Kansas Rep. questions National Weather Service over tornado warning gaps

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids is questioning whether the National Weather Service missed critical steps that put lives at risk during tornadoes that struck the region 10 days ago.

On Wednesday, Davids sent a letter to top NWS officials demanding answers to specific questions. No one was seriously hurt, but she warned the next storm could be different if gaps in preparedness are not fixed.

“We really need some clarity around this. It is literally about life and death choices that people need to be able to make based on the warning systems,” Davids said.

The Kansas congresswoman said the storms exposed serious gaps in the National Weather Service’s forecasting and warning systems.

“We need the systems to be fully operational. We need to make sure that these systems are not stretched thin or missing key data,” Davids said.

Her concerns stem from reports that NWS offices in the region may have skipped standard weather balloon launches the morning of the storms. Forecasters use the launches as a critical step to read atmospheric conditions and predict severe weather.

“Whether or not these balloons are being deployed, the timing is happening the way that it’s supposed to, it is literally key to saving lives,” Davids said.

Davids also said the Storm Prediction Center flagged the tornado threat late and watches went out later than usual.

“I expect us to see that starting with clear answers about what was happening in advance of the storm and during the storm,” Davids said.

Not everyone shares those concerns. Terry Jackson of Ottawa said he felt the NWS did its job.

“It was a terrible storm that came through, but we had plenty of notice. All the news channels, the radio stations were covering it. We knew it was coming. They sounded the alarms, blew the tornado whistles. I mean, it’s an act of nature. It’s going to happen. So, you know, I think we were covered,” Jackson said.

In her letter, Davids gave the NWS 30 days to answer four key questions: whether balloon launches were missed and why, whether that missing data delayed tornado watches, how many staff vacancies exist at regional offices, and what the agency needs to fill them.

Cleanup continues one week after 9 tornadoes hit region

Davids said missing data and staffing shortages can directly impact forecasting accuracy, reducing warning times and increasing risk to communities in the path of severe weather.

“We really depend on these systems. And I just want to make sure that we get the transparency and accountability that we expect,” Davids said.

This is not the first time Davids has raised concerns about staffing and operational capacity at the NWS. Last year, she pressed the administration for answers on workforce shortages and the agency’s ability to maintain around-the-clock operations. After receiving no response for nearly 10 months, Davids is now renewing her call for accountability following the recent storms.

“Seeing something like this just raises additional concerns for me,” she said, and I think that not just Kansans, but Americans deserve to know that the National Weather Service is able to do the job that we depend on."

Cleanup is still underway in communities like Ottawa. The City of Ottawa has not responded to requests for comment.