NWS resumes hiring after laying off hundreds

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Earlier this year, the National Weather Service (NWS) lost more than 500 employees to layoffs and early retirement packages.

Now, sources say the agency has permission to hire about 125 new meteorologists and specialists for its forecast offices around the country.

The temporary lift of the federal hiring freeze comes as hurricane season has just begun.

The move could allow several weather forecast offices to not have to cut-back on employee hours or overnight staffing during times of non-threatening weather.

About half-a-dozen forecast centers are in that situation right now, but the new hires will not make up for all the personnel lost in the Trump Administration's cutbacks.

This comes amid concerns neither the NWS nor the Federal Emergency Management Agency are nearly as prepared for hurricane season as they have been in past years.