The National Weather Service is set to restart its translation services aimed at non-English speakers. This decision comes after the agency had to pause these vital services earlier due to an expired contract with the translation provider. Experts have raised concerns that this temporary halt could endanger the lives of non-English speakers by leaving them unaware of critical weather warnings during extreme conditions.
On Thursday, the weather service announced that the contract has been renewed and translations will resume by the end of the day on Monday. Notably, Lilt, a company specializing in artificial intelligence, began handling these translations in late 2023, replacing more cumbersome manual methods. The translations cover several languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan.
According to 2019 Census data, around 68 million individuals in the United States speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish being the most common. This makes effective communication about weather not just important during severe events, but also crucial for industries such as tourism, transportation, and energy.
It’s worth mentioning that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the organization overseeing the Weather Service, has faced scrutiny and budget cuts under previous administrations. These financial challenges highlight the ongoing need for strong, effective weather communication, especially for those who rely on translations to stay informed.
