Brittany Lockley

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October has been relatively quiet in terms of severe weather. There has only been one slight risk day in the last 17 days. This weekend, that all will change as the threat for damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes returns. A cross-country storm that brought heavy rainfall and snow to California has moved into the central U.S. The threat begins Friday with a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for severe storms in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.<h1>TIMING</h1>During the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/NWSBirmingham/status/1978445758908043673">secondary severe season</a>, the timing of the storms can be tricky. This event appears to be favoring the afternoon and evening hours on Friday and Saturday. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-17 03-40-49-1760694089095.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>SETUP</h1>A strong cold front will drop through the southern plains Friday into Saturday. Ahead of it, warm temperatures, some that might threaten records, will greet the front. The clash between the two air masses will help drive the thunderstorms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-15 093129-1760542364613.png">As the front moves eastward on Saturday, a slight risk (level 2 out of 4) has been issued for the mid-south and the Ohio Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web1-1760614739342.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-17 040938-1760695786703.png">Are there going to be storms? Likely. How strong to potentially severe will they be? That's up in the air. It's still a little too early to tell which fine-scale ingredients will be in play.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-15 093533-1760542706942.png"></h1><h1>THREATS</h1>Besides the threat of damaging winds, large hail on Friday. All modes of severe weather will be possible on Saturday. The severe storms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-17 040848-1760695754937.png"> Tune into WeatherNation TV for the latest details.

Strong Fall Front Fires Up Severe Chances This Weekend

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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A wet pattern is shaping up for the Northwestern United States, especially closer to the coast. Multiple low pressure systems are expected to track toward this region over the next two weeks, including a wet system this weekend.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-17 04-12-15-1760695975858.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy precipitation will gradually increase Friday night into Saturday before spreading south and east to end the weekend.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-17 04-13-10-1760696020918.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>New rain totals along and west of the Cascades could top 2-4 inches in some areas, while new snow in higher elevations could easily surpass 6-12 inches.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-17 041352-1760696044810.png">Get the latest forecast for the northwest anytime at :50 past the hour or with the WeatherNation app.

Wet Pattern for the NW Continues

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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The Atlantic hurricane season has been a relatively quiet one so far. Any cyclone that has formed has stayed out to sea, as seen with Lorenzo most recently. Within the next two weeks, there is a medium chance that something will develop in the Atlantic. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has identified several regions with potential for tropical development through the end of October. Today, the National Hurricane Center has a highlighted a region to monitor over the next seven days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1png-1760641349528.png">Some of the longer range models have been hinting at some potential tropical development of the Caribbean wave in the next week or so! Most of models have this system heading into the Caribbean next week! Below is just ONE MODEL RUN of what could happen going forward!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1760641623459.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>As this wave closes in on the Leeward Islands, little to no development is expected. However, heavy rain and breezy conditions will move through the island chain. What happens after that? Only time will tell.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-16 075312-1760622806027.png">The concerns? The Caribbean is still as warm as bathwater right now, so it wouldn't take much time for something to potentially organize. The concern after that? Where does the system go IF it develops? Again, still a big IF, but climatologically speaking, this is where we would expect an October storm. Waters in the Caribbean will stay warmer later into the season, which helps keep the window of opportunity open for development.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-16 075337-1760622828329.png">So what's the final outcome with this system? How many systems have "looked good" 12 days out and have fizzled on us this year? Are there some ensemble models that find some development? Sure. Are all of them developing this wave? Not yet. October is not the month to let your guard down.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-15 103336-1760546429287.png">Tune into WeatherNation for the top weather headlines for more on the tropics.

Jesse Kelley

Next Wave in the Atlantic to Watch

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

Alana Cameron

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A ridge of high pressure has been responsible for the quiet and warm days across the central U.S., but on the western periphery of this ridge, a trough will attempt to slide in and ignite severe weather chances across the High Plains. The storms that are steered between these two upper-level systems are what we often refer to as "ridge-riding" thunderstorms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-16 05-09-22-1760612987566.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>On Thursday, another MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk is issued as the cold front shifts down into eastern Colorado and western Kansas, even extending all the way into central Nebraska. All kinds of severe weather are possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1760669659768.png">There is a small risk of tornadoes in the latest SPC advisory for Thursday. It covers cities from North Platte, NE, over to Colby, KS and as far south as Cheyenne Wells, CO. Make sure you have a way of getting notified if anything is to touch down.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1760640961225.png">The cold front keeps pushing east into Missouri and Oklahoma for Friday. Similar to Thursday, severe potential will exist during the heating of the day but some storms could remain strong even after sunset! The biggest threat will be damaging winds.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1760669791973.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Forecasted rainfall totals look to be highest across central Nebraska, where some may receive 1-1.5" of rainfall with isolated higher amounts.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1760669880981.png">Be sure to join us at :30 past the hour to see how this will impact your temperature forecast, too!

Ridge Riding Thunderstorms in the Western Plains

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As of Wednesday, all evacuation orders have been lifted for Los Angeles after torrential rain fell over burned areas. The warnings were issued for areas with burn scars from earlier fires, like the Palisades, Hurst, and Sunset fire zones, due to the threat of mud and debris flows. Heavy rainfall, snow, and gusty winds continue to calm down for the southern half of the Golden State as a strong trough continues to move to the northeast.Rainfall reached up to 9 inches in California's Haines Canyon, in southern California. The threat of heavy rainfall and snow moves to the northern half of the state this morning.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-15 03-23-08-1760520223806.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals appear impressive for an October storm system in California, considering it is early in the season for such heavy precipitation.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-14 200559-1760493964815.png"><h1>Rain &amp; Flooding</h1>Flash flooding and debris flows will be possible through early Wednesday despite the rain having already happened. The heaviest of the rain has occurred, with storm totals likely having been upwards of 3 inches, which keeps the burn-scarred areas of southern California from recent wildfires at risk.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-14 144824-1760474941902.png"><h1>Snowfall</h1>Once this event is complete by Wednesday afternoon, snowfall totals may have topped a foot or even two feet in the high Sierra, while areas around the Donner Pass can expect 6-12 inches at the summit. Here are snowfall totals as of Wednesday AM. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web1-1760536071310.png">Winter Storm Warnings (Pink) and Winter Weather Advisories (Purple) have now been dropped for the Sierra Nevada Range but more winter alerts have been issued for areas like Jackson, WY as this system lifts to the NE. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web2-1760535989343.png">Stay with Weather Nation for the latest, with your West Regional forecast every :50 past the hour.

Tracey Anthony

Sierra to the Rockies: Flooding Rain & Heavy Snow

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Kevin Schneider

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A low-pressure system that has tracked up the East Coast continues to bring threats of coastal flooding, heavy rainfall, and strong winds. While this system has not developed, and is not expected to develop, any tropical characteristics, it’s behaving much like an early-season Nor’easter, delivering similar impacts minus the cold and snow. Areas along the shores of North Carolina to New England were impacted by this system.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1977894622975430882" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1977894622975430882"></div>The system is expected to move away from the coast through Tuesday but New Jersey still had a handful of strong wind reports on Monday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web 14-1760436387824.png"><h2>Rainfall</h2>Heavy rain was very localized from this system, and will be far and few especially as it moves away from the East Coast. But a few daily rainfall records were still broken on Monday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web 13-1760436496566.png">A few scattered rain showers still remain possible.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/10-13 east-1760408242196.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Coastal flood alerts have been slowly ending for much of the Atlantic Coast. Sea water flooding during high tides could still approach 2-3 feet of inundation in some areas (warning areas in dark green).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Web 12-1760436278168.png">The major flood stage is expected to be reached around the southern Chesapeake, mostly during high tides. Prepare for sea water inundation to continue into Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-13 124158-1760380926209.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest updates.

October Nor'easter Wrapping Up For the Atlantic

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Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

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The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, ND, has ruled that a tornado near Enderlin, ND, caused EF-5 level damage upon further investigation. This marks the end of 12 years without a surveyed EF-5 tornado in the U.S. The last time EF-5 damage was reported from a tornado was in May of 2013 in Moore, OK.The tornado is estimated to have wind speeds greater than 210 miles per hour. This tornado was on the ground for 12.1 miles with a width of just over a mile! Sadly, this storm caused three fatalities.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-06 104454-1759769110628.png">Here is more on what led the NWS to upgrade its survey findings:<blockquote>"The National Weather Service in Grand Forks conducted additional surveys and worked extensively with wind damage experts to further investigate the 20 June 2025 Enderlin, ND tornado #1. The estimated maximum wind speed of the Enderlin, ND tornado #1 is greater than 210 mph and occurred during the time of the train derailment south of Enderlin, ND. The analysis involved forensic damage wind speed estimates for tipping several fully-loaded grain hopper cars and lofting of tanker cars, including one empty tanker car that was tossed about 475.7 ft (145 m)."</blockquote><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-06 102949-1759768203710.png">We spoke with the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, ND, to learn more about the decision to upgrade the tornado rating and the factors that influenced the decision.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xSnzPzENapk" start="0"></iframe></div><h1>SET-UP</h1>On June 20, 2025, a derecho brought wind gusts of 70 -105 mph to the north central U.S., spanning over 400 miles and leaving hundreds of thousands of households without power. Multiple long-track, destructive tornadoes were within this storm system.A derecho is a long-lived severe wind event, with specific criteria about the length and width of the damaging wind swath. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm">SPC has a detailed page</a> dedicated to these destructive windstorms. Several typically occur each year, though they can vary in intensity and area. A notable <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/one-year-ago-the-midwest-derecho">derecho ripped through Des Moines in 2020</a>, producing hurricane-force winds and widespread damage.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/06/2025-06-21%2005-35-48-1750505871964.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2 style="text-align: start">OTHER REPORTS</h2>Wind gusts in North Dakota and Minnesota (as well as northern South Dakota) were impressive, many over hurricane strength. A wake-low also developed behind the leading edge, producing severe strength winds (58+ mph) in some locations for over an hour!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot%202025-06-21%20053620-1750505847379.png">Bemidji, Minnesota, was hit particularly hard in the overnight hours as an intense bout of winds moved through the area, with a tornado potentially embedded in the circulation. The Bemidji Regional Airport reported a gust to 106 mph, with widespread damage reported in the area.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot%202025-06-21%20053627-1750505847378.png">The widely spanning severe winds have left hundreds of thousands of households in the dark the following morning, with some counties reporting well over 60-60% of customers without power. As a reminder, if you're going to run a generator to power anything, keep it at least 25 feet away from any opening in your home, like windows and doors.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/06/1-1750541351436.png">This was one of many severe weather events that pushed<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/north-dakota-breaks-yearly-tornado-record"> North Dakota to break their yearly tornado record</a>.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2dgiWTWdp-0" start="0"></iframe></div><h1></h1>

Upgraded North Dakota Tornado Ends EF-5 Drought

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Even though Hurricane Lee is passing well offshore from the Southeast U.S. impacts will still be felt from Florida's Atlantic Coast up to the Carolinas. HIGH rip current risk is in effect both Thursday and Friday along with waves that could be up to 7' in height during the day. If you're at the beach or in a coastal community, prepare for impacts through the end of the week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/fri waves-1694704450279.jpg">It may not be the best beach weather though - a stalled front is keeping a lot of the Southeast cloudy and humid with shower chances each afternoon. Try not to curse the rain too much, especially along I-10 as rainfall is needed! <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-14 08-48-52-1694704495458.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Temps will be slightly cooler under the influence of clouds and rain in the Southeast, with the coolest days Thursday and Friday. Heat starts to creep back up into the end of the weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/southeast cooler-1694704479574.jpg">

Rip Currents Risk from Hurricane Lee in the Southeast

Strong Fall Front Fires Up Severe Chances This Weekend

October has been relatively quiet in terms of

Wet Pattern for the NW Continues

A wet pattern is shaping up for the Northwest

Next Wave in the Atlantic to Watch

The Atlantic hurricane season has been a rela

Ridge Riding Thunderstorms in the Western Plains

A ridge of high pressure has been responsible

Sierra to the Rockies: Flooding Rain & Heavy Snow

As of Wednesday, all evacuation orders have b

October Nor'easter Wrapping Up For the Atlantic

A low-pressure system that has tracked up the

Upgraded North Dakota Tornado Ends EF-5 Drought

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks,