Severe weather hits the US hard as key forecast offices reel from Trump cuts

This year marks the first time that local NWS offices have stopped round-the-clock operations in the agency's history

A brutal stretch of severe weather has taxed communities on the eastern fringes of tornado alley this spring and early summer, while harsh staffing cuts and budget restrictions have forced federal meteorologists to attempt to forecast the carnage with less data.

As of 30 June, there have already been more than 1,200 tornadoes nationwide.