John Morales, a distinguished and Emmy-winning television meteorologist with over thirty years of experience, is expressing grave concerns about the deep-reaching effects of the funding slashes made to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Trump administration. This, he warns, happens on the brink of what is predicted to be an exceptionally severe hurricane season in 2025. Morales, based in Florida and a notable figure of NBC 6 news station in Miami, drew attention to these drastic changes during a recent broadcast, showcasing his past accurate predictions.
During this broadcast, he replayed a prompt where he discussed the trajectory of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which skirted along the coasts of Florida and Southeast U.S. Early predictions suggested that this storm was headed directly towards the South Florida region, creating a wave of anxiety among the inhabitants.
During that time, Morales was quick to assuage public fears, confidently declaring that the hurricane would deviate from its original path. Following this flashback on the broadcast, the veteran meteorologist voiced his apprehensions about whether he could exhibit the same level of confidence in his forecasts due to the ongoing scientific funding predicament.
Morales candidly confessed his doubts to his viewers, pointing at the deep funding cuts and incessant attacks on science as the underlying factors. He expressed his worry about how these actions are gradually eroding the stellar reputation the U.S. holds in scientific leadership. This, according to him, not only impacts the present but also casts a shadow on the future generations and their perceived faith in science.
Specifically, Morales highlighted the funding constraints imposed upon the National Weather Service (NWS) and NOAA. These cuts are a part of a broader strategy by President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk to curb what they perceive as ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ of federal resources. This strategy resulted in the termination of hundreds of NOAA positions this year, including many within the NWS.
The proposal titled ‘Project 2025’— a manifestation of Trump’s blueprint for his next term, presents a grave scenario of potential further disruption, proposing a complete dismantlement of NOAA. Inside sources within the NWS express their deep anxiety and fears about what lies ahead.
It was reported in March following the job cuts, a general NWS forecaster expressed concerns about the onset of the hurricane season during the mid-summer. He emphasized how NWS is the primary source of information for broadcasts seen on TV or transmitted on The Weather Channel, pointing out that while they might be unseen, they indeed remain a crucial part of weather forecasting.
Further raising alarms was an unexpected comment from the newly appointed head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who seemed unaware of the existence of a hurricane season. Although the agency later clarified that the statement was made in jest, it did little to inspire confidence in the agency’s preparedness.
Morales cited alarming statistics during his Sunday broadcast, stating that the NWS offices in central and southern Florida are operating at a reduced capacity, with staff deficits ranging between 19% to 39%. Furthermore, he noted a 17% decrease in the launching of weather balloons resulting in a noticeable decline in data gathering efforts.
This lack of data, according to Morales, is starting to affect the quality and accuracy of the forecasts. This also implies a potential impact on the routine of hurricane-hunting planes. With the shortage of these reconnaissance missions, weather forecasters could be left flying blind, oblivious of the real intensity of a storm before it hits the coast.
Elsewhere, Morales expressed additional concerns in a written article published over the weekend. He addressed the issue of understaffing during severe weather events, highlighting that overworked staff at the weather agencies risk making dangerous errors or missing crucial data due to sheer fatigue.
‘Am I worried? You bet I am!’ were his unequivocal words. Morales further illustrated the potential disastrous effects of such mistakes by referring to Hurricane Otis of 2023 that made an unexpected landfall near Acapulco, Mexico.
This storm had considerably more potent wind speeds than what was initially forecasted. Morales attributed this discrepancy, to some extent, to the lack of ‘timely reconnaissance data’ resulting from the decreased number of hurricane-hunting flights due to budget cuts.