With massive job cuts, the National Weather Service is eliminating or reducing vital weather balloon launches in eight northern locations, which meteorologists and former agency leaders said will degrade the accuracy of forecasts just as severe weather season kicks in. The normally twice-daily launches of weather balloons in about 100 locations provide information that forecasters and computer models use to figure out what the weather will be and how dangerous it can get. … Launches will be eliminated in Omaha, Nebraska, and Rapid City, South Dakota, “due to a lack of Weather Forecast Office (WFO) staffing,” the weather service said in a notice issued late Thursday. It also is cutting from twice daily to once daily launches in Aberdeen, South Dakota; Grand Junction, Colorado; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Gaylord, Michigan; North Platte, Nebraska and Riverton, Wyoming.

Other federal weather and environmental agency news:

• E&E News by Politico: EPA records reveal axed industry grants
• The New York Times: E.P.A. investigations of severe pollution look increasingly at risk
• Grist: Power companies would rather not clean their toxic messes. Trump’s EPA is granting their wish.
• E&E News by Politico: NOAA cuts weather balloon launches, citing staff shortages​
• John Fleck at Inkstain: Blog: Wrecking ball report: Weather balloon launches