Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

highplainsdem

(59,987 posts)
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 10:16 PM Mar 2025

National Weather Service suspending weather balloon releases in Omaha and Rapid City, South Dakota

Source: KETV

The National Weather Service is suspending weather balloon releases in Omaha due to a lack of staffing, officials said in a release.

Weather balloon releases are also being suspended in Rapid City, South Dakota.

-snip-

The NWS launches weather balloons twice daily from 100 upper air sites throughout the United States, Caribbean and the Pacific Basin, officials said.

They are equipped with instruments to send back a wide range of atmospheric data to support forecasts, including temperature, dew points, humidity, wind speed, and direction.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.ketv.com/article/national-weather-service-suspends-weather-balloon-releases-omaha/64246070



The article says they're reducing the number of balloon launches at some other sites to 1 per day.

Just found on Twitter, posted by meteorologist Matthew Cappucci:




So the north central US no longer needs accurate weather forecasts, according to DOGE?
28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
National Weather Service suspending weather balloon releases in Omaha and Rapid City, South Dakota (Original Post) highplainsdem Mar 2025 OP
Trump: harming us eight ways to Sunday Blues Heron Mar 2025 #1
Maybe they're afraid weather data that far north might also help Canada, and they can't have that. highplainsdem Mar 2025 #4
His farmers should write and thank him Hassler Mar 2025 #2
Tornadoes and other global-warming-enhanced acts of nature are a real estate developer's best friend. n/t xocetaceans Mar 2025 #3
This administration is actively going to kill a whole lot of us, aren't they? Initech Mar 2025 #5
Musk to Americans: "That which kills you makes you stronger" dalton99a Mar 2025 #6
If only something would kill him.... ShazzieB Mar 2025 #17
Newsweek story on this tonight says Albany NY and Gray ME had this service suspended earlier this month: highplainsdem Mar 2025 #7
Great! I live just north of Albany and that's where I get my weather Rhiannon12866 Mar 2025 #10
Nebraska and South Dakota are not really considered "northern" and are certainly not Prairie Gates Mar 2025 #11
Grand Junction CO, mentioned there, is also more central. But these are all in states in the highplainsdem Mar 2025 #12
Northern half of the country is not what people mean by northern states Prairie Gates Mar 2025 #13
Do you mean northern tier? That's different from northern. According to the regional map shown on highplainsdem Mar 2025 #14
I'm in Nebraska synni Mar 2025 #26
Interesting SheltieLover Mar 2025 #27
National Weather Service article on these balloons: highplainsdem Mar 2025 #8
"So I'm supposed to believe what a balloon tells me about the weather?" Prairie Gates Mar 2025 #9
I don't give a f*** what the weather is way up there, anyway. JustABozoOnThisBus Mar 2025 #25
Just in time for tornado season. 🌪😡 Tanuki Mar 2025 #15
In the trending column this is the headline you see William769 Mar 2025 #16
... SheltieLover Mar 2025 #28
Next: weather forecasts are inaccurate so we'll just go ahead and privatize NWS groundloop Mar 2025 #18
As everyone knows, Holy Divination by Sharpie is all that is really needed to forecast weather. n/t xocetaceans Mar 2025 #23
It doesn't matter to repukes, faux snooze provides truthisfreedom Mar 2025 #19
Actually, this affects everyone worldwide. Punx Mar 2025 #20
What could possibly go wrong? Buddyzbuddy Mar 2025 #21
Just in time for Tornado season James48 Mar 2025 #22
DOGE to tornadoes: Come on down, nobody's watching ! nt eppur_se_muova Mar 2025 #24

Blues Heron

(8,352 posts)
1. Trump: harming us eight ways to Sunday
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 10:19 PM
Mar 2025

Just another day in Republican paradise- tired of winning yet?

highplainsdem

(59,987 posts)
4. Maybe they're afraid weather data that far north might also help Canada, and they can't have that.
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 10:31 PM
Mar 2025

xocetaceans

(4,345 posts)
3. Tornadoes and other global-warming-enhanced acts of nature are a real estate developer's best friend. n/t
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 10:30 PM
Mar 2025

Rhiannon12866

(250,128 posts)
10. Great! I live just north of Albany and that's where I get my weather
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:15 PM
Mar 2025

In fact I just watched it earlier today since not only is the meteorologist very good, he hosts a "Pet Connection" segment where I got my beloved rescue dog.

Prairie Gates

(7,186 posts)
11. Nebraska and South Dakota are not really considered "northern" and are certainly not
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:16 PM
Mar 2025

Dem friendly states.

highplainsdem

(59,987 posts)
12. Grand Junction CO, mentioned there, is also more central. But these are all in states in the
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:23 PM
Mar 2025

northern half of the country.

Prairie Gates

(7,186 posts)
13. Northern half of the country is not what people mean by northern states
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:26 PM
Mar 2025

Come on. Plain language, please.

highplainsdem

(59,987 posts)
14. Do you mean northern tier? That's different from northern. According to the regional map shown on
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:47 PM
Mar 2025

this CDC page, the north central region of the US goes far enough south to include Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/sources-definitions/geographic-region.htm

This is the Northern Tier:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Tier_(United_States)

Notice that 6 states there in the middle of the country are at least in part as far north as what are called the Northern Tier states.

Anyway, people mean different things by northern states.

synni

(673 posts)
26. I'm in Nebraska
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 03:45 PM
Mar 2025

Nebraska is very much considered part of "the northern Plains." My family has been here since the 1800's, so we know a little more about this kind of thing....

Prairie Gates

(7,186 posts)
9. "So I'm supposed to believe what a balloon tells me about the weather?"
Thu Mar 20, 2025, 11:14 PM
Mar 2025

"What's next? Is an eyelash going to tell me who committed a murder? Tell me another one, scientists!"



JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,594 posts)
25. I don't give a f*** what the weather is way up there, anyway.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 02:34 PM
Mar 2025

My knee hurts, so I know it's gonna rain.

ditto:

Tanuki

(16,296 posts)
15. Just in time for tornado season. 🌪😡
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:24 AM
Mar 2025
https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/03/19/tornado-season-map-reports/82517079007/#:~:text=The%20months%20of%20March%2C%20April,with%20warm%2C%20humid%20Gulf%20air.

"The months of March, April, May and June are regarded as tornado season, according to the National Weather Service. Tornadoes are often spawned during thunderstorms in the central and eastern U.S. when cold Canadian air mixes with warm, humid Gulf air.

Over the past weekend, a tornado outbreak struck 13 states with 100 tornadoes confirmed by the National Weather Service as of March 19. Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, Missouri and Mississippi all reported deaths from severe weather and tornadoes."...(more)

William769

(59,147 posts)
16. In the trending column this is the headline you see
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:33 AM
Mar 2025

"National Weather Service suspending weather". I was thinking to myself WTF? I've been having one of those days.

groundloop

(13,568 posts)
18. Next: weather forecasts are inaccurate so we'll just go ahead and privatize NWS
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:41 AM
Mar 2025

We'll have to pay accuweather to get tornado warnings.

xocetaceans

(4,345 posts)
23. As everyone knows, Holy Divination by Sharpie is all that is really needed to forecast weather. n/t
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 10:31 AM
Mar 2025

truthisfreedom

(23,515 posts)
19. It doesn't matter to repukes, faux snooze provides
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:45 AM
Mar 2025

All the weather they need in the form of hot air.

Punx

(473 posts)
20. Actually, this affects everyone worldwide.
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:46 AM
Mar 2025

As this data is inuput to all the global weather models and as a general rule, the more quality data incorporated at the initialization of the model run, the better the accuracy of the model output. And yes, for severe weather forecasting where accuracy and time is of the essense, this is a big problem.

Buddyzbuddy

(2,116 posts)
21. What could possibly go wrong?
Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:55 AM
Mar 2025

The jig is up for you you guys. No more kites or skateboards on the public dole either.
Leon and all of the other billionaires need to keep more of what others have earned for them.
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»National Weather Service ...