The National Weather Service has temporarily reduced the amount of weather balloons being launched at their Gray office due to staffing shortages.

The Portland Press Herald reports that forecasters were informed Friday that the changes take effect immediately and remain in place until further notice. However, two launches per-day can be performed by the office if staffing permits.

Director of the surface and upper air division Mike Hopkins, who wrote the original memo informing forecasters of the changes, didn’t specify the staffing figures at the site, when they dropped low enough to justify the change, or how many new hires would be needed to return operations to normal.

This decision has raised concerns among forecasters about its impact on weather predictions, who use these balloons to collect crucial atmospheric data.

In addition to the Gray office being impacted, the office in Albany, NY that covers areas of southern New England has also had their launches suspended.

To read the original Portland Press Herald article, click here. 

To read the original memo sent out by the NWS, click here.