becomes more likely too, I imagine. Absolutely. 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:15.319 When you're tired, working long hours under stress, 00:04:16.040 --> 00:04:18.459 mistakes can happen. And in weather forecasting, 00:04:19.060 --> 00:04:21.339 mistakes can have serious impacts. It's not just 00:04:21.339 --> 00:04:23.259 about the number of people either, right? I heard 00:04:23.259 --> 00:04:25.339 something about building maintenance issues. 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:28.610 Yes, that was a striking example. Reports mentioned 00:04:28.610 --> 00:04:31.149 a forecast office in Kentucky during recent deadly 00:04:31.149 --> 00:04:33.990 storms actually had to use portable toilets because 00:04:33.990 --> 00:04:37.110 of facility issues. Portable toilets. Trying 00:04:37.110 --> 00:04:39.670 to issue warnings for deadly weather. It sounds 00:04:39.670 --> 00:04:41.949 unbelievable, but it highlights the challenging 00:04:41.949 --> 00:04:43.769 conditions some staff are working under. It's 00:04:43.769 --> 00:04:46.370 not just about forecast models. It's about basic 00:04:46.370 --> 00:04:48.810 infrastructure sometimes. That's just... Rough. 00:04:49.149 --> 00:04:51.170 And these buyouts, they weren't just at the Weather 00:04:51.170 --> 00:04:53.490 Service, but across NOAA generally. Correct. 00:04:53.829 --> 00:04:55.889 The broader National Oceanic and Atmospheric 00:04:55.889 --> 00:05:00.189 Administration saw over 870 employees volunteer 00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:04.449 for buyouts as of last Wednesday. Over 870 across 00:05:04.449 --> 00:05:07.329 the whole agency. So this impacts fisheries, 00:05:07.790 --> 00:05:10.560 ocean research, everything NOAA does. Potentially, 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.800 yes. It raises questions about the agency's overall 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:17.019 capacity across its wide range of responsibilities. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:19.240 And is there a sense among the staff who are 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:22.300 left that this might not be the end of the cuts? 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:25.579 There's definitely anxiety reported among staff 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:28.060 about potential future cuts, possibly through 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:30.379 something called a reduction in force or RIF. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:34.240 That uncertainty just adds more stress. Now politically, 00:05:34.459 --> 00:05:36.879 the Trump administration's budget proposal for 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:39.550 next year. It mentioned NOAA, didn't it? It did. 00:05:39.689 --> 00:05:42.670 The proposal included a pretty significant cut 00:05:42.670 --> 00:05:46.350 to NOAA's overall budget, about 27%. 27 % cut 00:05:46.350 --> 00:05:49.269 overall, but the Weather Service itself. Interestingly, 00:05:49.449 --> 00:05:51.730 the proposal kept the National Weather Service's 00:05:51.730 --> 00:05:55.110 funding level flat. No cut, but no increase either. 00:05:55.310 --> 00:05:57.230 So the Weather Service budget stays the same, 00:05:57.410 --> 00:05:59.910 but other parts of NOAA face big cuts. That seems 00:05:59.910 --> 00:06:02.990 to be the plan outlined in that proposal. However... 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:05.660 It's crucial, as we said, that even with flat 00:06:05.660 --> 00:06:08.060 funding, the Weather Service was already understaffed 00:06:08.060 --> 00:06:10.779 before these latest 300 departures. Right. So 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:13.339 flat funding with fewer people still means doing 00:06:13.339 --> 00:06:16.620 more with less or maybe doing less, period. Exactly. 00:06:16.740 --> 00:06:18.980 It still poses major challenges for maintaining 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:21.319 the level of service people expect and need. 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:24.120 OK, so given these staffing issues, what are 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.600 the potential direct impacts on the weather services 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:29.779 we actually receive? Well, a memo surfaced. obtained 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:32.360 by the Washington Post, outlining potential service 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:35.839 cutbacks. One big one is weather balloon launches. 00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:38.360 The weather balloons? I see those mentioned sometimes. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.560 Why are they so important? They're absolutely 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.040 critical. They launch twice a day from 92 sites 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.500 across the U .S. They carry instruments called 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:48.439 radio sons way up into the atmosphere. What do 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:51.439 those instruments measure? Temperature, pressure, 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:54.699 humidity, wind speed, and direction. Basically, 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.860 giving us a vertical profile of the atmosphere. 00:06:57.019 --> 00:06:59.199 It's fundamental data that goes directly into 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:01.560 the computer weather models. Ah, so the models 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:04.079 need that data to make accurate predictions? 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:06.860 Precisely. It's also vital for aviation safety. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:10.199 Without that 3D atmospheric data, the forecasts 00:07:10.199 --> 00:07:13.259 just aren't as good. You lose resolution, maybe 00:07:13.259 --> 00:07:15.879 miss developing features. And are we already 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:18.459 seeing fewer launches? Yes, there have already 00:07:18.459 --> 00:07:20.800 been instances, especially in the Northern Plains 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.360 and Rockies, where launches have been limited 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:26.639 or even skipped entirely due to staffing or other 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:30.379 issues. Less data means potentially less reliable 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:33.180 forecasts downstream. That makes sense. I also 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:35.480 heard about a directive possibly reducing the 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:37.879 number of meteorologists on duty during quiet 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:40.759 times. That's right. A Commerce Department directive 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.379 floated the idea of having just a single meteorologist 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:46.220 working during quiet weather periods if vacancy 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:49.209 rates climb. Just one person covering everything. 00:07:49.370 --> 00:07:51.949 The initial memo even linked higher vacancy rates, 00:07:52.189 --> 00:07:55.389 like 15%, to reducing balloon launches and maybe 00:07:55.389 --> 00:07:58.250 even suspending them at 35 % vacancy. Suspending 00:07:58.250 --> 00:08:00.790 balloon launches? That sounds drastic. It does. 00:08:01.170 --> 00:08:02.910 Now there was an update that sort of walked that 00:08:02.910 --> 00:08:05.430 back slightly, encouraging launches to continue 00:08:05.430 --> 00:08:07.790 with one meteorologist as long as a second person 00:08:07.790 --> 00:08:09.850 is available just for the prep work. But still, 00:08:10.029 --> 00:08:12.610 it points towards much leaner staffing, even 00:08:12.610 --> 00:08:14.870 around the clock. Definitely a sign of trying 00:08:14.870 --> 00:08:17.509 to operate with fewer resources, being stretched 00:08:17.509 --> 00:08:20.490 thin 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And it 00:08:20.490 --> 00:08:23.790 wasn't just balloons and staffing levels. Something 00:08:23.790 --> 00:08:26.329 about language translation, too. Yeah, this is 00:08:26.329 --> 00:08:29.629 another concerning point. A contract for automatically 00:08:29.629 --> 00:08:32.250 translating weather service warnings into Spanish 00:08:32.250 --> 00:08:35.269 has apparently lapsed. It wasn't renewed. So 00:08:35.269 --> 00:08:37.970 no more automatic Spanish translations. It seems 00:08:37.970 --> 00:08:40.970 that way, which feels like a step backward, honestly. 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:43.460 There had been efforts to improve multilingual 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:46.460 communication, especially after past disasters 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:49.779 showed how crucial it is to reach everyone. Absolutely. 00:08:50.059 --> 00:08:52.639 Getting safety info out in multiple languages 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.419 seems essential. Losing that capability potentially 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:57.639 leaves a large group of people more vulnerable 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.360 because they might not get timely warnings in 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:02.590 a language they understand. That's really unfortunate. 00:09:02.669 --> 00:09:04.769 And there was almost a major IT problem, too. 00:09:04.889 --> 00:09:08.149 Yes, a very close call. In late March, right 00:09:08.149 --> 00:09:10.149 when some dangerous storms were brewing, they 00:09:10.149 --> 00:09:13.450 nearly lost access to what was described as a 00:09:13.450 --> 00:09:16.350 cornerstone IT system. Cornerstone. So, like, 00:09:16.429 --> 00:09:18.970 really important. Sounds like it. The system 00:09:18.970 --> 00:09:22.649 used for processing Wego data was due to a contract 00:09:22.649 --> 00:09:24.809 issue that apparently got resolved literally 00:09:24.809 --> 00:09:27.389 at the last minute. Wow. I'm maddened losing 00:09:27.389 --> 00:09:30.730 that system right before a severe weather outbreak. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.600 It highlights the kind of background vulnerabilities 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:36.059 and pressures the agency is dealing with beyond 00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:38.539 just the frontline forecasting staff. It really 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:40.960 sounds like the dedication of the folks working 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.740 there is being tested from all sides. Absolutely. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.399 And these immediate pressures, the staffing, 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.799 the balloons, they're happening while there are 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:51.220 also big questions about the future of the research 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:53.480 that actually improves forecasting, right? These 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:56.120 long term threats. Yes. And this could be the 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:59.149 most damaging part in the long run. The administration's 00:09:59.149 --> 00:10:02.350 proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 includes 00:10:02.350 --> 00:10:05.230 a plan to completely eliminate NOAA's Oceanic 00:10:05.230 --> 00:10:08.750 and Atmospheric Research Office. OAR. Eliminate 00:10:08.750 --> 00:10:11.029 it. The entire research office. That's the proposal. 00:10:11.470 --> 00:10:14.049 It would mean closing its 10 research labs and 00:10:14.049 --> 00:10:16.669 also shutting down the 16 affiliated cooperative 00:10:16.669 --> 00:10:19.330 institutes, which are partnerships, often with 00:10:19.330 --> 00:10:21.440 universities. Where would the research go? The 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:23.559 plan says remaining research efforts would be 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:25.820 sort of scattered, moved into other NOAA departments, 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:28.980 but essentially all the dedicated weather, climate, 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:32.240 and ocean labs would close. That sounds devastating 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.940 for the science side of things. It would be a 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:36.700 massive blow. The American Meteorological Society, 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:39.120 the AMS, and the National Weather Association, 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:42.679 the NWA, put out a joint statement. expressing 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:45.440 extreme concern. What did they say? They said 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:48.320 this would, and I'm paraphrasing here, drastically 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:51.419 undercut the scientific backbone and the workforce 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:54.200 needed for the accurate forecasts and warnings 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:57.120 we depend on. With potentially disastrous consequences. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.740 Yes, for public safety and the economy. They 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:01.500 also pointed out there wasn't much opportunity 00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:03.899 for feedback on this decision, suggesting it 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:06.240 was maybe rushed. What kind of research comes 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:08.519 out of these labs that we might lose? Can you 00:11:08.519 --> 00:11:11.120 give some examples? Oh, fundamental stuff. They 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:13.159 highlighted the development of the National Doppler 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:16.000 Radar Network, NECAXRAD, that came from NOAA 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:19.059 research. Our main tool for seeing storms. Exactly. 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:21.940 Also, the creation and constant improvement of 00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:23.860 the computer weather models the National Weather 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:26.419 Service relies on every single day. Those models 00:11:26.419 --> 00:11:28.539 need continuous research to get better. Okay, 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.639 so radar and the forecast models, what else? 00:11:31.870 --> 00:11:34.970 The NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft program, those 00:11:34.970 --> 00:11:38.009 planes flying into storms, that capability stems 00:11:38.009 --> 00:11:40.950 from NOAA research. Gathering that critical hurricane 00:11:40.950 --> 00:11:44.090 data. Right. And models that track airborne hazards 00:11:44.090 --> 00:11:47.350 think wildfire smoke, toxic plumes, volcanic 00:11:47.350 --> 00:11:51.000 ash. That's OAR work, too. Things we've seen 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:53.220 become more and more important recently. Definitely. 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:55.580 Even things like the system that warns about 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:59.220 low oxygen hypoxia in the Great Lakes or the 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:01.620 real -time tsunami monitoring system. Tsunami 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:04.100 monitoring too. Wow. Yes. And the systems that 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:06.960 help predict El Nino for seasonal forecasts or 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:10.200 manage water reservoirs. Plus all the fundamental 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:12.500 climate modeling and monitoring networks. It's 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:15.379 a huge portfolio. So if this research stops or 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:19.019 is severely curtailed, the tools that the forecasters 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:22.370 use will just Stagnate. That's the fear. Forecasts 00:12:22.370 --> 00:12:24.529 might stop improving or even get worse over time 00:12:24.529 --> 00:12:26.850 as the science stalls. Observational data could 00:12:26.850 --> 00:12:29.490 decrease. Outreach could suffer. University research 00:12:29.490 --> 00:12:31.309 funding would plummet. It's a ripple effect. 00:12:31.529 --> 00:12:33.389 The AMS made a point about the cost, didn't they? 00:12:33.649 --> 00:12:35.610 Something about coffee. Yeah, they put it quite 00:12:35.610 --> 00:12:38.669 starkly. They said, no research costs every American 00:12:38.669 --> 00:12:41.330 citizen less than a cup of coffee per year. Less 00:12:41.330 --> 00:12:43.889 than a cup of coffee. But provides massive returns 00:12:43.889 --> 00:12:46.889 in safety and economic benefits by improving 00:12:46.889 --> 00:12:50.399 forecasts and warnings. It really frames the 00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:52.679 value proposition. That's a powerful way to put 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:55.740 it. And because of these concerns, both the AMS 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:58.580 and NWA are urging people, if they're concerned, 00:12:59.059 --> 00:13:01.059 to contact their elected representatives and 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:03.860 share their views on these proposed cuts. So, 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.600 wrapping this up, it's clear we're looking at 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.779 some really significant changes potentially affecting 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:10.120 how we monitor and predict weather. Yeah, the 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.580 combination of the immediate staffing crunch 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:15.379 of the Weather Service and these proposed deep 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:18.379 cuts to NOAA's research arm. it raises serious 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.620 questions. Questions about the future reliability 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:23.379 of forecasts, warnings, and ultimately public 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:25.799 safety. It seems crucial to stay informed about 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:27.480 this. Absolutely. These aren't small tweaks. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.399 They could be fundamental shifts. We definitely 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.860 encourage listeners to keep following this story, 00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:34.720 stay informed, and perhaps, as suggested, reach 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:36.539 out to your representatives with your thoughts. 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:39.240 Your voice can matter on issues like this. And 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.440 for more discussions like this, and to stay updated, 00:13:41.860 --> 00:13:45.009 remember to follow meteorologist Rob Jones. Instagram 00:13:45.009 --> 00:13:48.950 Meteorologist, TikTok TV Meteorologist, and YouTube 00:13:48.950 --> 00:13:51.190 Rob Jones Hurricane, where you'll also find the 00:13:51.190 --> 00:13:53.250 Meteorology Matters podcast playlist. Thanks 00:13:53.250 --> 00:13:55.470 for tuning in. Thank you for joining us for this 00:13:55.470 --> 00:13:57.690 edition of the Meteorology Matters podcast.