A NOAA mobile weather communications dish used for receiving and transmitting weather data. (ID 34911833 © David Watts Jr. | Dreamstime.com)

By paNOW Staff

cause for concern

Meteorologists say cuts to U.S. weather agency impacting Prairie weather data

Mar 12, 2025 | 5:22 PM

A warning preparedness meteorologist from Environment and Climate Change Canada is among a growing number of Canadian meteorologists concerned about sweeping cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States.

Natalie Hasell said the two organizations do share a lot of information back and forth in terms of data and model output.

“A lot of conversations take place especially when things are crossing borders… climate, satellite, water monitoring activities… all of those things are done on both sides of the border and we definitely collaborate since Mother Nature doesn’t really see boundaries the way we do,” Hassell said.

“We will be affected by this in the sense that there are some conversations that are no longer taking place.”

The cause for concern on the Prairies isn’t as strong as it is in hurricane-prone Atlantic Canada. Eddie Sheerr, a meteorologist with NTV in St. John’s N.L. said he uses NOAA’s data and modelling ‘literally every day.’

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“They have some of the best hurricane forecasters and meteorologists in the world. I rely on that data and their expertise heavily when tracking these tropical systems, as do meteorologists throughout the country,” he said in a recent interview.

“They provide life-saving information. Period.”

Hundreds of weather forecasters and other NOAA employees lost their jobs last month amid sweeping layoffs across the U.S. government carried out by billionaire Elon Musk’s U.S. Department of Government Efficiency. As of Monday, roughly 1,300 NOAA staff members had resigned or had been laid off, and about 1,000 more layoffs were expected, according to the New York Times.

Jim Abraham, who was the first manager of the Canadian Hurricane Centre, said data is already missing since some weather balloon launches have been cancelled amid the staffing cuts. The balloons provide important forecasting data and insight during storms.

Back on the Prairies, Hassell says her modelling depends on the American’s upper air data, so if it isn’t being produced or not being made available, it will affect her ability to forecast. She is especially worried about the potential loss of American satellite imagery.

“Our ability to forecast for Saskatchewan should not be affected too much [by the cuts], but should we lose those things [satellite imagery and model output], it will affect everyone who has to forecast for North America.”

So far, it’s been hard to measure exactly what the impacts of the cuts will be, since nobody knows yet what will get eliminated and what won’t.

— With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press

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panews@pattisonmedia.com