TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A key tool that helps meteorologists predict weather conditions will soon be limited due to a nationwide helium shortage.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, said they will be switching from twice-daily weather balloon launches to once per day in the morning beginning March 1.
However, if significant weather conditions develop, they will have the ability to launch additional weather balloons.The reduction of launches will have no impact on severe weather operations, the NWS said, or their ability to warn on dangerous storms.NWS offices across the country typically launch weather balloons twice a day, once around 7-8 a.m.
Eastern and again around 7-8 p.m. Eastern.WATCH: METEOROLOGISTS BRAVE FURY OF HURRICANE IDA TO LAUNCH WEATHER BALLOONFor a typical launch, approximately 1,100-1,200 grams of lift is needed to raise the balloon nearly 100,000 feet.
An average helium balloon can typically lift 14 grams.The balloons carry a box of instruments called a radiosonde that helps play a critical role in weather prediction.