: During government shutdowns, NWS, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) , and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) are typically exempted as essential services, though research activities may be furloughed.
As of April 2026, the NWS is undergoing significant operational and organizational shifts: national weather service
The NWS operates 122 local Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) that provide hyper-local data for communities across the U.S. and its territories. Their forecasting process involves three critical steps: The National Weather Service : During government shutdowns, NWS, the National Hurricane
: Following the loss of approximately 600 employees in 2025 due to federal workforce reductions—including roughly 100 probationary firings and 500 buyouts—the agency has been actively hiring. Over 200 new positions , including meteorologists, have been filled since late 2025 to ensure operational continuity. : During government shutdowns