Tornado Outbreaks Strike As Weather Office Vacancies Rise \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Nearly half of National Weather Service offices now operate with critical staff shortages, with 55 of 122 field stations showing vacancy rates over 20%. Severe weather events continue to strike the U.S., yet understaffed teams are struggling to meet demand for real-time forecasting. Experts warn the gaps pose life-threatening risks amid escalating tornadoes, flooding, and fire threats.
Quick Looks
- 55 of 122 NWS forecast offices have 20%+ vacancy rates
- Eight key offices are missing over 35% of staff
- Critical positions like meteorologist-in-charge remain unfilled in 23 offices
- Understaffed teams must choose between surveys and real-time warnings
- Cuts linked to Trump-era job slashes and new efficiency mandates
- Tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires are on the rise nationwide
- Houston office missing top leadership with 30% vacancy rate
- Offices in Arkansas, Nebraska, South Dakota hit hardest
- 2015 vacancy rate was 9.3%, now nearly doubled
- Experts fear “cascading” risks and possible loss of life
Deep Look
A troubling staffing crisis is escalating within the National Weather Service (NWS), with nearly half of its 122 field forecast offices operating at critically low levels. Following widespread federal job cuts initiated during the Trump administration and continued under the Department of Government Efficiency, 55 offices now report vacancy rates above 20%, twice the rate from just a decade ago.
These shortages have emerged at a time when the need for timely, accurate weather forecasts has never been more urgent. Severe weather—including tornadoes, flash floods, and potential wildfires—is sweeping across the U.S., especially through the nation’s heartland. Despite the urgency, many offices are simply too understaffed to handle the dual demands of monitoring active systems and collecting damage data to inform future warnings.
An analysis of staffing data—crowdsourced from over a dozen NWS employees—reveals that eight field offices have vacancy rates exceeding 35%. Among the most impacted are stations in Arkansas, which faced deadly tornadoes and heavy rain this week. Offices in Omaha, Rapid City, Albany, and Portland also report severe staffing deficiencies.
Vacancy rates like these aren’t merely inconvenient—they are life-threatening, experts warn. Former NWS chief Louis Uccellini cautioned that while it’s difficult to predict exactly when an office will fail to meet mission-critical objectives, “several of them are there or getting close.” His warning is echoed by Brad Colman, former meteorologist-in-charge at the Seattle office, who now works in the private sector. “It’s a crisis situation,” Colman said. “I am deeply concerned we will lose lives as a result of this short-staffing.”
The impact is already being felt. In Kentucky, meteorologists at the Louisville forecast office were unable to survey tornado damage on Thursday due to staff limitations. Damage surveys help refine warning systems and improve accuracy, but with limited hands on deck, forecasters had to choose between future improvements and present danger warnings. The situation was described as a dangerous balancing act between immediate needs and long-term safety.
Rep. Eric Sorensen, an Illinois Democrat and the only meteorologist in Congress, confirmed that his office independently reviewed the data and verified it with weather professionals. The field office near his district—the Quad Cities—operates with a 37.5% vacancy rate. “They’re doing heroic work,” he said. “But going forward with these types of cuts, we can’t guarantee people will be as safe.”
National vacancy levels have surged over the past decade. In 2015, the average rate was 9.3%. By March 2025, that figure had climbed to 19%, according to the compiled data. The AP verified much of this information independently by contacting local offices and reviewing staff directories.
While the public often associates the National Weather Service with simple daily forecasts, its responsibilities are much broader. Each field office is tasked with issuing urgent, minute-by-minute warnings during dangerous weather events. That includes deploying storm spotters, launching weather balloons, and relaying updates to emergency managers. Offices lacking technicians for radar and balloon operations risk being blindsided during high-risk periods, according to insiders.
The situation is especially dire in Houston, which has a 30% vacancy rate and is currently missing both its meteorologist-in-charge and its warning coordination meteorologist—two critical leadership roles. Given Houston’s vulnerability to hurricanes, derechos, and flash flooding, experts say the gaps there are particularly dangerous. “Their damage numbers are through the roof,” said Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist for Climate Central.
Across the nation, 23 offices are missing their meteorologist-in-charge, and 16 are operating without a warning coordination meteorologist—roles vital for communicating with emergency responders and coordinating public safety alerts. These vacancies increase the risk that crucial messages could be delayed or miscommunicated during life-or-death scenarios.
In some areas, the strain is causing essential services to be cut. Offices in Rapid City, South Dakota (41.7% vacancy), Portland, Maine (26.1%), and Omaha, Nebraska (34.8%) have scaled back on launching weather balloons—tools that provide indispensable data for forecasting storms, jet streams, and temperature gradients. Skipping these launches could mean less accurate forecasting, particularly during evolving severe weather events.
Victor Gensini, an atmospheric science professor at Northern Illinois University, likened the situation to aviation safety protocols. “The question becomes, what falls through the cracks because they’re short-staffed?” Gensini asked. “Maybe they miss a critical report, or maybe they can’t issue every warning because they don’t have enough hands on radar.”
He warned of a domino effect: “It’s like when you read about plane crashes—it’s always a cascading set of small failures. The pilot was tired. The weather was bad. The system failed. This is the same type of risk.”
Meanwhile, forecasters continue working under intense pressure. One NWS field chief, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “People are bending over backwards. The burden is going to kill us.”
As the U.S. enters the peak season for tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme heat—the deadliest form of severe weather—this staffing crisis could not come at a worse time. Despite the dedication of remaining staff, experts fear that without urgent intervention and strategic hiring, the system could crack under pressure.
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