1. United States
2. S.D.
3. Letter

<message> The National Weather Service's decision to reduce weather balloon launches at multiple stations, including Aberdeen and Rapid City, South Dakota, raises serious concerns about public safety and national preparedness for severe weather events in the region. South Dakota faces a high risk of extreme weather conditions such as blizzards, thunderstorms, and tornadoes, making accurate weather forecasting imperative for protecting lives and property. Cutting back on the vital atmospheric data gathered by weather balloons, which provide crucial wind speed, temperature, humidity, and pressure readings at various altitudes, undermines our ability to anticipate and effectively respond to these threats. Investments in staffing and resources for comprehensive weather monitoring in South Dakota should be a top priority to safeguard public safety and support emergency preparedness efforts statewide. I urge you to take immediate action to restore full weather balloon launch operations at the affected stations in South Dakota. Ensuring robust data gathering and forecasting capabilities is a matter of paramount importance and should not be compromised, given the state's vulnerability to severe weather events. The potential consequences of diminished weather monitoring capabilities in South Dakota are too grave to ignore. </message>