Militia Group Threatens NWS Radars, Calling Them 'Weather Weapons'—How Did NOAA Respond?

The National Weather Service (NWS) increased security after getting credible threats from a violent militia-style organization called Veterans on Patrol.

Internal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) emails show that this organization believes Doppler weather radars, namely those in the NEXRAD network, are really "weather weapons," and they are demanding their destruction.

What Is the NEXRAD Radar System?

Militia Group Threatens NWS Radars, Calling Them 'Weather Weapons'

In a NOAA security notice that CNN has obtained, Veterans on Patrol is calling supporters to conduct "penetration drills" at radar facilities throughout the US to locate vulnerabilities and take advantage of them with the goal of sabotaging them. The notice threatens recent face-to-face contact with the organization and details field personnel's essential safety procedures.

The NEXRAD system, which has been operational since the 1990s, is important for weather forecasting and public safety. It is used to detect precipitation, assist in the tracking of tornadoes and severe storms, and is crucial for the issuance of life-saving weather warnings. The system is also extensively used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the US Air Force.

Though valuable, the radar towers have also been the focus of unfounded conspiracy theories, with Veterans on Patrol asserting that the structures are weather manipulation tools.

NOAA Releases Safety Guidelines Amid Rising Threats

In a May 1 letter, the NOAA originally instructed its staff on general threats. A more threatening email released on Monday, May 5, however, instructed heightened alert and suggested a buddy system for workers visiting isolated radar facilities.

"Do not approach anyone suspicious," the NOAA warned, instructing employees to call local law enforcement immediately if threatened instead of dealing with possible instigators themselves.

The internal memos indicate the FBI and other federal agencies are tracking the situation, though this has not been confirmed by CNN independently.

Staffing Crisis Heightens Danger

The attack is coming at a vulnerable moment for the NWS, already weakened by staff shortages. With more than 90 openings for technicians vacant and a federal hiring freeze remaining in place, any intentional sabotage of radar equipment could devastate national and local weather operations.

An NWS employee, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the growing hostility toward federal agencies.

"We obviously deal with some fringe folks every now and then (chemtrails mostly), but specific threats to target facilities is pretty rare," the NWS staff member said. "Given the general temperature of the country right now, this is stuff is especially concerning."

Rising Anti-Government Sentiment Raises Alarm

The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated Veterans on Patrol as an anti-government militia, as part of an overall trend toward increasing extremism against public institutions. These threats are a disturbing convergence of disinformation, government distrust, and actual danger.

With the US entering storm and hurricane season peak, any disruption of the NEXRAD network could mean disastrous delays in emergency weather alerts, putting lives and communities in jeopardy.