US braces for intense hurricane season as climate agency is gutted

Washington (AFP) May 22, 2025

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday predicted a more intense Atlantic hurricane season this year - even as the Trump administration moves to gut the agency's workforce and slash its budget. NOAA is forecasting a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season, with between 13 to 19 named storms with winds of 39 mph (63 kph) or higher. Of those, six to