U.S. hurricane forecasters losing critical access to government data

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However, meteorologists were surprised when the U.S. Department of Defense announced in June it was suspending data sharing from three of its meteorological satellites, cutting the available data that meteorologists use by about half.

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These are not run-of-the-mill satellites tracking things from high above the clouds as seen on radar images, but operate in low polar orbits using microwaves to "see into" a hurricane in ways other satellites cannot, according to Lowry.

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With three fewer government satellites available to forecasters, the remaining satellites may only produce information on a strengthening hurricane every six to 12 hours instead of every few hours, giving storms a much bigger window to grow unobserved, he said.

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Losing satellite information in the middle of storm season seemed like a "seriously dangerous proposition" for herself and other storm survivors who have their houses.

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