On November 13, massive internet and communications outages were recorded across the United States, affecting the National Weather Service (NWS) and air traffic control systems, among others. Official agencies confirmed the disruptions and reported working on resolving them, while the causes of the incident remained undetermined at the time of publication.
Issues with Meteorological Data Access
The NWS reported on Friday, November 13, that internet and communications systems nationwide were experiencing disruptions. As a result, users may encounter difficulties accessing materials on the agency's websites, such as weather forecasts, meteorological warnings, and other data. Some information may be delayed or outdated. The agency emphasized that technical specialists are already working to resolve the issue and aim to restore normal system operations as quickly as possible.
Local Offices Continue Operations
Despite the disruptions, local NWS offices continue to issue hazardous weather warnings and forecasts. Some of this information is available to users through third-party resources, helping maintain operational public awareness under conditions of limited access to the agency's official websites.
Air Traffic Control Disruption
The meteorological service issues coincided with a major disruption in the US air traffic control system. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a halt to flight departures from airports nationwide. The cause was communication issues affecting air traffic control centers. According to Reuters, the flight groundings resulted in thousands of delays and cancellations, though aircraft already in the air were able to continue flying and land safely.
Questions Regarding the Causes and Nature of the Outages
US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that authorities had no indications at the time that the incident was a deliberate attack. The causes of the technical failures continued to be investigated. Meanwhile, there was no official confirmation at the time of publication that the NWS disruptions and the air traffic control failure shared a common cause.
