Local meteorologist says weather service layoffs risk public safety
Broadcasters rely on National Weather Service data to warn people about severe weather. Paul Gross talks about the agency’s importance.
The National Weather Service's Detroit forecast office is in White Lake Township.
The Trump administration’s purge of federal workers includes layoffs at the National Weather Service.
An NWS spokesperson would not say how many people lost their jobs. NPR reports that the firings raise concerns over the agency’s ability to forecast hurricanes. The cuts could also affect America’s fishing industry.
Detroit area meteorologist Paul Gross says the government’s decision to stop launching weather balloons in western Alaska impacts the rest of the country.
“That upper air data is ingested into the computer models that we use to tell you days ahead of time about a particularly devastating or disruptive storm,” he said.
Gross worked at WDIV-TV for 40 years. He left the station in 2023 and owns a weather consulting firm. He says NWS was already stretched thin and more cuts could endanger the public.
“What if there’s a degradation in the ability to warn people during a tornado outbreak?” he asked. “Every single American should be concerned about this.”
NWS has wide reach
Gross says broadcasters rely on National Weather Service data to produce daily forecasts. That includes networks such as The Weather Channel.
“TV stations all have computer graphics systems,” he said. “But the data that comes into those systems comes from the National Weather Service.”
The same goes for mobile weather apps.
“Where do you think the app gets all the data and all of the computer modeling? It starts with the National Weather Service,” Gross said.
Most Detroit TV stations have their own meteorologists. Many radio stations rely on networks such as AccuWeather. WDET relies entirely on the NWS office in White Lake Township for its weather broadcasts. That includes daily forecasts, seasonal outlooks, and severe weather alerts.
Read more: WDIV’s Paul Gross wraps up TV career
Gross says further cuts could make it harder for broadcasters to warn the public.
“We can certainly tell you about storms,” he says. “But we cannot and do not issue the warnings.”
NWS says cuts won’t compromise safety
WDET asked the National Weather Service how the cuts might affect local forecasting.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson Susan Buchanan replied:
“Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience. We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
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