Experts say US weather forecasts will worsen as DOGE cuts balloon launches

With massive job cuts, the National Weather Service is reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations. Meteorologists and former agency leaders say it will degrade the accuracy of forecasts just as severe weather season kicks in. They call it a mistake, saying the normally twice-daily launches of weather balloons in about 100 locations provide a necessary piece of information that forecasters use to figure out what the weather will be and how dangerous it can get. The balloons soar 100,000 feet in the air with sensors that measure temperature, dew point, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. With massive job cuts, the National Weather Service is reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations. Meteorologists and former agency leaders say it will degrade the accuracy of forecasts just as severe weather season kicks in. They call it a mistake, saying the normally twice-daily launches of weather balloons in about 100 locations provide a necessary piece of information that forecasters use to figure out what the weather will be and how dangerous it can get. The balloons soar 100,000 feet in the air with sensors that measure temperature, dew point, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction.  AP Technology and Science