NOAA Predicts Above-Normal US Hurricane Season Amid Budget Concerns

Hurricane Season Forecast

• 🎯 NOAA predicts an above-normal hurricane season for the US, with 13 to 19 named storms expected.
• ⚡ Of these, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, and 3 to 5 are predicted to be major hurricanes (Category 3 and above).
• 🗓️ The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st.

Staffing and Budget Concerns

• ⚠️ The National Weather Service (NWS), overseen by NOAA, faces worries about potential impacts from budget cuts under the Trump administration.
• 📉 Nearly 900 employees, over 7% of NOAA's workforce, have already been cut, with more job cuts planned.
• 🗣️ Despite these concerns, NWS Director Ken Graham stated that staffing and budget cuts will not affect forecasts or alerts.

Operational Preparedness

• 🛰️ Graham emphasized that the Miami Hurricane Center is fully staffed and utilizes multiple data sources, including satellites, ground reports, and hurricane hunter planes, in addition to weather balloons.
• ❓ Critics have warned that cuts could hinder the NWS's ability to launch weather balloons and track storms in crucial areas, but Graham assured operations would continue.

Previous Season and FEMA Involvement

• 📈 Last year's hurricane season was one of the costliest on record, with 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes.
• 💸 The 2024 storms resulted in an estimated $130 billion in losses and were attributed to 427 deaths.
• 🤝 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not have representatives at the briefing, a departure from past practices where they would join to discuss preparedness.