A meteorologist who made a life-saving call to a Newfoundland mayor urging him to evacuate residents from the path of post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022 says cuts to weather services in the United States could have impacts in hurricane-prone Atlantic Canada.
Eddie Sheerr is among a growing number of Canadian meteorologists and scientists sounding the alarm about sweeping cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, made by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency run by billionaire Elon Musk.
Sheerr, a meteorologist with NTV in St. John’s, N.L., said he uses NOAA’s data and modelling “literally every day.”
“They have some of the best hurricane forecasters and meteorologists in the world. I rely on that data and their expertise heavily when tracking these tropical systems, as do meteorologists throughout the country,” he said in a recent interview.
“They provide life-saving information. Period.”
Hundreds of weather forecasters and other NOAA employees lost their jobs last month …