US weather agency NOAA cuts a fifth of staff ahead of strong El Nino
The gist
NOAA has lost about 20% of its staff, more than 3,000 employees, ahead of a strong El Nino.
Staffing gaps have already delayed weather balloon launches and limited some flood warnings.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025NOAA's workforce begins shrinking; by late 2026 it is down about one-fifth, with more than 3,000 employees cut and 525 hires only partly offsetting the losses.
- Oct 26, 2026NOAA announces it will move its Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to cloud-based technology by early 2028, letting forecasters access data away from their offices.
- Oct 28, 2026NOAA's winter outlook says El Nino will likely bring warmer-than-average temperatures across the northern U.S. and wetter conditions across the South from December 2026 to February 2027.