Last year, according to government figures, there were 16 "climate disaster events" with losses exceeding $1 billion each in the U.S.
So the weather is something to keep an eye on, and since 1870 what's now known as the National Weather Service has been doing that. But for the last several years, it's been doing so with serious staff shortages.
Now, it faces the prospect of permanent job losses.
The Trump administration wants to eliminate 355 jobs, and $75 million from the weather service budget.