A hurricane-tracking satellite that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls "vital" will shut down permanently on Monday. Last week, the agency announced the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) will cease operations due to budget cuts.

Microwave satellite data are key to capturing major changes in a hurricane’s strength, such as when a storm undergoes rapid intensification. But a main source of those data is being abruptly shut off

With the peak of hurricane season looming, forecasters will be without key information starting Monday because the Defense Department said it will no longer provide them with data from the weather satellites.