The Texas flood disaster, where the death toll has already well exceeded 100, has understandably sparked scrutiny of every aspect of the response, including the role of weather forecasters. President Donald Trump is expected to visit the scene this Friday, July 11. But a key takeaway is already clear. To keep people safe, it’s vital to recognize ‒ and support ‒ one critical resource: the nation’s network of local weather forecast centers.

The National Weather Service (NWS) may be a federal agency, but when it comes to public safety, much of the important work takes place at a local level. There are 122 weather forecast offices where meteorologists are on duty 24/7 to develop forecasts and issue warnings. In Kerr County, Texas, the epicenter of the flood catastrophe, that responsibility falls to the Austin/San Antonio office. (You can find where your own forecasts come from at this map.)

Now more than ever, it’s crucial for the public to understand the significance of these local offices, which have been battered by the Trump administration's staffing and budget cuts.

As a journalist who has spent the past five years researching and writing about the future of weather forecasting, I have an unusual perspective on weather forecast offices based on observing their work........

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