Summary
The U.S. Department of Defense has decided to stop sharing satellite weather data used by hurricane forecasters. This change means that forecasters will no longer have access to important information from Defense Department satellites, which has been used for over 40 years to monitor and predict hurricane activity.
Key Facts
- The Department of Defense will stop providing satellite weather data to forecasters.
- This data has been used for more than 40 years to track weather conditions, including hurricanes.
- The Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in the Navy processes this satellite data.
- Forecasters use the data to predict hurricanes and understand storm structure and movement.
- The decision to stop sharing the data is due to unspecified cybersecurity concerns.
- The U.S. Space Force states that the satellites are still operational and will be used internally.
- The data helps identify when a hurricane might intensify, aiding in timely evacuation warnings.
