Friday, June 27, 2025

Feds Cut Satellite Data Crucial to Tracking Hurricanes

A month into the start of an Atlantic hurricane season that forecasters expect to be unusually busy, the federal government has announced plans to end the use of satellite data that hurricane experts say is crucial to tracking storms and spotting the early warning signs of rapid intensification.

Posted by LampLighter at 07:30 PM | 29 COMMENTS | permalink

More

Pentagon sends hurricane forecasters scrambling after suddenly announcing shutdown of key satellites The Department of Defense is abruptly shutting down a satellite program that meteorologists say is crucial to hurricane forecasting -- just as what's expected to be an "above-normal" Atlantic ...

[image or embed]

-- Verite News (@veritenews.org) Jun 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM

Comments

More from the article ...

... NOAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Defense Department referred questions to the Air Force, which had not immediately responded.

The move came as a shock to much of the meteorological community, including Miami-based meteorologist and hurricane specialist Michael Lowry.

"My first reaction was, 'I must be reading something wrong,'" he said.

Lowry said the program's suspension means hurricane researchers across the country, including National Hurricane Center forecasters, will no longer receive real-time data from three microwave satellites. Those satellites, unlike traditional satellite technology, allow scientists to see through clouds and inside tropical storms and hurricanes, even in the dark. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-27 03:33 PM

Maybe Chinese satellites can help NOAA. They seem to have more advanced systems than Felon Musk's decrepit and catastrophic Starlink boondoggle: media.istockphoto.com

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-06-27 03:43 PM

Hurricanes are less disruptive if you don't see them coming. All that panic supply stockpiling and evacuating nonsense just creates Chaos.

#3 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-06-27 03:48 PM

Did people in the 1800s have satellite technology?

Why should we?

It's amazing how much Republicans want to turn America into Afghanistan.

#4 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-06-27 03:53 PM

There's nothing rational to this Trump decision.

It's flat-out crazy.

Proof that he gets a feeling of power and pleasure when seeing other people get hurt.

Many, many Americans are going to get hurt.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2025-06-27 04:48 PM

@#5 ... There's nothing rational to this Trump decision. ...

That implies that other decisions by Pres Trump may be rational.

I've yet to have seen that.

#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-27 08:02 PM

We'll be finding out soon enough that musk has plans to launch satellites with these capabilities but will require their use to be paid for.

So many government services that can be converted to cash cows by connected insiders working in key industries.

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2025-06-27 08:40 PM

That's not a bad assessment of the situation.

#8 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-06-27 08:43 PM

@#7 ... We'll be finding out soon enough that musk has plans to launch satellites with these capabilities but will require their use to be paid for. ...

Unless and until that happens, Americans may die from the catastrophic effect of hurricanes.

But does Pres Trump seem to care if Americans die?



#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-06-27 10:14 PM

#7 JPW That's the whole plan, businesses have wanted to privatize everything to gouge the common folk and get richer. They are beyond greedy, money is their god.

#10 | Posted by Ronnie68 at 2025-06-27 10:34 PM

Well, in typical Trump fashion, like COVID, if you don't see a hurricane coming there is nothing to worry about.

No Sharpie required.

#11 | Posted by americanunity at 2025-06-28 05:28 AM

FEMA cuts, NWS offices now understaffed thanks to DOGE, now this.

Have a "thankful and blessed" hurricane season, FloriDUH: Home of the "Orange Menace of Mar A Lardo."

#12 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-06-28 05:32 AM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#13 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:12 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#14 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:14 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#15 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:14 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#16 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:14 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#17 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:14 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#18 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:14 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#19 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:16 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy/tornado season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#20 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:16 PM

Here in Wisconsin, we don't have hurricanes, although our rainy season compares favorably to monsoon season elsewhere.

#21 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 12:16 PM

Will someone reboot John47?

Thank you for your attention to this matter

#22 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-06-28 01:07 PM

#22 It's not John47, it's the DR again. Rcade should consult with Gaslighter, he ran a message board once, you know.

#23 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2025-06-28 01:13 PM

#22 It's not John47, it's the DR again. Rcade should consult with Gaslighter, he ran a message board once, you know.

#24 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2025-06-28 01:15 PM

Dear Lee-the-agent,
It's NOT me. We're all enjoying the Special Idiosyncratic Special Version of DRUDGE RETORT.

#25 | Posted by john47 at 2025-06-28 01:31 PM

www.galvestonhistory.org

Here's 8000 reasons to continue the program.

#26 | Posted by mattm at 2025-06-28 02:13 PM

Some Trumpian cruelty has to be about their stupidity, they just don't understand science. Who can be about being forewarned about hurricanes and other weather dangers?

#27 | Posted by Hughmass at 2025-06-29 08:11 AM

Trump is the biggest red state own-goal since the civil war.

#28 | Posted by dibblda at 2025-06-29 11:07 AM

"Can't we just nuke them hurricanes?"

-Donald J (the Genius) Trump.

#29 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-29 01:21 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Florida to Eliminate Vaccine Mandates (70 comments)

Alarm on Disney Vacations Amid Florida Anti-Vax Move (65 comments)

A Spectacular Diplomatic Disaster (23 comments)

Trump, Running Scared, Disses Victims of His Pedo BFFs (20 comments)

Texas Freaks Out Over Lab-Grown Meat (18 comments)

US Manufacturing Contracts for Sixth Straight Month (12 comments)

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Save His Emergency Tariffs (11 comments)

Trump and Son's Stake in Crypto Grift Worth $5bn (10 comments)

Iconic US Brand Warns of 'Rising Anti-Americanism' (9 comments)

Alarm After FBI Arrests US Army Veteran for 'conspiracy' (6 comments)