BOULDER, Colo.—Weather forecasters in the United States may be forced to rely on European satellites for some of their weather information because of federal budget cuts.
University of Oklahoma professor Berrien Moore says only four satellites supply data for weather forecasts, and that number could drop to two.
The Durango Herald ( ) reports panelists meeting Monday at the American Meteorological Society said they lack the solid data they need to make their case to Congress.
The federal government runs much of the country’s weather-forecasting equipment.
Joplin, Mo., had two days’ warning of the twister that killed 153 people in May, and emergency responders were already in place.
Moore said such precise tornado forecasts could not have been done 10 years ago, but their funding is at risk.
Jeff Lazo with the National Center for Atmospheric Research says the weather can add or subtract about $500 billion a year from the U.S. economy.
Forecasters are worried because Congress agreed to make spending cuts in last week’s debt deal, but the exact targets have not been determined.
Jon Malay, American Meteorological Society president, said he was pleased to hear President Barack Obama say there are some things the federal government needs to do, like providing weather satellites.
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Information from: Durango Herald,
