NOAA delays the cutoff of key satellite data for hurricane forecasting
Meteorologists and scientists warned of severe consequences last week when NOAA said, in the midst of this year's hurricane season, that it would almost immediately discontinue key data collected by three weather satellites that the agency jointly runs with the Defense Department.
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's microwave data gives key information that can't be gleaned from conventional satellites. That includes three-dimensional details of a storm, what's going on inside of it and what it is doing in the overnight hours, experts say.
The data was initially planned to be cut off on June 30 'to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk,' NOAA's announcement said. The agency now says it's postponing that until July 31. Peak hurricane season is usually from mid-August to mid-October.
NOAA didn't immediately respond to a message seeking more details about the reason for the delay. The Navy confirmed the new date and said only that the "program no longer meets our information technology modernization requirements.'
NOAA — which has been the subject of hefty Department of Government Efficiency cuts this year — said Friday the satellite program accounts for a 'single dataset in a robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools' in the National Weather Service's portfolio.
The agency's 'data sources are fully capable of providing a complete suite of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve,' a spokesperson said.
But Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi told The Associated Press on Friday that detecting the rapid intensification, and more accurately predicting the likely path, of storms is critical as climate change worsens the extreme weather experienced across the globe.
'Not only are we losing the ability to make better intensification forecasts, we are also losing the ability to predict accurately where a tropical cyclone could be going, if it's in its development stages,' Alessi said. "This data is essential.
'On the seasonal forecasting front, we would see the effects," he added, "but also on the long-term climate change front, we now are losing an essential piece to monitoring global warming.'
___
Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.
___
Read more of AP's climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment
___
The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
New NOAA document spells out further deep Trump cuts
A new NOAA document sheds further light on the Trump administration's proposed cuts and changes for the weather and climate agency. Why it matters: The proposed budget would gut federal climate research efforts and spending at a critical moment in the fight to understand and address human-driven climate change. Driving the news: Most notably, the proposal would eliminate NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which performs and coordinates climate research. Some of OAR's functions would be transferred to the National Weather Service, but others would be cancelled. "The FY 2026 budget eliminates all funding for climate, weather, and ocean Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes," reads the document. "It also does not fund Regional Climate Data and Information, Climate Competitive Research, the National Sea Grant College Program, Sea Grant Aquaculture Research, or the National Oceanographic Partnership Program." Zoom in: NOAA would also "no longer support climate research grants," the proposal adds. What they're saying: " With that statement, the administration signals its intent to have NOAA, arguably the world's leading oceanic and atmospheric governmental organization, completely abandon climate science," writes meteorologist and former NOAA official Alan Gerard. The big picture: The new details come amid broader Trump administration efforts to slash federal spending on climate research, renewable energy subsidies, electric cars and other fields and technologies widely seen as necessary to our understanding of — and adaptation to — climate change. The budget would also shutter Hawai'i's Mauna Loa laboratory, CNN notes, where decades of atmospheric CO2 measurements have shown evidence of anthropogenic climate change. NOAA referred questions to the White House, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
When is the next full moon? July 2025's Buck Moon is coming soon
Summer is officially in full swing and with it comes a feast of astronomical events for enthusiastic stargazers and casual observers alike. Eclipses, meteor showers and opportunities for planet viewing are among the space phenomena we can expect to see in the coming months, with July's full moon coming up next on the list. Like other full moons throughout the year, July's has a nickname, the "Buck Moon," believed to have been originally conceived by the indigenous peoples of North America. Hoping to catch a glimpse? Here's what to know. Stargazing spectacles of summer 2025: Full moons, meteor showers and eclipses When is July's full moon? July's full moon, often called the "Buck Moon," will occur on July 10, 2025. Why is it called a 'Buck Moon?' Like other colloquial names for moon phases and astrological events, the "Buck Moon" is named after a significant natural phenomenon that happens around the time it appears full in the sky. The term likely originated with local native American tribes, according to the Farmers' Almanac. July's full moon coincides with the time during which the antlers of male deer, known as bucks, are growing after their annual shed. While they begin sprouting in spring, they are at the peak of the process during this time, growing as fast as one-fourth of an inch per day, or one-and-a-half inches per week during this period. What are the names of other full moons throughout the year? According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, other popular nicknames for monthly full moons include: What's the best way to see the Buck Moon? A full moon can be seen clearly with the naked eye. To see the Buck Moon, stargazers can look toward the southeast when the sun goes down. Tim Brothers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology technical Instructor and observatory manager, previously told the USA TODAY Network that, like with any case of stargazing, you can see much more clearly with a good telescope or a pair of binoculars.
CNET
3 hours ago
- CNET
Aurora Borealis May Hit These 16 States Over the Next Two Days
Alongside fireworks and drone shows, people in select parts of the US will have another excuse to look up at the sky this week. The sun has graced Earth with another round of solar material, which will interact with our atmosphere and make sections of the sky glow. Of course, we're talking about the aurora borealis, and it'll be visible in 16 states on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Of the two days, Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will be your best shot. The Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a Kp 5 magnetic storm that's scheduled to hit over six hours starting late Monday evening. The K-Index measures the horizontal impact of geomagnetic storms, and a Kp 5 rating results in what NOAA calls a "moderate" aurora. Things will calm down a bit Wednesday night going into Thursday morning, with the aurora pulling back a bit and being less visible unless you're on the northern border with Canada. NOAA is forecasting a Kp 4 magnetic storm that night. NOAA predicts the northern lights reaching into the US on Tuesday and Wednesday. NOAA Which states could see the aurora borealis? Per the Space Weather Prediction Center, Tuesday night's aurora will be visible in Washington state, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the northernmost sections of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and most of Maine. Alaska and Canada will have the best views by a wide margin, with the entire state of Alaska getting coverage. Technically, there will also be a slice of Oregon, putting the full number at 16, but unless you live on the northeastern tip, you likely won't see anything. Much like Earth's weather, space weather prediction can be hit or miss. So, if you're in any of the above states, it's worth taking a look if you're up that late. It may be slightly stronger or weaker than forecasted, which will affect how far south the northern lights reach. It won't be as strong as the epic show we saw in May 2024. Tips on viewing the northern lights The standard space viewing tips all apply here. You'll get a better view if you get away from the city and suburbs to avoid light pollution. Weather will play a role as well, since clouds will obfuscate the view. If you attempt to photograph the aurora, we recommend using long exposure times to give your camera more time to soak in the light. Other than that, you'll want to look toward the northern horizon to give yourself the best chance at a good view since that's where the northern lights originate.
