National Weather Service resumes hiring

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

Now, the agency has permission to hire around 125 new meteorologists and specialists for its forecast offices or all across the country.

The temporary lift of the federal hiring freeze comes after the hurricane season is set to begin. The move could allow several 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 a situation right now, but the new hires will not make up for the personnel loss during the Trump Administration's cutbacks.

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