On Tuesday afternoon, Xcel Energy, the largest utility company in Colorado, announced plans to shut down power in northeastern Colorado due to elevated wildfire risks. This decision was prompted by expected high winds and dry conditions, which could lead to catastrophic wildfires if electrical lines were to fall. In response, local institutions, including the Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), announced closures.

Shortly after Xcel's announcement, USA Today reported that the Trump administration intended to dismantle NCAR, which is recognized as one of the largest weather and climate research institutions globally. Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, characterized NCAR as a significant source of what he termed "climate alarmism." Anticipating budget cuts from the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds approximately half of NCAR's operations, the center had already begun reducing its staff. A major project aimed at tracking hurricanes and severe storms was canceled earlier this year due to funding withdrawals.

The dismantling process of NCAR was reported to begin immediately, including the closure of its Mesa Laboratory, known for its distinctive architecture designed by I. M. Pei. Antonio Busalacchi, president of the consortium operating NCAR, acknowledged the reports but stated that further details were not available. He defended the center's work, emphasizing the importance of its research and the impartiality of its scientists.

Established in 1960, NCAR was created to advance meteorological research, which had seen significant growth during World War II but faced challenges in peacetime. The center now employs over 800 researchers and provides facilities for thousands of additional researchers annually. Experts in the field, such as climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, have referred to NCAR as a critical hub for global climate research.

The potential dissolution of NCAR raises concerns about the future of climate science and its applications, particularly regarding access to advanced computing facilities and collaborative research efforts. An anonymous former employee highlighted that the long-term impacts of these disruptions may not be immediately visible but could significantly hinder scientific progress in the coming decades.

Vought indicated that while NCAR would be broken up, essential weather research activities would be relocated. The NSF stated it would explore options to repurpose NCAR's modeling and forecasting capabilities for various weather-related predictions. However, the separation of weather forecasting from climate research has been criticized as impractical, given the interconnected nature of the two fields.

The ongoing research at NCAR has been instrumental in improving weather forecasts, with three-day forecasts achieving over 97 percent accuracy. The center's work has enabled more precise predictions of extreme weather events, which are increasingly influenced by climate change. Without continued research on climate change, the ability to forecast severe weather events could be compromised, potentially leading to inadequate preparedness for disasters such as wildfires and flooding.

As Xcel Energy proceeded with its power shutdown, wind gusts in Boulder reached over 100 miles per hour, underscoring the urgency of addressing both immediate wildfire risks and the broader implications of diminishing climate research capabilities.