LOOK: Will Fewer Weather Balloons Put Colorado At Risk?

This week, the National Weather Service Office in Grand Junction was part of national news. A reduction in staffing and a federal hiring freeze have resulted in the cancellation of weather balloon flights around the country, including in Western Colorado.

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The office in Grand Junction will join others in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, and Wyoming, all reducing the number of daily weather balloon flights by 50% this spring. This reduction of flights has many if asking if the loss of balloon data will weaken the forecasting on the Western Slope.

What's Changing About Weather Balloons

According to Arstechnia.com, weather stations around the world launch weather balloons twice a day on Zulu time. This is typically at 8 am EST and 8 pm EST in America. For several reasons, some offices have decided to drop down to one launch per day.

One launch means half the weather data in 24 hours. While this might not be noticeable day-to-day, it could impact forecasting during periods with significant weather events.

Why Do We Launch Weather Balloons?

Balloons are filled with hydrogen or helium and sent up into the jet stream. Inside the balloon is a tool known as a radiosonde (seen above). It takes all kinds of measurements and transmits data, which is used to plot a chart with current atmospheric conditions.

When combined with data from all the other balloons, forecasts can tell us what the atmosphere is doing and if we are likely to experience rain, sleet, or snow.

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Less Accurate Storm Forecasts?

Colorado is a state that has fallen behind on balloon launches. A 'helium shortage' was the reason the city of Denver halted balloon flights back in 2022. A reduction in flights from the Grand Junction office likely limits available data even further. Without the extra atmospheric data, it will be harder to predict exactly where severe weather could occur.

In areas with fewer balloons, previous studies have shown airplanes may be able to gather data when balloons can not.

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