Say those who have been there, all available evidence suggests that whoever was behind the wave of cuts at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service has never worked in a forecast office during a severe-thunderstorm or tornado outbreak.

Lives are being put in danger,” one meteorologist warned, as some experts feared the cuts will harm public safety.

A storm system, fueled by unseasonably warm air, could unleash significant tornado activity along the Middle and Lower Mississippi Valleys this weekend.