National Weather Service Cuts Back Weather Balloon Launches

Introduction to the Cuts

The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that it is eliminating or reducing weather balloon launches across multiple offices around the country. This comes in response to NOAA layoffs and a lack of staffing necessary to continue regular launches.

What You Need To Know

The National Weather Service is cutting back its weather balloon launches

• Data from weather balloon launches helps improve model forecasts
• Less data could harm forecast accuracy for severe, winter and tropical weather

Impact of Weather Balloon Launches

The NWS launches weather balloons twice daily from more than 100 upper air sites across the United States, Caribbean and Pacific Basin. These balloons reach up to 100,000 feet in the atmosphere with a radiosonde attached to each balloon.
A radiosonde is an instrument that measures atmospheric data, including temperature, dew point, relative humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed and direction. The weather data that a radiosonde collects is just one piece of the puzzle that goes into weather models to help improve forecasts.

Reduction in Launches

A press release from the NWS confirmed that it is temporarily suspending all weather balloon launches in Omaha, Neb., and Rapid City, S.D. due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing, effective immediately.
Along with eliminating launches from those two locations, the NWS is reducing its weather balloon launches down to one flight per day from multiple other sites, including Aberdeen, S.D., Grand Junction, Colo., Green Bay, Wis., Gaylord, Mich., North Platte, Neb. and Riverton, Wyo.

Previous Cuts

These cuts come in addition to NWS announcements earlier this year that it was reducing weather balloon launches in Albany, N.Y. and Gray, Maine because of staff shortages.
The NWS offices in Boulder, Colo. and Tallahassee, Fla. aren’t launching balloons because of a nationwide helium shortage, and the weather balloon facility on Morris Island in Chatham, Mass. has suspended launches because the facility has been closed due to coastal erosion.

Expert Opinion

Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay says, “these weather balloons may not seem important, but they are the basis for all the forecasts seen on apps, TV, everything from all weather sources. The more the better, we don’t need less data.”
“It might be hard to understand, but a weather balloon launched in Montana can help us forecast where a hurricane in the Caribbean might go,” Mike Clay adds.

Potential Impacts

It’s too soon to determine the impacts, but the reduction in launches across the Midwest and Great Plains is particularly concerning this time of year, as spring severe weather season ramps up in the coming months.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

Conclusion

The reduction in weather balloon launches by the National Weather Service is a concerning development, particularly during a time when accurate weather forecasting is crucial. The impacts of these cuts are still to be determined, but it is clear that they could harm forecast accuracy for severe, winter, and tropical weather.

FAQs

• Q: Why is the National Weather Service reducing weather balloon launches?
  A: The NWS is reducing weather balloon launches due to a lack of staffing and NOAA layoffs.
• Q: What is the impact of reducing weather balloon launches?
  A: Reducing weather balloon launches could harm forecast accuracy for severe, winter, and tropical weather.
• Q: How often does the NWS launch weather balloons?
  A: The NWS normally launches weather balloons twice daily from over 100 upper air sites.
• Q: What data do weather balloons collect?
  A: Weather balloons collect data on temperature, dew point, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and wind speed and direction.