Weathering the Storm: How NOAA Funding Cuts Threaten Ski Industry Operations and Safety

The recent federal budget cuts targeting NOAA and the National Weather Service pose unprecedented challenges for U.S. ski areas. With the reduction of critical data collection programs—such as the curtailing of high-altitude weather balloon launches—ski areas face significant operational disruptions and increased safety risks. This article deeply explores how these federal funding reductions impact ski resorts across the nation, with particular vulnerability in the volatile weather regions of the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain West.

The piece identifies how ski resorts currently utilize federal weather forecasts for crucial operational decisions including grooming, snowmaking, avalanche control, and guest communication. It quantifies the potential financial impact of forecast inaccuracies, estimating annual losses between tens of thousands of dollars for small resorts to millions for large destination resorts, totaling tens of millions industry-wide. Additionally, the article outlines immediate and long-term solutions for ski areas to mitigate these impacts, including adopting private forecasting services, forming regional forecasting cooperatives, and investing in localized weather data infrastructure.