Weather Forecasts Uninterrupted as Government Shutdown Continues

As of October 2nd, 2025, the federal government shutdown that began earlier this week has not disrupted the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Weather Service (NWS) from carrying out their essential weather forecasting duties.

While the shutdown has forced the furlough of thousands of government employees, the NHC and NWS have been deemed critical operations and will remain fully functional throughout the funding lapse. The agencies will continue to issue weather updates, watches, and warnings as normal to protect life and property.

However, the shutdown is expected to have some impact on the NHC and NWS. Social media updates and non-essential projects, such as hurricane analysis and efforts to improve forecast models, will likely be limited or put on hold. The Tallahassee Democrat also reported that education programs may be affected.

Despite these challenges, the NHC and NWS have assured the public that their core services will not be interrupted. The NWS website has posted a banner stating that "The U.S. government is closed. However, because the information this website provides is necessary to protect life and property, this site will be updated and maintained during the federal government shutdown."

As the Atlantic hurricane season continues, with two months remaining, the public is urged to stay vigilant and have multiple ways of receiving urgent weather alerts during this period of government uncertainty.