In this episode of Storm Stories, Shoresides sits down with **Joe Friday** — veteran meteorologist and former National Weather Service director — to talk about a growing risk in how we forecast storms. Across the U.S., staffing shortages and cuts to weather-balloon launches are degrading forecast precision exactly when two hurricanes spin off our shores.
Friday describes the mounting pressure on forecasters, the human relationships behind effective early warnings, and why even slight losses in accuracy can tip the balance between safety and disaster. He also outlines paths forward: rebuilding predictive capacity, restoring essential data networks, and reinforcing trust between agencies, communities, and emergency managers.
