Slotkin, Peters ask National Weather Service why no tornado watch was issued for deadly storms

[RandySF]

One week after four tornadoes touched down in southwest Michigan, killing four people and injuring 22, U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) sent a letter to the director of the National Weather Service seeking answers into why no tornado watch was issued ahead of the storms.

In their letter to National Weather Service Director Ken Graham, Slotkin and Peters requested information on what prevented the weather service from issuing a tornado watch for the March 6 storms and what changes would be needed to improve its ability to provide timely and accurate forecasts and alerts in the future.

“We mourn for those who lost their lives to this storm, and we stand fully prepared to work with the impacted families and communities to begin the process of rebuilding and recovering,” Peters and Slotkin wrote in their March 13 letter. “At the same time, we seek to better understand how this tragic event unfolded and what changes are required to better protect public safety and avoid such tragic loss of life during future extreme weather events.”

A request for comment was left with the National Weather Service’s press office.



https://michiganadvance.com/2026/03/16/slotkin-peters-ask-national-weather-service-why-no-tornado-watch-was-issued-for-deadly-storms/

[PCIntern]

1. They lacked the appropriate Sharpie.

[Goonch]

2. ;-{)......

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=

[Nictuku]

3. This is why (DOGE)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump
Employees terminated 850[1]–880[2]
Buyouts or resignations 1,029[3]
Department of Government Efficiency involvement
Contracts terminated 196
Contract total value $133,927,153.01[4]
(2025 USD; As of June 29)
Claimed contract savings $42,481,923.88[4]
(2025 USD; As of June 29)
Claimed grants terminated 4
Leases terminated 8–19
Claimed lease savings $2,390,754–$7,177,962
(2025 USD; As of June 29)

Following the second inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States, and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on January 20, 2025, several major changes occurred at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including hundreds of employees being terminated, dozens of federal contracts and leases being terminated, and the enactment of executive orders which affected the operations of NOAA. The operations of the National Weather Service (NWS) were affected, with several offices stopping weather balloon launches, and NOAA databases and websites went offline. The National Weather Service was also the target of domestic terrorism threats for conspiracy theories regarding weaponizing the weather.

Edited to add link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA_in_the_second_Trump_administration