Hurricane expert sounds alarm that Trump's admin killed key weather satellites

[LiberalArkie]

June 26, 2025 10:54AM ET


Hurricane and storm surge expert Michael Lowry penned a column on Thursday, warning of a recent decision by President Donald Trump's administration to kill three weather satellites just as hurricane season is ramping up.

He wrote that on Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it would "stop ingesting, processing, and transmitting data essential to most hurricane forecasts."

By Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the news in a "a service change notice to all users," which included those monitoring the Atlantic's skies at the Hurricane Center.

"By next Monday, June 30th, they would no longer receive real-time microwave data collected aboard three weather satellites jointly run by NOAA and the U.S. Department of Defense," wrote Lowry.



Snip

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-budget-cuts-hurricane-satellites/

[ultralite001]

1. Criminal...

They want people to die... This is not something one fixes w/ a Sharpie marker...

When the first hurricane hits Merde-a-Lardo, expect things to change...

[AZJonnie]

3. Oh, no, the DoD is still going to tell important people what the satellite data says

It's just not going to be publicly available anymore. We all PAY FOR IT, but we don't get to see it.

[ultralite001]

8. Those satellites are going dark...

We're being forced to source weather data from outside the US... Thankfully, most still consider
providing weather info a public service...

It's a bit like the Weather Underground (not to be confused w/ the Wunderground)...

[AZJonnie]

11. And you believe this ... why?

[ultralite001]

14. Deal w/ this data...

every single day...

[AZJonnie]

21. That's pretty good then

So, you are totally convinced they're just shutting off these satellites entirely, as opposed to sequestering the information for the use of a few? The information is valuable (especially to the DoD), and the satellites were expensive. My story makes way more sense to me, but if you say you're sure ... you would know better than me

[AZJonnie]

2. I'm not clicking on rawstory because I hate their site (not them, just their site and clickbait headlines)

But from the blurb it sounds more like the DoD is going to stop giving NOAA the data the satellite collects, as opposed to 'killing the satellites'.

Sequestering vital information into the hands of a select few is a tried and true tactic of authoritarian dictatorships throughout the world and history.

So, the descent into fascism continues apace.

[Oopsie Daisy]

4. Good for you! I feel the same way! Often...

... a quick google search of the RawStory headline or byline and I can find the original source that they "stole" it from.

[LiberalArkie]

10. Inside the RawStory was the original. SubStack article that I am sure that the NY TIMES, WaPo, CNN and others must

read all the time..

Critical Hurricane Forecast Tool Abruptly Terminated

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it would immediately stop ingesting, processing, and transmitting data essential to most hurricane forecasts.

The announcement was formalized on Wednesday when NOAA distributed a service change notice to all users, including the National Hurricane Center, that by next Monday, June 30th, they would no longer receive real-time microwave data collected aboard three weather satellites jointly run by NOAA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

The permanent discontinuation of data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS) will severely impede and degrade hurricane forecasts for this season and beyond, affecting tens of millions of Americans who live along its hurricane-prone shorelines.

The news on Wednesday sent users across the weather and climate community – including those monitoring changes to sea ice extent in the polar regions – scrambling to understand the rationale behind the abrupt termination. Though not immediately clear why the real-time data was suddenly discontinued, the decision appears to have stemmed from Department of Defense security concerns.

Snip

https://michaelrlowry.substack.com/p/critical-hurricane-forecast-tool

[Oopsie Daisy]

13. Thanks! (It's not you... it's RawStory... they suck.)

[LiberalArkie]

17. They are usually fast delivering the story.. It was several hours later before anything else showed up.

I could have linked the Substack original but (to me) that is like posting an individual article from Reddit with no industry link with it. It could have been just an opinion piece.

[LiberalArkie]

9. Sorry about that as they had the lead..

https://www.msn.com/en-us/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/meteorologists-sound-the-alarm-on-trump-admin-cutting-key-forecasting-tool-as-hurricane-season-heats-up/ar-AA1HuHF6

Meteorologists Sound The Alarm On Trump Admin Cutting Key Forecasting Tool As Hurricane Season Heats Up

Meteorologists sounded the alarm on Thursday as news broke that the Pentagon was shutting down a satellite program that is key to hurricane forecasting, right as hurricane season is entering its peak months.

Matthew Cappucci, an atmospheric scientist and senior meteorologist, took to X to voice his shock at the move. “This is not a political post – but rather a notice that a vitally-important satellite used to probe and track hurricanes will be discontinued within a week,” Cappucci wrote, adding:

This will have noticeable negative impacts on hurricane forecasts and forecasting in general.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Wednesday that they will be cancelling the ingest, processing and distribution of data from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS).

“This service change and termination will be permanent,” wrote NOAA.

Miami-based hurricane specialist Michael Lowry also raised the alarm, writing, “A huge blow was dealt to hurricane forecasters this week as a critical tool was abruptly terminated by @DeptofDefense and @NOAA. The immediate discontinuation of data from 3 weather satellites will severely impact hurricane forecasts this season and beyond.”

[AZJonnie]

12. Wasn't being critical of your choice, I just personally can't stand how their site looks and operates

Thanks for the MSN link ... though their site kinda sucks too lol.

[LiberalArkie]

15. I use MSN for Wapo and NYtimes stories as they have the story without the paywall.

But I understand that the sites with a tremendous number of ads at least have the story to read. And I can usually ignore all the ads..

[Rebl2]

5. Wellgood

luck to those in hurricane prone states.

[misanthrope]

26. Most of which are chock full of MAGA

They will find a way to blame someone else.

[dweller]

6. Sounds like

Another lawsuit in the making …

🤔




✌🏻

[peggysue2]

7. Brilliant!

But hey, we're all going to die so no biggie.

People should remember this when the next monster hurricane rolls into town.

Trump did this to America. Because:

He. Does. Not. Care.

[Cha]

16. Putin wants to destroy America. So here we are.

[LiberalArkie]

18. I totally agree. As long as the plutocrats have everything who cares about non-oligarchy peeps.

[Cha]

19. Yes.. the clues are in

Plain sight.

We can imagine what’s going on in secret.

wonder if Bezos ever regrets going all in for a Fascist Traitor to the 🇺🇸?

[LiberalArkie]

22. No.. It is a win win..He is so diversified that he could come out for Bernie and still have more wealth

than most of the worlds elites.

[Cha]

20. Yes.. the clues are in

Plain sight.

We can imagine what’s going on in secret.

wonder if Bezos ever regrets going all in for a Fascist Traitor to the 🇺🇸?

[Jit423]

23. Was this about competition with Musk links?

[halobeam]

24. Horrible, and expected. Plenty of other reports that cover projected tracking, equally as good

Their actions are just cruelty based. Im glad we don't only have them to depend on for this information.

Truly the shittiest, most stupid, fucked up political criminals we've encountered in our History.

And that's putting it lightly.

[LudwigPastorius]

25. This is so that he no longer has to do the hard work of drawing on a map with a sharpie.