The government of Javier Milei is implementing 25% cuts to the staff of the National Meteorological Service (SMN), which include layoffs and the closure of observation stations. This move is concerning as the SMN is popular in Latin America and Spain for its own prediction models.
According to the scientific body, with these layoffs, nearly half of the professionals essential for minimum operational capacity will remain. They emphasize that the SMN's participation is irreplaceable, demanded for both citizens' daily lives and those requiring precise planning that relies on reliable forecasts. The service also acts as an official authority and the Regional Centre for the Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) for South America.
The Ministry of Sturzenegger, they denounce, announced its intention to fire more than half of the staff, indicating that the bleed has only just begun. The organization states that the SMN is at operational risk due to personnel loss and budget cuts imposed by the government.
They stress that the agency's budget is the lowest since it became a civilian entity again in 2007: in 2025, it ended with a 33% cut versus 2023. The axe will also fall on observation stations.
Currently, the SMN is present in the six Argentine Antarctic bases. Three of them—Orcadas, Esperanza, and Marambio—are internationally recognized as reference points due to the quality of their data and the length of their time series.
The weather forecasts consumed in the country mainly come from the National Meteorological Service. According to experts, the most reliable and accurate weather applications are The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, and Tiempo y Radar, known for their detailed forecasts, real-time radar maps, and weather alerts. For very specific local predictions, applications like AEMET (Spain) or Meteored are highly valued.
