Daily Archives: October 20, 2025

Does the federal shutdown impact weather forecasting?

Weather forecasts provided by the government will continue during the shutdown. The National Weather Service (NWS) and other National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) agencies provide essential services; therefore, most NWS federal forecasters are considered emergency employees and are required to work without pay during the shutdown.

While NWS will continue their life-saving essential work, some weather and climate data feeds and public-facing services will have limited or no access to researchers and the public. According to a NWS webpage announcement, “Due to the government shutdown, all public National Weather Service activities, including tours and other outreach activities, have been canceled or postponed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience. The NWS will continue to provide critical forecast, watch, and warning information to protect life and property throughout the shutdown.” The National Hurricane Center (NHC) will also continue to provide hurricane updates and forecasts. There are a few “non-essential” fields in NOAA that are not operating during the shutdown, including some active research. Continue reading

Category: Meteorology, Weather Dangers

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