US Navy won't torpedo hurricane forecast satellite feed after all

The US Navy has announced plans to continue distributing satellite data needed for hurricane forecasting, months after authorities said the data stream was to be turned off.

The U-turn comes after protests from weather forecasters and an alternative approach from amateur satellite enthusiasts, which showed users how to receive and decode data straight from the satellite.

The Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) has said it plans to continue distributing Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) data beyond July 31, offering weather forecasters a respite.

As a result, there will be no interruption to DMSP data delivery and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will continue to have access to the data for the duration of the program's lifespan.

In a statement, a US Navy spokesperson said: "The center [FNMOC] had planned to phase out the data as part of a Defense Department modernization effort. But after ...