Sacramento Weather Office still short-staffed despite hiring boost

The National Weather Service has been granted an exemption from a federal hiring freeze, allowing it to fast-track hiring for critical roles like meteorologists and electronic technicians. The shift, enabled by President Biden’s designation of the agency as vital to public safety, also gives the NWS director direct hiring authority to bypass traditional bureaucratic delays. Despite this, the Sacramento Weather Forecast Office—previously in national headlines for its staffing shortage—remains critically understaffed, with only 9 of 16 forecast positions filled. Officials emphasize the urgency of filling these roles to ensure effective emergency response to natural disasters like floods and wildfires.