Texas, National Weather Service and floods
Digest more
Death toll at 129
Digest more
Key positions at National Weather Service offices across Texas are vacant, sowing doubt over the state’s ability to respond to natural disasters as rescuers comb through the flood-ravaged Hill Country.
Everyone in our area has the potential for heavy rain, but the best potential for flash flooding will be within the flood watch area. Rainfall rates within thunderstorms may be between 1″ and 3″ per hour,
Dallas faces a flood watch from the NWS due to potential heavy rains and thunderstorms amid high temperatures.
Weather model data shows the National Weather Service had reason to warn of higher flood risks. Still, meteorologists say the agency made reasonable predictions.
With hurricane season underway and jobs still open at the National Weather Service, Alief native Matt Moreland will serve as meteorologist-in-charge.
Former federal officials and outside experts have warned for months that President Donald Trump’s staffing cuts to the National Weather Service could endanger lives.
Amid criticism of budget cuts at NWS, Sen. Ted Cruz defended the agency, saying meteorologists did their job and were not short-staffed during the early morning hours of July Fourth.