The Trump administration's significant reductions in NOAA and National Weather Service staffing, along with over $1.5 billion in budget cuts for fiscal 2026, have weakened disaster prediction and response capabilities.

Over 600 NOAA scientists and meteorologists have been laid off or bought out this year, with plans to cut thousands more, impacting climate and weather research and forecasting accuracy.

The flood, intensified by remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, caused nearly 70 deaths and involved hundreds of rescue operations, emphasizing the limitations of current weather forecasting amid a warming climate.

These staffing shortages and funding cuts have impacted the agencies' ability to improve long-term forecasting accuracy and develop advanced storm modeling.

Experts warn that such catastrophic flooding is likely to become more frequent due to climate change, which is amplified by federal funding cuts to weather agencies.

Although weather agencies issued warnings ahead of the floods, actual rainfall exceeded forecasts, illustrating the ongoing challenges in precise flood prediction.

Budget cuts threaten future advancements in high-resolution storm modeling and public education efforts, which are crucial for disaster preparedness.

Despite issuing warnings, local agencies were short-staffed during the Texas floods, raising concerns about the effectiveness of emergency responses in the face of staffing shortages and climate change.

Climate warming has increased atmospheric moisture, making extreme rainfall events more severe and frequent, as evidenced by recent data and historical trends.

While technological advances allow general predictions of heavy rainfall a day in advance, accurately forecasting the specific amount and location remains difficult, especially in hilly terrain.

Experts question whether warnings are being effectively acted upon, noting that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of such events.

A devastating flash flood in central Texas, particularly near San Antonio and Austin, has resulted in at least 78 deaths, highlighting the increasing vulnerability to climate-related disasters driven by climate change.