Threats to National Weather Service

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a warning to the National Weather Service (NWS) regarding potential attacks from an armed conspiracy group known as Veterans on Patrol. According to a report by CNN, this group believes that government radars are being utilized as "weather weapons" and is planning to target Doppler radar stations.

Background on Veterans on Patrol

CNN obtained emails from NOAA, which alerted NWS staff about the possible attacks. The emails stated that Veterans on Patrol intended to conduct "penetration drills on NEXRAD sites to identify weaknesses" with the ultimate goal of destroying NEXRAD. NEXRAD, or Next Generation Weather Radar, is used by the NWS to detect precipitation in the atmosphere, playing a vital role in locating thunderstorms and tornados, and facilitating the evacuation of vulnerable communities before disasters strike.

Concerns and Misconceptions

It is unclear what Veterans on Patrol finds threatening about radar technology, as the group has previously focused on white nationalism and government conspiracies. However, concerns over the effects of exposure to radio waves are a common misconception among conspiracy theorists. For instance, some groups have attacked cell towers due to the belief that 5G spreads the coronavirus. Similarly, viewing radar as a weapon may originate from misconceptions about its purpose and functionality.

Precautions and Previous Devastation

NWS staff have been advised to use the buddy system when working at remote radar sites and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities. Despite these precautions, the NWS and NOAA have already faced significant challenges in 2025. Hundreds of weather forecasters were laid off due to cuts made by the Trump administration, which is part of a broader effort to dismantle government services.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/noaa-warns-staff-a-militia-group-thinks-its-radars-are-weather-weapons-202236953.html?src=rss