American weather forecasts face a potential accuracy crisis as Trump administration budget cuts target climate and weather data programmes at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). The cuts come as the US braces for hurricane season and what experts predict will be a summer of record-breaking heat.
Noaa, which provides the US federal government's weather forecasts, has seen its budget reduced just as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. The timing has alarmed meteorologists who warn that less funding means less data collection and analysis - the foundation of accurate forecasting.
Weather prediction increasingly relies on artificial intelligence, but these systems are only as reliable as the data they process. "The use of AI in weather prediction is only as good as the data it's trained on," said Dr Maria Rodriguez, a leading climate science expert. "If we don't have the funding to collect and analyse the necessary data, our forecasts will suffer."
The implications extend beyond American borders. British nationals travelling to the US could face greater uncertainty about weather conditions, though the Foreign Office has not yet issued specific travel advice. Communities across America that depend on accurate forecasts to prepare for hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves face the greatest risk.
Experts describe the cuts as a "recipe for disaster" that could put lives at risk. The reductions form part of broader environmental agency budget cuts under the Trump administration's push to reduce government spending, despite warnings about potential consequences for public safety and environmental protection.