Industry News
The National Weather Service (NWS) will move forward with hiring hundreds of staff after months of backlash over deep personnel cuts, a decision that could improve winter weather forecasting for ski resorts and mountain communities nationwide. The Office of Personnel Management approved the hires after the NWS successfully argued for a public safety exemption to the federal hiring freeze that began when President Donald Trump took office, according to CNN. The agency had lost about 600 employees earlier this year—roughly 17% of its workforce—through a combination of layoffs and buyouts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency.
The staffing reductions drew heavy criticism, particularly after deadly flash floods in Texas killed more than 130 people in July. Ten forecasting positions remained vacant in central Texas, including six in San Antonio and four in San Angelo, according to The New York Times. While experts said additional staff might not have changed the flood outcome, former NWS officials warned the shortages may have hindered communication with local authorities.
For ski areas, the restoration of staff could be critical. Mountain resort operators, avalanche centers, and backcountry guides depend on NWS data for snowstorm tracking, avalanche risk assessments, and long-range forecasts. In recent months, industry groups expressed concern that reduced staffing could delay updates or diminish forecast accuracy, especially in remote, high-altitude regions where weather conditions can change rapidly.
The timing comes as resorts prepare for the upcoming ski season and as NOAA predicts a slightly above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with warmer ocean temperatures influencing U.S. weather patterns into winter. Expanded forecasting capacity may help resorts anticipate storm cycles, optimize snowmaking, and plan staffing for peak visitation days.
State and local avalanche forecasters say the move could help maintain safety margins in an industry where accurate, timely information can be the difference between routine operations and emergencies. The NWS has not confirmed whether the new hires will be entirely new employees or if some will be rehires from the pool of recently laid-off staff.
