National Weather Service shifts outreach efforts amid rise in extreme weather

Across the country communities are seeing an increase in extreme weather events, and that has raised questions about how weather tracking organizations respond to those event and communicate with the public.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joe Moore works out of Duluth. He told WTIP that while the types of weather events across the state have varied, Arrowhead residents are seeing the biggest changes in rain patterns.

“Here in northeast Minnesota, we’re more frequently seeing almost tropical or tropical like rainfall rates with thunderstorms that produces a lot of rain in a really short amount of time, overwhelming local infrastructure,” Moore said. “And we’re seeing that happen not only more often, but also across a wider area than we used to in the past.”

According to Moore, changes in average temperatures have been small, but there has been a slight increase. While on a daily basis this might not have much impact, across an entire season it can compound. Moore gave the example of how a slightly warmer winter can mean more snow than in previous years.

The increase in severe weather events has meant an increase in communicating with the public about safety. Moore said that the communication has not only been outreach from the National Weather Service, but more people contacting their local field offices with questions.

“I do think that it gets people talking a little bit more and gets a little bit more engagement in that weather safety information,” he said. “I think people are a little bit more encouraged to reach out to us with the reports and with questions about what they can do to stay safe, where they can find resources about that.”

During several recent flooding events across the Midwest and in Texas, some have questioned whether there is enough communication with the public about extreme weather. Moore provided advice to the public saying, “I think the number one takeaway I would have for the general public, for kind of the average person, is that you need to have more than one way that you’re getting your weather information.”

Moore suggested using the National Weather Service as one source of information, but also recommended using a weather app that will notify a user of emergency weather announcements, including with sound, in case a warning is issued at night. Having multiple resources for weather information and especially weather emergencies, is vital according to Moore.

Some of the questions around public communication have pointed to staffing cuts made earlier this year at NOAA and the National Weather Service. Moore said he couldn’t speak to the staffing questions directly, but added that while regional offices may focus primarily on their immediate area, the National Weather Service operates as a national organization.

“The 122 field offices of the National Weather Service work really closely with each other so that we can provide cohesive and high quality service to the communities we serve,” Moore said.

As the climate changes, so does the work of the National Weather Service. Moore said the organization has shifted their outreach strategy as they talk about extreme weather. “In the past, we would maybe do more generalized weather support,” he said. “Now we’re doing a lot more where we get directly out into our communities to provide weather support.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joe Moore. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski August 20, 2025