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The original was posted on /r/sailing by /u/youngrichyoung on 2025-06-26 17:11:11+00:00.
News today indicates that the US DOD will no longer make the data from its SSMIS [Special Sensor Microwave Image Sounder] instrument aboard the DMSP satellites available to forecasters.
https://www.local10.com/weather/hurricane/2025/06/26/critical-hurricane-forecast-tool-abruptly-terminated/
The data from these microwave sensors fill an important gap in visible and infrared satellite imagery, providing much more accurate location and status information on developing storms early in their lifespan and giving visibility into storms during nighttime passes. The absence of this information will make track predictions much less accurate, blind us to rapid intensification, and increase the likelihood of "sunrise surprises" where daybreak reveals a storm much more powerful than earlier predictions indicated. It also provides important data for researchers working on polar sea ice.
The article linked above indicated that there may be security concerns with releasing this data publicly, but that's not confirmed at this time.
Researchers are unhappy. One called the move "insanity" and noted that "hurricane forecasts will undoubtedly be worse after this loss."