What to know about how KY weather service staff shortages affected tornado alerts
As hard-hit Kentucky begins to dig out from two confirmed tornadoes that killed 19 people, questions linger about how a staffing shortage at Kentucky’s three National Weather Service offices affected alerts prior to Friday night’s tornadoes.
The National Weather Service’s Jackson office, which covers hard-hit Laurel and Pulaski counties, is short at least seven positions and typically does not have enough people to staff the office during the midnight to 7 a.m. shifts.
National Weather Service officials has said the office was staffed on Friday night when the weather service predicted a series of strong storms moving through Kentucky.
Other national weather service offices have stepped in to help, officials have said.
What types of alerts were issued Friday?
According to the National Weather Service Jackson X feed, 90 different alerts — including tornado, flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings — were issued for the area on Friday alone.
Multiple tornado warning alerts for Laurel and Pulaski counties were sent Friday night, weather service social media accounts show.
“This is a life threatening situation,” the warnings included. “Seek shelter now!”
Multiple people in Laurel and Pulaski counties said they received alerts on cell phones and mobile devices.
One of those 10:30 p.m. alerts for Pulaski County residents said: “National Weather Service Tornado Warning in this area until 11:45 p.m. Take shelter now,” according to screen shots of the alerts.
What is a PDS alert and was one sent?
Many amateur meteorologists voiced concerns on social media Saturday and Sunday that a PDS alert — a potential dangerous situation — was not sent prior to when the tornado hit Pulaski County.
A PDS alert can also trigger text messages and other alerts. It’s not clear if that was sent prior to the tornado hitting Pulaski County.
Yet, multiple people reported receiving text alert warnings on their phones.
But it may not have mattered because multiple other types of alerts had been sent, said one Lexington TV meteorologist. There was also substantial television and radio coverage prior to the tornadoes hitting southern Kentucky Friday night.
“I also want to dispel rumors that this storm was not warned. That is simply incorrect. This storm had a Tornado Warning on it during its ENTIRE PATH through our area. It was upgraded to a Confirmed (PDS) Tornado Warning as it produced significant damage in Somerset,” said Dillon Gaudet, a meteorologist for WTVQ, ABC 36 in Lexington, in a thread on X.
Why is the National Weather Service short staffed?
As part of President Donald Trump’s effort to shrink the federal government and ax the federal workforce, more than 600 National Weather Staff employees have left the service through layoffs or early retirements, according to data provided by the legislative director of National Weather Services Employee Organization, a union for weather service employees.
Jackson, in Breathitt County, is short seven employees.
The Paducah office also has seven vacancies, including a hydrologist. Louisville is short eight positions, according to the union.
In addition to Jackson, there are eight other weather service offices in the country that no longer have enough staff to cover overnight shifts, roughly from midnight to 7 a.m, according to the union.
Trump has instituted a hiring freeze so the National Weather Service can not hire staff to fill those vacancies.
What the National Weather Service said about staffing and Friday night’s storms
The hobbled National Weather Service pulled staff from other offices to help with the storm on Friday, National Weather Service officials said.
“As planned in advance, neighboring offices provided staffing support to the office in Jackson, KY. Additionally, the Jackson office remained fully staffed through the duration of the event using surge staffing. Weather forecast offices in the Central Region continue to evaluate storm damage and other impacts from this tragic event,” said Erica Cei, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The weather service is part of NOAA.
The National Weather Service provided timely alerts prior to the tornadoes hitting Kentucky, Cei said.
“The National Weather Service offices in Louisville, Jackson and Paducah provided forecast information, timely warnings and decision support in the days and hours leading up to the severe weather on May 16,” she said.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
