Enhanced Hurricane Forecasting

Yale Climate Connections: "The National Hurricane Center set an all-time record for forecast accuracy in 2024. "The explanation for this progress stems from the 'Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project, or HFIP...established within NOAA in response to the devastating hurricanes of 2004-2005, including Charley in 2004 and Wilma, Katrina, and Rita in 2005.' So, now some great results to report: NOAA, the parent organization of the National Hurricane Center [NHC]: "During the highly active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the NHC made record-accurate 'track forecasts' at every time interval (12-, 24-, 36-, 48-, 60-, 72-, 96-, and 120-hour forecasts), according to the preliminary 2024 NHC Forecast Verification Report released on Feb. 24." The non-profit, non-partisan National Bureau of Economic Research, “The Social Value of Hurricane Forecasts,” found that recent advancements in hurricane forecasting for 18 continental U.S. landfalling hurricanes from 2005-2020 (including all nine major landfalls and nine of the 20 additional Cat 1 and Cat 2 landfalls) led to a 19% reduction in total hurricane-related costs—an average cost reduction of $5 billion per hurricane. Brass tacks: "The average benefit of $5 billion per major hurricane is on par with the entire 2024 NOAA budget of $6.8 billion, and far in excess of the cumulative $250 million spent over the period 2009-2019 on the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project." So, if NOAA actually saves more money than it costs us as taxpayers, tell me why again the current administration is slashing its funding, laying off staff , + apparently considering breaking up this organization in the Commerce Department in the interests of both denying climate change + privitizing legitimate government functions? Not to mention the idiotic sharpie wielded by the not-so-sharp chief executive.  Chaotic and destructive—just like a hurricane.