As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season intensifies, the British Virgin Islands and its Caribbean neighbours are facing increased uncertainty following the announcement that the United States Department of Defense will cease transmission of key weather satellite data as of June 30.
The decision affects real-time data from three satellites in the Defence Meteorological Satellite Programme (DMSP), operated jointly by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Of particular concern is the loss of microwave sensors used to peer through cloud cover and detect the internal structure and rapid intensification of tropical systems — a function vital to the accuracy of hurricane forecasting.
NOAA confirmed the change in a service notice issued on June 26, prompting concern across the region, where meteorologists and disaster preparedness agencies rely heavily on satellite-based tools to guide timely decision-making and public safety measures.
Meteorologist Dale Destin of Antigua and Barbuda has warned that the move could significantly undermine storm monitoring capabilities in the region.
“This is a U.S. defence move, but its ripple effects are global — especially for the Caribbean,” Destin said. “Microwave data is essential in identifying rapid intensification, something that forecasting models often miss, particularly before landfall.”
He added that reduced satellite input could directly impact the precision of hurricane forecasts, potentially hampering evacuation efforts and emergency response planning across small island states, including the Virgin Islands.
“With fewer satellite inputs, we lose accuracy. And in this region, accuracy saves lives,” he noted.
Microwave sensors on the DMSP satellites have historically played a critical role in tracking storm development — particularly overnight, when aircraft reconnaissance and visible satellite imagery are limited. Experts caution that the discontinuation of this data stream could delay the detection of storms that rapidly strengthen near land, increasing the threat of unanticipated impacts.
U.S. hurricane specialist Michael Lowry described the move as “alarmingly bad news,” warning that forecasts will become “undoubtedly worse,” particularly during what is already forecast to be an above-average hurricane season.
While NOAA has pointed to newer alternatives such as the Weather System Follow-on – Microwave (WSF-M) satellite, questions remain regarding the accessibility and consistency of such data — especially for national meteorological services across the Caribbean.
Destin also raised concerns about how the decision could disrupt long-standing collaboration between regional forecasters and key U.S. agencies like the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“This affects not just Antigua and Barbuda but every island that depends on timely and detailed storm information,” he said, adding that the BVI and other territories could face increased risks if warning systems are compromised.
With the shutdown now in effect, national meteorological offices throughout the Caribbean — including the BVI Department of Disaster Management — are reportedly assessing alternative data sources and revising their preparedness strategies in anticipation of less reliable storm monitoring.
As the peak of hurricane season approaches in August and September, local emergency officials may be forced to act earlier and more conservatively in the absence of high-resolution satellite data — a change that could impact everything from school closures to port operations and evacuation planning.
