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Oregon Could Lose Crucial Weather Forecasting Data as Trump Moves to Dismantle Atmospheric Research Center Top Stories By Diane Megaw On Dec 21, 2025 National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado | Credit: Thomson M In the newest round of research defunding, the Trump Administration took aim at the Atmospheric Research Center and plans to migrate the research to another agency. The Trump Administration Wants to Dismantle “Climate Alarmist” Atmospheric Research Center Climate-related research is under threat after a Tuesday announcement by the Trump Administration that it intends to dissolve a key federal climate science research center in Colorado. Ross Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, called the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.” Plans to break up the agency that conducts earth systems scientific research are a risky move and put states, particularly those like Oregon, where flooding and wildfires are common, at risk. On X (formerly Twitter), Vought said: The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather… — Russ Vought (@russvought) December 17, 2025 The latest move to gut the agency follows a $1.33 billion, or 28% cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s operations, research, and facilities budget earlier this year, and a 75% cut to its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which would be the death knell for the agency’s core climate science work. In addition, the Administration dismissed all contributors to the National Climate Assessment , which informs federal and local governments on how to prepare for the effects of climate change. NCAR builds and maintains research tools widely used across the scientific community, governments, and international climate assessment bodies. NCAR is not just a lab, its tools underpin weather forecasts used far beyond Colorado. Tidings Data Snapshot NCAR WRF model : global user footprint 21,557 Registered WRF users 152 Countries represented 7,246 WRF news subscribers 425 Support inquiries per month 240 Annual workshop attendance Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center slides on WRF community model support Dailytidings.com Oregon Natural Disasters Less Predictable Without NCAR Data The NCAR data predicts severe weather events like fires and floods, helping states save lives and property and prevent devastation for families. Wildfires, floods, and extreme weather frequently hit Oregon. Currently, it relies heavily on NCAR’s models for forecasting, such as the recent atmospheric river storms causing current flooding. Oregon has had repeated major disasters in the same hazard lanes that forecasting models help anticipate. Year Declaration Incident Incident period 2024 DR 4768 OR Severe winter storms / straight line winds / landslides / mudslides Jan 10, 2024 to Jan 22, 2024 2024 DR 4854 OR Wildfires Jul 10, 2024 to Aug 23, 2024 2025 DR 4881 OR Winter storms / flooding / landslides / mudslides Mar 13, 2025 to Mar 20, 2025 The current NCAR data for Oregon through Friday indicates: A cool and unsettled pattern remains across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington this afternoon and evening. Scattered showers and mountain snow continue mainly in southwest Washington. A few slower-responding rivers continue to experience flooding. Winter travel conditions may linger across the Cascade passes with occasional mountain snow expected beyond this weekend. An active and progressive pattern continues into next week, with periodic chances for rain and breezy conditions, and a very low chance for lowland snow at the end of next week. Weather and Climate Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email