Short-staffed NWS enters hurricane season in “uncharted territory.” Meteorologists share their concerns.

As the Atlantic hurricane season approaches, the National Weather Service (NWS) is grappling with significant staffing shortages, having lost over 10% of its workforce due to cuts initiated by the Trump administration to reduce government spending. This depletion, affecting approximately 550 employees within the NWS, raises concerns about the agency’s ability to effectively forecast and respond to an anticipated “above-normal” hurricane season, which may yield up to 19 named storms. Lawmakers and former agency leaders have warned of potentially catastrophic consequences if the agency cannot adequately manage its workload during this critical period.