https://www.kxan.com/weather/weather-blog/head-of-local-weather-warnings-takes-early-retirement-as-noaa-cuts-continue/
Head of local weather warnings takes early retirement as NOAA cuts continue
by: Nick Bannin
Posted: Apr 21, 2025 / 11:33 AM CDT
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Paul Yura, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office, has announced he has taken the early retirement offer as part of NOAA’s recent cuts to personnel and budget.
Yura has over 32 years experience, spending more than half of his career at the NWS Austin/San Antonio office. In the process, he gained tremendous experience understanding local weather patterns while ensuring timely warnings get disseminated to the public in a multitude of ways.
The warning coordination meteorologist (WCM) is a senior role at a local NWS office. According to NOAA, “The WCM coordinates the warning function of the office with the outside world. This would include heading the Skywarn Program, conducting spotter training and being a voice to the local media for the office.”
Only the ‘meteorologist in charge’ (MIC) has a higher position within a local office.
...
https://www.sacurrent.com/news/staff-vacancies-hit-texas-weather-offices-as-they-brace-for-a-busy-hurricane-season-37701187
Staff vacancies hit Texas weather offices as they brace for a busy hurricane season
Houston’s National Weather Service office has lost its head meteorologist amid a federal requirement to cut 10% of NOAA’s staff.
By Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune on Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 12:37 pm
FORT WORTH — With hurricane season underway and an above-normal activity forecast, some National Weather Service offices like Houston — where as many as 44% of positions are vacant — are operating with staff shortages, prompting concerns about their capacity to monitor future storms.
The shortages stem from federal cuts that slashed roughly 10% of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s workforce and triggered a wave of early retirements. While no staff members from the Houston/Galveston office were laid off, several hundred employees at NOAA, which hosts the National Weather Service, took a voluntary early retirement package.
Among those stepping down: Jeff Evans, longtime meteorologist-in-charge in Houston, who retired after 34 years with the NWS, 10 of those in Texas. He told KPRC Click2Houston that it was “an honor and a privilege” to serve Texas through countless disasters.
The Houston office has 11 vacancies — 44% of its regular staffing.
...
= new reply since forum marked as read