A tornado damaged house with an overturned car in the front yard.

Credit: Gino Santa Maria/Big Stock Photo

Cuts to federal weather staffing are leaving communities vulnerable to tornadoes

Tornadoes that tore through parts of Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia this weekend killed dozens, exposing deep vulnerabilities in the nation’s weather alert systems as hurricane season looms.

Juliette Kayyem reports for The Atlantic.

In short:

Forty-two people died as tornadoes swept across Missouri, Kentucky, and Virginia, highlighting the importance of fast and accurate weather alerts to save lives during rapidly developing disasters.
The National Weather Service has lost more than 10% of its staff amid budget cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, leaving 40% of forecasting offices short-staffed and impairing use of vital tools like Doppler radar and weather balloons.
While some observers credit local efforts for maintaining alert coverage in this storm, experts warn that broader, long-term damage to the alert infrastructure may be felt as hurricane season approaches.

Why this matters:

As climate patterns shift, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events are increasing, from hurricanes to fast-moving tornado outbreaks. Accurate, timely forecasts can be the difference between life and death, especially when storms strike with little warning. The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration form the backbone of the nation’s severe weather alert system, but proposed budget reductions threaten this safety net. These cuts come at a dangerous time, as climate volatility accelerates and populations grow in vulnerable areas like the Midwest and Southeast.

www.theatlantic.com

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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www.nytimes.com

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