Agri-Pulse reports:
The National Weather Service may temporarily reduce or suspend weather balloon launches at offices across the U.S. due to staffing challenges.
In a normal year, the agency would launch weather balloons twice a day at its sites. Now, launches may be reduced to one per day or dropped entirely. A notice issued by the agency says it’s “actively pursuing alternative sources of upper-air data and adjusting internal staffing and procedures to maintain continuity of service.”
Why it matters: Weather balloons are among the most reliable methods for collecting weather data.
By the way: The American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association are warning in a statement that the proposed elimination of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s research arm could reduce observational data collection and cause weather models and products to “stagnate.”
