Cantwell Urges Trump to Prioritize Weather Forecasting Modernization

Senator Maria Cantwell is advocating for President Trump to prioritize the modernization of the nation's weather forecasting system, arguing that such an investment would yield both life-saving and financial benefits. She recently sent a letter to the President, outlining recommendations for upgrading weather forecasting infrastructure.

Cantwell emphasized that investing in improved forecasting could significantly reduce the costs associated with weather-related disasters. She highlighted the potential to mitigate the financial impact of major events by implementing proactive measures. This call to action followed devastating flooding in Central Texas, which resulted in numerous fatalities and raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing forecasting and warning systems.

The Senator's letter presented five bipartisan recommendations aimed at enhancing U.S. forecasting capabilities. These recommendations come at a time when the Trump administration is considering budget cuts for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its subagency, the National Weather Service. These cuts could potentially impact research programs and the ability to accurately predict future weather events.

Cantwell's letter underscored the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across the United States, including flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. She cited specific examples of recent disasters that have caused significant loss of life and property damage. The Senator believes that providing more timely and accurate weather information can help prevent billions of dollars in property losses and save lives.

In response to the letter, a White House spokesperson stated that the administration is focused on re-orienting NOAA and the National Weather Service to prioritize their core mission and modernize their technology. Cantwell's recommendations focus on improving data collection, analysis, and community notification systems. These include upgrading the Doppler radar network, replacing older weather satellites, improving the Integrated Ocean Observing System, investing in supercomputing and data analytics, bolstering weather and climate research, modernizing weather alert systems, and advancing bipartisan legislation to support weather research and forecasting.