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As Temperatures Plunge in Minnesota, Klobuchar Advocates for Funding to Help Ensure Accurate Weather Forecasting

Press Release

Date: Dec. 12, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Science

At a Commerce Subcommittee Hearing, Klobuchar discussed the need to strengthen and modernize the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure they can make timely and accurate forecasts; the proposed budget agreement would reverse half of the cuts made by sequester in 2014

During the hearing, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska -- whose father grew up in Minnesota -- noted that today it was colder in northern Minnesota than it was above the Arctic Circle

As temperatures plunge to below zero across Minnesota, Klobuchar today advocated for more funding for accurate weather forecasting that is vital to saving lives. At a Commerce Subcommittee Hearing, Klobuchar discussed the need to strengthen and modernize the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to ensure they can make timely and accurate forecasts. The proposed budget agreement would reverse half of the cuts made by sequester in 2014. During the hearing, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska -- whose father grew up in Minnesota -- noted that today it was colder in northern Minnesota than it was above the Arctic Circle.

"In a state like Minnesota where winters can drop well below freezing, accurate weather forecasts aren't just a matter of convenience -- they're a matter of life and death," Klobuchar said. "It's absolutely critical that organizations like the National Weather Service and NOAA have the tools and resources they need to do their job and minimize the impact of severe weather."

During the hearing, Klobuchar discussed efforts to improve emergency response and the effectiveness of disseminating weather alerts. The National Weather Service has Weather Forecast Offices in the Twin Cities and Duluth and NOAA has the North Central River Forecast Center in Chanhassen, all of which play an important role in providing warning for floods, tornadoes and winter storms.


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