Two National Weather Service offices in California will no longer operate around the clock, impacting over seven million people in the Central Valley. This change, confirmed April 17 by the San Francisco Chronicle, is part of a broader reduction in weather service operations due to federal budget cuts under the Trump administration.
The Sacramento office will reduce its services, including answering public phone lines and issuing certain forecasts. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, staffing limitations have forced these changes, with similar reductions expected nationwide. The National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), face significant budget cuts, which could further degrade weather forecasting capabilities.
Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist, expressed concerns about the impact of these cuts, stating, “The cracks are really now starting to show.” He warned that further budget reductions could be “monumentally catastrophic.” The staffing shortages have already led to a suspension of weather balloon launches at selected sites, decreasing essential data collection.
U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren criticized the administration’s actions, emphasizing the importance of the weather service’s role in public safety. She urged President Trump to cease targeting the agency, stating that the cuts could put people in harm’s way.
Currently, the Sacramento office will only provide condensed daily forecast discussions and limit overnight staffing. The office’s social media presence will also be reduced, directing the public to its website for real-time updates.
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