At least two offices of the National Weather Service have said they are delaying or skipping sending staff into the field to survey damage from this week’s severe weather, a key step that meteorologists usually use to confirm whether or not a tornado has struck.
On Wednesday night, the Weather Service office in Louisville, Ky., said in a statement to local news organizations that it would be unable to do storm surveys because of the active threat of severe weather, a concern that was echoed on Thursday by Justin Gibbs, the meteorologist in charge of the Paducah, Ky., office, who said the ongoing rain and flooding would slow down the survey process.
The statement from the Louisville office also cited a “lack of available staffing” as one of its reasons, prompting some to question whether the Weather Service, which has faced significant staffing cuts under the Trump administration, was able to perform its mission.
In February, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is the parent agency of the Weather Service, cut hundreds of employees, and more are expected. Last month, forecasters temporarily reduced balloon launches at a handful of sites, eliminating some of the data that produces weather forecast models. Officials have declined to speculate on future impacts.
Ryan Sharp, the acting meteorologist in charge in Louisville, said his office was focused on addressing the flood concerns and the ongoing severe threats. The statement, he said, was intended to indicate that some of the staff had taken leave for spring break, and he added that those employees have since returned to work.
Judson Jones is a meteorologist and reporter for The Times who forecasts and covers extreme weather. More about Judson Jones
Camille Baker is a news assistant working for The Times’s Data team, which analyzes important data related to weather and elections. More about Camille Baker
Amy Graff is a Times reporter covering weather, wildfires and earthquakes. More about Amy Graff
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