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

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

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.

Former NOAA officials warned that jobs cuts undermine critical weather forecasting and basic science that companies and communities rely on.