Miami Chief Meteorologist Warns Viewers Trump's Cuts Could Affect Their Safety
Morales said that the 'sledgehammer attacks on science' and cuts at the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would mean he wouldn't be able to accurately predict hurricanes.
Urging the Miami NBC owned station's viewers to call their Senators to stop the cuts, Morales said the cuts could have a "a multigenerational impact on science in this country.'
In his blog post on the station website, Morales said the cuts come at a bad time for coastal dwellers, 'Never have we faced the combustible mix of a lack of meteorological data and the less accurate forecasts that follow, with an elevated propensity for the rapidly intensifying hurricanes of the manmade climate change era.'
Am I worried? You bet I am! And so are hundreds of other scientists, including all living former U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) directors, who fear a "needless loss of life" as a result of the loss of staff and resources at NWS brought on since January.
Central and southern Florida's NWS offices are currently 19 to 39 percent understaffed. While that might be barely enough on a sunny day, long stretches of impending severe weather-like a hurricane-could lead to mistakes by tired skeleton crews can only work so many back-to-back shifts. Across the country, less data is being collected by fewer weather balloon launches as a result of the staff shortages.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) isn't facing such a severe scarcity of employees. But there are critical departments linked to NHC's mission that have been seriously impacted. Namely, NOAA's Hurricane Hunters saw two flight directors and one electronic engineer terminated in late February.
Hurricane flights also include the Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. But should NOAA be unable to fly as many missions, there is a real risk of hurricane specialists occasionally "flying blind.'Morales started his career at WLTV in Miami, where he served as chief meteorologist from 1991 through 2002. From 2003 through 2008 he served as chief meteorologist for WSCV Telemundo 51. While there, he became the first Latino to substitute as meteorologist on NBC's Weekend Today show, and did so multiple times. In 2009, Morales became chief meteorologist for NBC's Miami station WTVJ.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Americans Told Not to Drink Coffee in 11 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans were told to cut out coffee as heat-related warnings took effect across 11 states on Monday, and the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted "dangerously hot conditions" in some parts of the U.S. The NWS advised avoiding drinking alcohol and caffeine, which can speed up dehydration. Instead, it suggested drinking plenty of water or electrolyte-filled sports drinks, using sunscreen, and wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Why It Matters According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, especially in older adults, young children and those with chronic medical conditions. Symptoms may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea. The CDC says more than 700 people die each year in the U.S. because of extreme heat. Additionally, rising temperatures can worsen ground-level ozone pollution, which presents additional health risks. What To Know Extreme heat warnings—which the NWS issues when "extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring"—were in place for northwest and southeast California, southern Nevada, and southwest Oregon, as well as parts of Arizona and Utah. For California and Oregon, the NWS said high temperatures in the triple digits, including up to 110 degrees in western Siskiyou County's valleys would be possible. Temperatures around 110 degrees would also be possible in Utah's lower Washington County and Zion National Park. In Arizona, the NWS said lower elevations of the Grand Canyon could see daytime temperatures up to 115 degrees, while Las Vegas, Nevada, could expect highs between 110 and 115. Death Valley, often referred to as the hottest place on Earth, was forecast to see highs between 120 and 125. Meanwhile, less severe heat advisories had been issued for parts of Washington, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Georgia. Heat index values, which reflect how hot it feels when humidity is taken into account, could hit triple digits in many of these areas, the NWS said. What People Are Saying NWS Eureka, California said on X, Friday: "Hot temperatures are forecast for the interior in the coming days. Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings have been issued across the interior portions of the area. Slightly cooler (but still hot!) temperatures are possible by Tuesday." NWS Tallahassee, Florida said on X, Monday: "5 a.m. ET July 14, 2025: A Heat Advisory is in effect this afternoon for all of our Florida counties and portions of southern Georgia. Heat Indices are forecast to climb to between 108° to 112° in these areas with 104° to 107° elsewhere with highs between 94°-98°." What Happens Next At the time of writing, the latest extreme heat warning was in place until Wednesday evening. Regular forecast updates are issued by the NWS on its website and social media channels.
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Texas Flooding: NWS Warns New ‘Dangerous Situation' Is Unfolding
The National Weather Service (NWS) for San Antonio warned that a "dangerous situation is occurring" in areas of southern Texas as heavy rain pours and even more is on the way. Affected areas include northern Uvalde, eastern Real, western Bandera, and southwest Kerr Counties, the NWS radar station said. Two to 4.78 inches of rain had fallen in the previous four hours said the alert at 4:37 a.m. local time on Monday, July 14. "More heavy rain is on the way. Flooding is already happening," NWS San Antonio said. This weather radar map from shows the situation across the area. It comes after catastrophic flash flooding in and around Kerrville killed at least 132 people when the Guadalupe River surged rapidly amid heavy rain and burst its banks, sweeping whole areas away. Crews are still searching for survivors, but were stopped on Sunday, July 13, by fresh heavy rains the the threat of flooding. They were due to resume the search and rescue operations on Monday. It was the first time search efforts for victims of the July Fourth floods were stopped due to severe weather. Authorities believe more than 160 people may still be missing in Kerr County alone, and 10 more in neighboring areas. In Kerrville, where local officials have come under scrutiny over whether residents were adequately warned about the rising water in the early morning hours of July 4, authorities went door-to-door to some homes after midnight early Sunday to alert people that flooding was again possible. Authorities also pushed phone alerts to those in the area. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press. Related Articles Austin Housing Market Given Ominous WarningDonald Trump Wants FEMA 'Remade,' Not Eradicated-DHS SecretaryNew Disturbance in the Gulf Could Hit Florida in DaysFlash Flooding Suspends Texas Search and Rescue Operations 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
.png&w=3840&q=100)
Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
A brewing tropical system in North Florida prompts flood watch in South Florida
South Florida could see some street flooding Monday and Tuesday, thanks to a potential tropical system brewing near the north end of the state. The Miami office of the National Weather Service called for a flood watch — when there's a chance of flooding but it's not yet happening — for Monday afternoon and Tuesday in urban southeast Florida. 'Regardless of how the disturbance evolves, widespread 1-3' of rain are expected across South Florida between today and Thursday morning, with a reasonable worst case scenario for isolated locations of 5-7' or more,' the NWS said early Monday. The heaviest of those rains are expected Monday afternoon through late evening. The moisture sparking all that rain is attached to a low-pressure system drifting off the northeast coast of Florida this weekend. The National Hurricane Center predicts it will cross the state in the next day or so and form in the Gulf around Tuesday — potentially as a tropical depression. As of Monday morning, the NHC gave the system a 30% chance of developing in the next seven days and a 10% chance of strengthening in the next day. For now, weather models continue to show the system developing into a weak and broad depression toting plenty of rain. 'The amount of development will probably depend on how far offshore it stays,' Andy Hazelton, an associated scientist at the University of Miami, posted on X. 'I think it's worth keeping an eye on trends for this one..' A very similar setup last week led to the third named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Chantal, which came ashore in North Carolina with deadly flooding that claimed several lives. The next name on the list is Dexter.
