The SSMIS instruments are part of three weather satellites that are in low-Earth orbit and are maintained by NOAA in cooperation with the Department of Defense. They provide critical weather information that can't yet be replaced by other satellites and weather instruments, according to NOAA.

With the peak 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.

Microwave satellite data that are key to capturing changes in a hurricane’s strength will not be taken from meteorologists as originally planned