The National Weather Service office in Romeoville during the May 16 dust storm. Courtesy of National Weather Service

As Illinois recovers from a record-breaking year of tornadoes that prompted emergency declarations across several counties, local officials and lawmakers are sounding the alarm about deep staffing cuts to the National Weather Service — and the risks they pose to public safety.

More than 1,000 employees of the National Weather Service and its parent agency, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have been laid off by the federal government this year, representing about 10% of NOAA’s workforce.

The cuts included hundreds of weather forecasters as well as researchers and other employees who monitor ocean and climate conditions, record weather data, and ov

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