Tornado Devastation in Kentucky Highlights Staffing Shortages at National Weather Service

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff   

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Scott Utterback

As destructive tornadoes struck Kentucky, claiming at least 23 lives on May 16, the National Weather Service (NWS) faced significant challenges in providing timely forecasts and warnings due to federal staffing cuts. The powerful storms primarily affected the eastern part of the state, where the NWS's Jackson, Kentucky, forecast office is located.

According to Tom Fahy, legislative director for the weather service employees union, the Jackson office is one of four forecast offices that no longer maintain overnight staffing due to a shortage of meteorologists. This staffing crisis has been exacerbated by cuts mandated by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has led to hundreds of meteorologists leaving the agency.

Despite the staffing challenges, Fahy reported that the Jackson office was fully staffed on the night of the tornadoes, with workers called in to coordinate with emergency management personnel and issue warnings. “The deaths were not attributable to the staffing cuts,” he stated, emphasizing that the team was prepared for the extreme weather conditions.

In a statement, the NWS confirmed that the Jackson office had additional staffing and support from neighboring offices during the severe weather event. However, the agency has been struggling to maintain 24/7 coverage at all forecast offices for the first time in decades, as highlighted by the weather service union.

Between 2010 and 2025, approximately 600 workers left the NWS due to retirement or attrition, with nearly 600 departures occurring in the first three months of the Trump administration alone, including 100 firings. The staffing shortages have raised concerns about the agency's ability to effectively respond to severe weather events.

In addition to the Jackson office, three other forecast offices Sacramento and Hanford in California, and Goodland, Kansas have also ceased overnight staffing. Forecast offices in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Marquette, Michigan, will follow suit, with Fairbanks, Alaska, scheduled to stop overnight staffing on June 1. Pendleton, Oregon, is also on the list for reduced staffing, although a specific date has not yet been determined.

Erica Cei, a spokesperson for the NWS, stated that offices without overnight staffing would receive assistance from neighboring forecast offices when necessary. However, Fahy expressed concern that the ongoing staffing shortages could jeopardize public safety. “Communities across the country will be put in harm’s way, in the path of oncoming or direct storms,” he warned.

As the aftermath of the tornadoes continues to unfold, the need for adequate staffing and resources within the National Weather Service has never been more critical. The tragic loss of life in Kentucky serves as a stark reminder of the importance of timely and accurate weather forecasting in protecting communities from severe weather threats.