05/26/2025
KODE-TV KANSAS — Federal cuts to the National Weather Service are being felt in the Four States. (NOTE: Parsons PD relies upon the NWS in Wichita for severe weatger and tornado watch and warning alerts).
In March, the Associated Press reported the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — the parent organization of the NWS initiated plans to lay off 10 percent of its workforce.
Those cuts have lead to a third of NWS stations in the central region without a meteorologist in charge – and some offices ending 24-hour service.
National Weather Service no longer translating products for non-English speakers
In Kansas, there are four NWS stations: Topeka, Wichita, Dodge City, and Goodland.
As of last Wednesday, neither Wichita nor Dodge City had meteorologists in charge.
The Wichita NWS office provides services for southeast Kansas, except for Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee counties.
According to NOAA, neighboring NWS offices are providing support to offices where cuts have reduced staff.
