Just as the spring tornado season kicks into high gear, the National Weather Service is facing shortages in key gases it uses to fill weather balloons.

Why it matters: Weather balloons are usually launched twice daily at about 100 locations nationwide and provide vital information for weather forecasting, from the temperature profile of the atmosphere to the winds aloft. They can help anticipate severe thunderstorms, for example.

Context: With extreme weather events on the rise both in number and severity, due in part to human-caused climate change, America's weather forecasting infrastructure is showing signs of strain.

Driving the news: On March 29 the NWS sent a bulletin announcing the reduction in frequency of weather balloon launches due to a "global supply chain disruption of helium" and a "temporary issue with the contract" of a hydrogen supplier. Most NWS weather balloons use hydrogen rather than helium.

Details: According to NWS spokeswoman Susan Buchanan, as of Tuesday, the hydrogen contract has been resolved, but deliveries of the gas may take up to six weeks to arrive.

What they're saying: Buchanan said the public statement, which has drawn scrutiny from forecasters, "could have been better worded."

What's next: The NWS has received significant increases in funding in the past few years to boost its supercomputing power, but other core capabilities may need upgrading in an era when climate change is putting more strains on the agency.