[Map of U.S.] Thirty National Weather Service offices are without a chief meteorologist Some of these offices issue forecasts for major population centers such as New York City, Houston and Cleveland. Several are prone to hurricanes and tornadoes. [map title] • National Weather Service forecast areas without a meteorologist-in-charge [text on map] Upton, NY Covers New York City and southern Connecticut Paducah/Louisville/Jackson, KY Nearly the whole state of Kentucky is covered by forecast areas without leadership Houston, TX All management positions vacant Note: Data as of May 1, 2025 Sources: CNN reporting (staffing); National Weather Service (forecast area boundaries) Graphic: Renée Rigdon, CNN
A Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC) acts as the experienced captain guiding NWS teams. They also connect to local news media and the emergency management community.
"There is not a single manager in place at the hurricane-prone Houston-Galveston forecast office."
Nearly all of Kentucky has no MICs.