Published 7 days ago • loading... • Updated 4 days ago

Staff cuts forced this forecast office to shut overnight. Then, a tornado hit.

On Friday, staff at the Jackson, Kentucky branch of the National Weather Service worked through the night to issue tornado warnings before deadly storms struck Pulaski and Laurel Counties.
The office had stopped routinely operating 24/7 due to severe staff shortages caused by federal personnel cuts under the Trump administration.
Jackson is one of at least four NWS offices nationwide with critically low staffing, facing a 31% meteorologist vacancy rate that complicates covering severe weather threats.
Tom Fahy, union legislative director, said shortages did not affect warning accuracy, while NOAA plans to transfer 155 meteorologists to understaffed offices including Jackson.
Spreading staff shortages could force more forecast offices to reduce or stop 24/7 operations, increasing risks of forecast misses during severe weather and hurricane seasons.

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NBC News

Lean Left

House Democrats will introduce legislation to 'save NOAA'

House Democrats plan to introduce legislation overnight that would prevent further Trump administration cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funding or staffing after severe storms across the country drew attention to staffing cuts in National Weather Service field offices.

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Spectrum News

Center

Amid tornado recovery, weather service union calls on Trump to restore staffing

The Jackson office has 13 employees and nine vacancies, the National Weather Service Employees Organization said.

4 days ago·United States

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WBAL-TV

+22 Reposted by 22 other sources

Center

Tornadoes expose staffing crisis at National Weather Service

The National Weather Service faces staffing shortages as tornadoes hit Kentucky, raising concerns about future severe weather preparedness.

5 days ago·Baltimore, United States

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MSNBC

Left

Kentucky governor praises federal response to tornado, downplaying cuts at NWS

After a deadly tornado Sunday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the National Weather Service hadn’t hampered his state’s ability to notify residents about the storm — but he expressed worries about the days ahead.

5 days ago·United States

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Latin Times

Lean Left

DOGE Cut Several Kentucky Weather Forecasters Just Weeks Before Tornado Came Barreling Through

Following DOGE-led staffing cuts to weather forecasters in Kentucky, a deadly tornado struck, raising questions about the government's cost-saving measures.

5 days ago·New York, United States

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Lexington Herald Leader

Center

Trump cuts to National Weather Service leave Kentucky offices understaffed

President Donald Trump’s cuts to the National Weather Service have left Kentucky’s three NWS offices in Jackson, Paducah and Louisville with low staff

6 days ago·Lexington, United States

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