NWS Halts Multilingual Severe Weather Alerts: Critics Cite Cruelty, Racism
The National Weather Service (NWS) has temporarily suspended multilingual severe weather alerts due to an expired contract with AI translation provider Lilt. This disruption affects over 68 million non-English speakers in the U.S., jeopardizing public safety, particularly during severe weather events and hurricane season. The lapse in service necessitates local meteorologists to independently provide translations, increasing their workload amid existing NOAA staffing cuts. A delay in renewing the contract could significantly hinder the ability to quickly reinstate the crucial multilingual alert system.
John Q. Hosedrinker