The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses key groups like the National Weather Service. Experts warn the consequences of employee cuts could be drastic.

The terminations come days before a potential severe weather outbreak early next week in the southeast United States — and just months ahead of the next Atlantic hurricane season.

Scientists worry there will be immediate harm from the Trump administration's latest cuts to the federal workforce, which hit NOAA and the NWS Thursday.

Federal employees who monitor and forecast the nation’s weather and climate have been hit with a wave of mass firings.

The Commerce Department has begun laying off potentially hundreds of NOAA employees, many with specialized skills who work at one of the world's top climate science and weather forecasting agencies. Why it matters: The National Oceanics and Atmospherics Administration is responsible for providing weather watches and warnings,

New layoffs under the Trump administration have hit NOAA, including the National Weather Service, with 5% of employees fired. NBC News' Bill Karins reports on the potential impact on severe weather warnings.

Hundreds of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service employees were laid off Thursday in the latest round of federal workforce cuts under President Donald