What A Day Ex-NOAA Administrator On Trump's Staffing Cuts
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Jul 11, 2025 
Richard Spinrad, the former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shares critical insights on the tragic Texas floods and the consequences of staffing cuts at the National Weather Service. He discusses how these cuts hinder accurate weather predictions, potentially exacerbating disasters. Spinrad emphasizes the urgent need for public funding to ensure weather forecasting remains a vital public service, stressing the importance of effective emergency response in confronting future challenges.
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Challenges in Weather Forecasting
- Weather forecasting struggles with resolution and probability in predictions.
- Forecasters improve but public must interpret probabilistic forecasts carefully.
Flash Flood Warning Accuracy
- The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning with strong language early on July 4th.
- Exact rainfall prediction was off, but the warning communicated the critical risk adequately.
Staffing Cuts Impact Warning Response
- Staffing cuts left vacant emergency coordination roles affecting communication reliability.
- Warning coordination meteorologists ensure critical warnings are received and acted upon.