The National Weather Service (NWS) office in North Little Rock has announced temporary cutbacks in some services due to ongoing staff shortages. The Associated Press reported last week the Trump Administration has cut hundreds of jobs at the National Weather Service this year and staffing is down nearly 20% at nearly half of the agencys 122 offices. Hundreds more experienced forecasters and senior managers were encouraged to retire early.
At the North Little Rock office, Jimmy Barham is the Meteorologist in Charge. He wouldnt comment on how many staff members there have lost their jobs, but says they are still providing the essential products they always have.
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One change the NWS North Little Rock office has announced is the time they will launch their weather balloons. They typically launch them at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Now, they will launch them at 12 a.m. and 6 p.m. Barham explains why they are making that change.
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During times of severe weather, Barham says they still have to bring in extra help which can be difficult with the reduced staff.
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Barham says some of the products they are cutting were already on the chopping block.
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Click here to view the new Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook Barham spoke about.
Barham reiterates even with the reduction in staff they have had, the NWS North Little Rock office is still serving the residents of Arkansas 24/7.
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Here are the services the NWS is changing or adjusting:
· Upper-Air Balloon Launches: Reduced to 00Z and 06Z.
· Public Outreach: All public outreach events, including SKYWARN classes, will be discontinued.
· Area Forecast Discussion (AFD): Limited to one issuance per day (06Z), with updates only for sudden changes in meteorological messaging. Aviation discussions will be issued with each TAF update.
· Climate Products: Climate data processing reduced to only the midnight run; the afternoon intermediate run will be automated and continue as normal.
· Graphicast: Produced only for significant weather events.
· Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWO): Eliminated permanently.
· Agricultural Observations (AGO) Product: Eliminated permanently.
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