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<div>Lucy is originally from the Boston area but has spent the last four years forecasting and living in Colorado! She stayed in the northeast for her education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Oswego with a B.S. in Meteorology. Just a few days after graduation, she made the cross country move to Colorado Springs, CO to begin her career at KKTV, the CBS affiliate. Lucy has covered historic blizzards, tornadoes, windstorms, the largest wildfires in Colorado state history and dust storms ... they truly "get it all" in Colorado! Lucy is excited to forecast on a national level and continue her passion of explaining the science behind the weather!</div>
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Lucy Bergemann

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<p>The spring season often means rounds of strong and severe storms in the heart of the country, with this April being no exception. A potent upper-level low-pressure system will eject from the Rocky Mountains and move across the Plains midweek creating wind shear and lift in the atmosphere. At the surface, a well-developed dryline is forecast from west Texas to west-central Kansas. This is the boundary between dry air and muggy air where storms could form from mid to late afternoon.</p><p>Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/wet-weekend-in-the-lone-star-state"><strong><em><u>Front Sparks Storms in Texas Tuesday &amp; Wednesday </u></em></strong></a>and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/weekend-forecast-more-severe-weather-in-the-plains"><strong><em><u>Weekend Severe Threat</u></em></strong></a></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-23 07-39-30-1713879817199.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Thursday is highlighted as an <strong>ENHANCED RISK</strong> (level 3 out of 5) on the threat scale with pockets of large hail, strong winds, and a few tornadoes all on the table. We start Thursday with heavy rain in Texoma before daytime heating helps to develop more individual storm cells through the afternoon and evening hours. Those individual storm cells pose the risk of rotation, creating tornadoes and damaging hail and downburst winds.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-23_18z thu-1714005161756.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Our in-house model depicts one of the worst-case scenarios, with multiple rounds of severe storms possible. On the other hand, another model, the HRRR, isn't so sure we'll get storms much before midnight when the front arrives. Here's another example of what the commute home could look like on Thursday (below).</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-23 enh 18z-1714005304545.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The severe weather trend continues on Friday for the Midwest and Mississippi Delta. Cities under risk again on Friday include Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, and Dallas. Once again all modes of severe weather are possible. Please have numerous ways to get alerts.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-23 friday 18-1714005594411.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Alana Cameron

Significant Storm Threat Thursday

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Kara has always been passionate about weather and knew from an early age that she wanted to become a meteorologist. Living in different regions of the country and experiencing weather events ranging from ice storms to tornadoes drove her to pursue a bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout college, storm chasing became a regular event for Kara, where she saw first-hand the power of the atmosphere. Kara graduated cum laude from OU and decided to further her meteorology education with a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. The deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak struck while Kara was studying at MSU; her first “Dixie Alley” tornado event and an up close glimpse into the destruction of the storms she so closely studied. Her broadcast career began in Elvis’ birthplace, Tupelo, Mississippi, where she earned her Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society. Kara's career has included coverage of all types of severe weather including tornado events, flooding and tropical systems across multiple southern states. Recently she helped cover the 2020 Easter Sunday deadly tornado outbreak in southeast Mississippi. In her free time, you can find Kara outdoors exploring new areas with her mini poodle,Truffles. Kara is also an avid runner and frequently races in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons. Say hi to Kara on <a href="https://twitter.com/wxkara">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karajameswx">Facebook</a>!

Kara James

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<p>We are looking at the threat of another severe weather outbreak for the final weekend of April. Historically, our highest number of tornadoes occur in April and May.</p><p>Related Article -<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-to-the-plains-thursday-friday"><strong><em><u> Severe Weather Thursday - Friday</u></em></strong></a></p><p>The Storm Prediction Center has issued severe weather outlooks for Saturday and Sunday across the Great Plains and Midwest, indicating confidence in the threat of severe weather potential. These are similar areas that are under the severe weather threat on Thursday and Friday. Once again, all severe weather hazards are possible: hail, wind, and tornadoes.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24 Sat SPC-1713991025660.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24 Sun SPC-1713991066195.png"></p><p>Storms develop around an area of low pressure in the Plains on Saturday. Storms are mainly focused in Oklahoma and Texas. More severe weather looks likely on Sunday as the front hits warm, moist air over the central and southern Plains. Severe weather will continue into Monday morning in an overnight severe weather threat so please look ahead to the weekend and have multiple ways to get alerts.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24_sat to mon-1714008395797.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>In addition to the severe weather, there is a flood threat, especially in Missouri, eastern Kansas, and Oklahoma. This is thanks to heavy rainfall in combination with saturated soils from heavy rain already falling earlier in the week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-24 192723-1714008507203.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the severe weather threat and forecast information.</p>

Weekend Forecast: More Severe Weather in the Plains

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<p>Snow is in the forecast for Denver, which could be our last snowfall of the year - right on track. The Mile High City is no stranger to some wild temperature swings and this week is no different. After snow and frosty conditions happened last weekend, highs jump into the 70s for the Front Range and wider Southwest through Thursday. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-24 170055-1713999663409.png"></p><p>Despite the warmer weather, a cool down is incoming across the southwest as two areas of low-pressure slide in. Our first low moving through now and Thursday will aid thunderstorm development along I-80 in northern Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming. A second area of low pressure arrives Thursday afternoon through the weekend and packs a bigger punch.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-24 11-42-48-1713980619657.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>If you live in the western United States you can expect hit or miss showers throughout the morning hours and more widespread rain and snowshoers (dependent on temperature and elevation) throughout the day. Check out our forecast models for the next couple of days. Thanks to a couple of upper-level troughs the atmosphere looks to remain mostly unsettled.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24_west 18z-1714007794412.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Our heaviest snow will be in the Rockies with snow in the Sierra Nevada and Wasatch Range of Utah. A bit of snow could make it to Denver and SLC, which is not uncommon for late April. The average last snow in Denver is April 28th and in Salt Lake City on average is April 16.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24_west fcst-1714007938143.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest information on our warm temperatures and weekend snow potential.</p>

Record Warmth to Weekend Snow in the Four Corners

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<p>The plains are experiencing an ongoing threat of severe weather as a weather pattern has set up. If it seems like April has been particularly busy with severe weather, that would be correct - except for two days, each day has seen some level of severe weather. More than one-third of those days have been Level 3 or higher.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/April Risk Calendar-1713961832872.png">Overnight, storms look to push through Oklahoma and Kansas north of the frontal boundary. There is still some concern that we may get strong storms overnight capable of producing marginally severe hail and an isolated tornado.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24_rsc overnight-1714006553762.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The primary threat includes tornadoes, especially in West Texas from Lubbock down to I-20 including Midland and Abilene.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-24_rsc tx ovn tor-1714006576094.png">The severe weather threat <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-to-the-plains-thursday-friday"><strong><em><u>continues into Thursday, Friday</u></em></strong></a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/weekend-forecast-more-severe-weather-in-the-plains"><strong><em><u>even the weekend</u></em></strong></a> for similar areas. Please stay weather-aware!</p>

Overnight Storms in Texas and Oklahoma

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<p>The National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical outlook for a small, but persistent area of low pressure over the Atlantic Ocean that is about 900 miles away from the Cabo Verde Islands over open waters. It is NOT expected to strengthen into anything tropical and will dissipate over the next few days. Still, with the hurricane season just 37 days away, starting on June 1st, it is a good reminder that tropical activity is knocking on our doorstep. Official outlooks from the NHC start on May 15.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1783227611633549361" src="https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1783227611633549361?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet"></div><p>There have been very few Atlantic tropical cyclones in April - only 3 in the last 50 years. Storms are more common in the offseason months of December and May which bookend the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Most tropical systems that form in the off months are tropical storms in May or hurricanes in December. Our most recent off-season tropical cyclone was an unnamed storm in January of 2023 off the coast of New England. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/atlantic activity-1713990590600.jpg">As we head into May, tropical development is uncommon, but not impossible. Below are the historical locations of tropical systems in the month of May, most forming in the warm Caribbean and Gulf waters.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/may climo-1713990590601.jpg">The peak of hurricane season is in September, when waters are climatologically warm. As a reminder, the first seasonal forecast from Colorado State University calls for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/atlantic-hurricane-season-2024-expected-to-be-well-above-average"><strong><em><u>ABOVE AVERAGE hurricane season</u></em></strong></a> with the potential for 23 named storms thanks to El Nino and warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/chart-1713990590597.jpg">For the latest on tropical forecasts and outlooks, join WeatherNation always streaming 24/7.</p>

Jackie Brown

Tropical Update: Early Area of Interest in the Atlantic

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<p>National Park Week started Saturday, April 20th, and runs through Sunday, April 28th, It is a week to celebrate the over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm"><strong><em><u>400 National Parks</u></em></strong></a>! Throughout the week, parks will host events to highlight the unique nature of the parks, how you can volunteer, and the innovation happening across the country. National Park Week also encompasses Earth Day, on Monday, April 22nd.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/nps-1713740968123.png"></p><p>At WeatherNation we spoke to some of the most popular, and lesser-known, national parks across the U.S. and highlighted them in our "Get Out and Explore" series.</p><h2>Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This mountain park sits near the hustle and bustle of East Coast cities such as D.C. and Philly and allows people to explore the great outdoors and reconnect with nature. The heavily forested park offers hiking, camping, stargazing, and more. If you look closely you might even find old whiskey and moonshine stills during the prohibition period.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9VRUt93epc" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Death Valley National Park (California)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Home of extreme weather, this park is known for canyons, salt flats, and North America’s lowest point. &nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4d1AmHZQRw8?si=-FBI8TOpXtvw7zoz" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Alaska)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lake Clark in Alaska sits about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage and is only accessible via small plane. This park boasts incredible wildlife and views as well as some of Alaska’s extreme weather.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U3IM3w8M1Yc?si=i22NXFs0uVL_TX3y" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lava Beds National Park (N. California)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Sitting just south of Oregon, Lava Beds National Monument is surrounded by volcanos. Visitors can explore lava tubes ranging in difficulty from easy to expert. This gives people a chance to explore the “volcanic plumbing” of the region. &nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6c0aGmAgC38?si=BPzHjKS7iBSK5K3X" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P. (Colorado)</h2><p><span style="color: inherit">Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the steepest and narrowest canyon of the entire U.S. and sits in Southwest Colorado. The canyon provides intense changes in temperatures and is impacted by monsoon season during the summer months.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/getko7k6xv8?si=FBWTTOSZJH-3EkeR" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Badlands National Park (South Dakota)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">An “undiscovered gem” in the national park system, Badlands offers landscapes, wildlife, and spectacular stargazing. NPS recommends spending at least some time in the park at night to fully experience another side of the park.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbXfbFmDko0?si=V71zMdVtyCkH_o9K" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">History lovers will love taking a trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Home of two major civil war battles, the park has acres of walking tours to explore a piece of American history.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTg1gYAD1o8?si=nn75R3h1z054AFxh" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (New Hampshire)</h2><p>Check out the only national park dedicated to a sculpture! It doesn't open until May so mark your calendars for next month.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xlEEJRl0d_w?si=yPubZ3-sANBW6iiQ" start="0"></iframe></div><h2></h2>

National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

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<p>More people die from heat every year than ALL other extreme weather COMBINED. So how do you know how hot it is it <em>really</em> going to be?&nbsp;The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC] worked collaboratively to produce a new HeatRisk tool rolling out this summer from coast to coast. The tool had previously been used on the West Coast, but the 2024 summer will bring this experimental product to all cities across the U.S. </p><p>According to <span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">Kimberly McMahon, the NWS Public Weather Services Program Manager, "HeatRisk is a great tool to just put into context, how hot it's going to be compared to what they're used to." </span></p><p><span>The HeatRisk scale ranges from minor to extreme impacts and is color-coded from yellow to magenta. For reference, a MINOR impact day is your typical summer day.&nbsp;MODERATE days bring impact to vulnerable populations, especially people who are in the sun for long periods or without A/C. On these days, fans and open windows help to alleviate heat impacts inside.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/major-1713896597233.jpg"><span>MAJOR impact days can be deadly for those without A/C and power interruptions are possible due to the heat stress. Hospitals are likely to see an increase in the number of ER visits due to heat-related illnesses. Outdoor activities should be shifted to cooler times of the day.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/mod-1713896597231.jpg"><span>Finally, EXTREME impact days are for long-duration or potentially record-breaking heat events. There will be little to no relief from the heat overnight... and power outages are likely due to the stress on the grid. Outdoor activities should be canceled, and you should stay in cool spaces.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: windowtext">&nbsp;In 2023 during Phoenix's month-long stretch of 100°+ degree days, more people died in their un-air conditions homes than outdoors. </span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/xtreme-1713896597235.jpg">The HeatRisk tool incorporated heat forecast and historical data from NOAA to include: how above normal the temperatures are, the time of year, the duration of the heat, and overnight relief potential.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;It also considers at what temperature heat deaths occur for over 700 cities in the U.S.. That data was imperative in designing the tool to know at what level heat becomes deadly, unique to geographic location. For example, Phoenix's 110°, though hot, wouldn't be an "extreme" day during the summer. Take that same 110° but for Chicago? The risk becomes extreme. </span><span>Look for the new HeatRisk product and temperature forecasts this summer on WeatherNationTV. For more information from NOAA, visit the </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/#:~:text=The%20NWS%20HeatRisk%20is%20an,both%20daytime%20and%20nighttime%20temperatures"><strong><em><u><span>HeatRisk Dashboard.</span></u></em></strong></a></p>

NOAA Debuts "HeatRisk" Tool Nationwide

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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Last Great Race: 2018 Iditarod</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">MUSH! MUSH! The 2018 Iditarod race is well underway, even if the term "mush" isn't even commonly spoken. Saturday, Mushers took to the streets of Anchorage, AK to continue a tradition dating back to 1973, when "The Last Great Race" officially started. The Iditarod was inspired by the 1925 race, via dog sled, to deliver a life-saving drug to the town of Nome, AK. The Iditarod celebrations kicked off today, in Anchorage, AK , as they do the first Saturday of March each year. Although the celebration starts in Anchorage, AK, the official 2018 start line is located in the town of Willow, AK,  about 81 miles north of Anchorage. In years past, due to the lack of snow in southern Alaska, the race has started as far north as Fairbanks, AK.</p>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzlnPQSxzf8&feature=youtu.be

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As far as temperatures go, this year's opening event temperature in Anchorage, AK topped off at 26°. Within the past three years, the warmest Anchorage Iditarod starting temperature was as high as 42°, well above the average temperature of 33.9° for the month of March.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDtyoO3hE5o&feature=youtu.be

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Although temperatures will be relatively warm by Alaskan standards, a heavy band of snow is forecasted to move in from the Bering Sea on Tuesday. If you think snow doesn't sound fun while doing a 1,049 mile outdoor race - remember - you can't pull a sled without snow!

For <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/?ref=settings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WeatherNation</a> - Meteorologist <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoshCozartWx/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Cozart</a>

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