Overview
- ATE announced a 24-hour stoppage at the National Meteorological Service for Thursday, citing layoffs and an automation plan that it says will put flights and public warnings at risk.
- Minister Federico Sturzenegger defended about 140 dismissals and said the agency could run with about 150 staff by replacing most manual observers with automated stations.
- Union leaders and meteorologists rejected his figures, saying the network has roughly 120–125 stations, 832 workers and 148 trained meteorologists, far above the counts he cited.
- DNU 274/2026 removed the SMN’s exclusive role in aviation meteorology and allows the state air navigation company EANA to contract third-party providers.
- The Centro Argentino de Meteorólogos warned of weaker forecasts and early alerts, and sector sources said the government halted a purchase of automatic stations financed by the World Bank.