This week the National Weather Service announced reductions in weather balloon launches. Experts warn that could harm weather forecast accuracy, the economy and safety.

Twice daily launches of weather balloons from Rapid City have been suspended by the National Weather Service. Experts say forecasting weather will be more difficult with the loss of atmospheric sounding information those balloons gathered.

Balloons aren’t just for birthday parties and hot-air rides.Meteorologist Scot Mundt has a look at what may affect computer model forecast. A major part of weather forecast modeling is information that gets fed into the computers by weather balloons.