South Florida meteorologist warns viewers NWS staff shortages will impact his hurricane forecasts

A South Florida meteorologist warned viewers that National Weather Service (NWS) shortages will impact his forecasts.

In a segment that aired Tuesday on WTVJ, a local NBC television station, meteorologist John Morales talked about previous coverage of a hurricane in 2019, saying, “confidently, I went on TV, and I told you, ‘It’s going to turn. You don’t need to worry; it is going to turn.’”

“And I am here to tell you, that I am not sure I can do that this year, because of the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general,” he added.

“Specifically, let’s talk about the federal government cuts to the National Weather Service and to NOAA,” Morales said later. “Did you know that Central and South Florida National Weather Service offices are currently basically 20 to 40 percent understaffed? From Tampa to Key West, including the Miami office, 20 to 40 percent understaffed.”

The Hill reported on Monday that the National Weather Service (NWS) was looking to rehire 126 people after expansive layoffs at the agency resulted in offices being understaffed.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which NWS is a part of, had previously fired hundreds of workers as part of an attempt to lessen the size of government.

Florida, like other states in the U.S. Southeast, is often at risk of hurricanes from the Atlantic. Hurricane season just started on Sunday.

“NOAA leadership is taking steps to address those who took a voluntary early retirement option. NWS continues to conduct short-term Temporary Duty assignments (TDYs), and is in the process of conducting a series of Reassignment Opportunity Notices (RONs) to fill roles at NWS field locations with the greatest operational need,” NOAA said in an emailed statement to The Hill on Tuesday.

“Additionally, a targeted number of permanent, mission-critical field positions will soon be advertised under an exception to the Department-wide hiring freeze to further stabilize frontline operations.”

Updated at 9:48 p.m. EDT

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