60-Second Science Is the National Weather Service Ready for an Extreme Summer?
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Jun 6, 2025 
Andrea Thompson, Senior Sustainability Editor at Scientific American, dives into the crucial work of the National Weather Service (NWS) as it faces alarming staff cuts during a peak season for extreme weather. She discusses how funding reductions threaten essential forecasting and emergency alerts, and the dire implications of losing expert knowledge. Thompson highlights the agency's immense economic value across various sectors and raises concerns about its future capability to navigate increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
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NWS: Backbone of U.S. Forecasts
- The National Weather Service (NWS) provides all weather forecasts for the U.S.
- It collects weather data, runs forecast models, and issues nationwide weather predictions continuously.
Critical Staffing Shortages Hit NWS
- Staffing cuts at the National Weather Service reached about 19% below ideal, worsening from 5% before.
- Some offices ended up 40% understaffed, coinciding with high-risk weather seasons like tornadoes and hurricanes.
Prepare for Night Tornadoes
- People in tornado-prone areas should keep weather radios and cell alerts activated at night.
- These devices help overcome the increased danger from nighttime tornadoes when people are often asleep.