The abrupt cutoff of satellite data crucial for hurricane forecasting is delayed by one month, until July 31, according to a message posted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Monday.
The impending data loss from a Department of Defense weather satellite system was announced on June 25 and slated to take place “no later than” Monday, according to an earlier NOAA announcement.
The decision, which was initiated by the Defense Department, caused an uproar among meteorologists, public officials and the media in the midst of hurricane season. The fear is that the missing information could degrade the accuracy of hurricane forecasts. The move comes in the wake of steep personnel cuts at the National Weather Service and other parts of NOAA.
America was pretty great when the Great Galveston hurricane hit, so we need to recreate that scenario. Still the deadliest storm in U.S. history. Maybe that record can fall? Imagine Katrina, but with no evacuation.