The Pentagon has backed away from plans to halt key satellite data used to track hurricanes, assuring forecasters that the feed will continue as aging satellites are phased out.
Scott Dance reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program will remain active until at least September 2026, providing continuous microwave data critical for detecting storm structure and wind patterns.
- The initial plan to cut the feed in June alarmed meteorologists, who warned of reduced ability to track rapidly intensifying hurricanes.
- New environmental satellites from the U.S. Space Force are set to replace the older system, with one launched in 2024 and another expected in 2026.
Key quote:
“Crisis averted.”
— Michael Lowry, former senior scientist at the National Hurricane Center
Why this matters:
Timely data can mean the difference between orderly evacuations and deadly surprises. The Pentagon’s decision to maintain this feed preserves a vital link in the nation’s hurricane warning system, especially during a period when climate change is driving more powerful and erratic storms. Losing it would not only have affected emergency planning but also hampered scientific efforts to understand how storms are evolving in a warming world.
Related: Trump’s anti-science crusade threatens America’s climate readiness
