After several months of vacancy following the early retirement of the previous meteorologist-in-charge, the National Weather Service (NWS) has named Matt Moreland as the new meteorologist-in-charge for the Houston-Galveston office. This announcement was made by Todd Lericos, the acting meteorologist-in-charge, on Monday.
Matt Moreland’s Background and Experience
Matt Moreland is a seasoned professional with years of experience in the National Weather Service. He currently serves as a senior advisor to the director of the NWS.
Prior to this, Moreland led the Science and Technology Service Division at the NWS Southern Region headquarters. He has also held positions as the meteorologist-in-charge at NWS offices in San Diego, California, and Key West, Florida.
Importantly, Moreland has deep ties to the Houston-Galveston office, having worked there for over a decade from 1998 to 2011. According to Lericos, Moreland is expected to start his new role sometime in August, although the exact start date is yet to be confirmed.
Leadership Changes at the Houston-Galveston Office
The Houston-Galveston office had been without a full-time meteorologist-in-charge since February, when Jeffry Evans, who had over 30 years of experience with the NWS, retired.
Evans had been with the Houston-Galveston office for eight years and had been one of three top leaders to take early retirement after the Trump administration implemented a federal hiring freeze.
In an interview with Hello Houston in May, Evans explained that the decision to retire was influenced by the fact that he and his colleagues were in their mid-to-late 50s, and the freeze left a leadership gap at the office.
As of Tuesday, the Houston-Galveston office still listed several vacancies, including the position that Moreland will soon fill.
The Impact of Staff Shortages
The NWS, which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has faced ongoing criticism over its staffing shortages, particularly following the deadly flooding in the Texas Hill Country during the July 4 weekend.
The flooding, which claimed at least 100 lives across several counties, has prompted renewed concern about the NWS’s ability to effectively handle such large-scale weather events with its current staff levels.
In the wake of these challenges, the appointment of Moreland comes as an important step in addressing leadership gaps and ensuring that the Houston-Galveston office is properly staffed to handle severe weather events in the future.
Matt Moreland’s appointment marks a significant change for the Houston-Galveston office. His extensive experience within the NWS and his previous tenure at the office provide a strong foundation for addressing leadership challenges.
However, with several vacancies still open, it remains to be seen how the NWS will manage its staffing levels going forward, especially as severe weather events continue to affect Texas.
