Weather Watch

US Reliance on Private Data Could Threaten Global Weather Forecasting

The US government is pushing to buy more private weather data, and could ultimately give away less of it for free, putting global forecasting systems at risk.

Monitors are seen on a computer screen at the Center for Weather and Climate Prediction headquarters in College Park, MD, U.S., on Thursday, December 5, 2024. President Donald Trump’s administration has threatened to cut funding for NOAA.

Photographer: Michael McCoy/Bloomberg
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The US government is pushing to buy more of its weather data from private companies, and could ultimately give away less of it for free, putting global forecasting systems at risk.