Fri Jun 27 17:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Department of Defense is unexpectedly terminating a satellite program critical for hurricane forecasting, a decision that has drawn criticism from meteorologists, including a former National Hurricane Center chief. The program’s satellites provide real-time imagery and data vital for monitoring and predicting storm intensification, especially at night. Experts fear this shutdown will lead to delays in recognizing and forecasting rapid intensification, potentially impacting public safety during what’s expected to be an active hurricane season. The article also mentions that access to NOTUS, the news source reporting this, requires a free account, achievable either through email verification or linking existing social media accounts.

**News Article:**

**DoD Cuts Crucial Hurricane Forecasting Satellite Program Amid Active Season Predictions**

**Washington D.C.** – The Department of Defense (DoD) is facing scrutiny after abruptly announcing the termination of a satellite program used by meteorologists to forecast hurricanes. The decision comes as experts predict an “above-normal” Atlantic hurricane season, raising concerns about potential impacts on public safety.

The satellites, part of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), provide real-time imagery and data vital for monitoring and predicting storm behavior. These tools are particularly critical for observing storms at night.

“Things are being taken away all across the forecasting enterprise,” said James Franklin, former chief of the National Hurricane Center (NHC). He added that the shutdown “is going to result in delays in the recognition from [the National Hurricane Center] that storms are strengthening.” Franklin further warned of delays in forecasts of rapid intensification, as the satellite imagery provides early clues.

The surprising announcement has drawn sharp criticism from within the meteorological community. One former NOAA administrator called the decision unprecedented. The loss of this data source could lead to delays in issuing timely warnings, potentially putting coastal communities at greater risk.

The DoD has yet to publicly comment on the reasons behind the program’s termination, leaving meteorologists scrambling to adapt to the loss of a crucial forecasting tool.

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