Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

Jesse Kelley

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<p>The spring season often means rounds of intense and severe storms in the heart of the country, with this April being no exception. A potent upper-level low-pressure system moves across the Plains Friday into Saturday, creating wind shear and lift in the atmosphere. At the surface, a well-developed dryline from west Texas to west-central Kansas is the focus for storm development.</p><p>Related article: <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><p>Storms in Texas and Oklahoma intensified overnight Thursday into Friday morning, producing large hail and tornadoes in Oklahoma before sunrise. These storms are likely to continue to move northeast as a part of the larger storm risk Friday, which is elevated near the low in the Midwest (top of page). </p><p>Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, and Dallas are again at risk on Friday. Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines are at a heightened risk of tornadoes and damaging hail from individual supercells that develop in the afternoon, including tornadoes that are EF-2 or stronger and hail 2" in diameter or greater. Please have numerous ways to get alerts.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-26 044115-1714128085517.png">The severe weather trend continues on Friday for the Midwest and Mississippi Delta. A line of intense storms will be the focus in the morning before individual storms develop in the second half of the day in eastern Oklahoma and Kansas. Severe weather will be widespread throughout the Central U.S.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 04-48-26-1714128531928.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Caitlin Connell

Significant Storm Threat Friday

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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>Snow is on the way for the mountains of Colorado this weekend and potentially, but less likely for Denver. On average, the Mile High City sees its last snowfall on April 28th. An area of low pressure arrives from the Pacific through the weekend, tapping into moisture to bring low-elevation rain and high-elevation snow. Winter alerts have been issued for the southern Cascades, Wasatch, Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Rockies through Sunday (top of page). Snow totals could be over a foot in the highest elevations, creating difficult and dangerous driving on the high mountain passes.</p><p>Widespread showers are expected in the West on Friday, with snow showers possible at the highest elevations. Energy then slides into the central Rockies Friday through Sunday, turning rain to snow by Saturday morning in the Colorado Rockies and Wasatch. It will be a soggy stretch for much of the west with scattered showers and snow showers. Snow levels drop as low as 7,000 feet in elevation on Saturday as temperatures cool. The low-pressure system responsible for the wet weather will be slow to exit into the Plains, so expect lingering rain and snow showers into Monday for Wyoming and Colorado.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/forecast-1714133649416.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The heaviest snowfall will be for ranges over 10k feet, where there is the potential for 12" or more snow. Even down to 7k (foothills outside of Denver), we could see over 6" of snow. Traveling on I-70 will be difficult, but the fresh snow will help ski resorts that are still open, like Breckenridge. It is unlikely we will see snow in the cities of Denver and Colorado Springs, with heavy rainfall more likely.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/snow accumulation-1714133746187.jpg">As mentioned above, cold air will follow our front, bringing temperatures to frosty lows on Sunday and Monday. The 30s are expected to return to the Dakotas, Nebraska, and the Front Range of Colorado. There will be a sharp cutoff of freezing temperatures thanks to our front but expect lows to drop for everyone as the front pushes east early next week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1714133806213.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest information on our warm temperatures and weekend snow potential.</p>

Spring Snow on the Horizon in Colorado

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<p>With another severe weather outbreak underway for the final weekend of April, our highest number of tornadoes usually occur in April and May. 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/spc -1714052839320.jpg">Our storm threat on Saturday is an <strong>ENHANCED</strong> (level 3 out of 5) risk reaching from Des Moines, IA to farther south through Wichita Falls, TX. The southern threat will be more potent with damaging hail and tornadoes possible (see top of the page). These are similar areas that are under the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-to-the-plains-thursday-friday"><strong><em><u>Significant Storm Threat Friday</u></em></strong></a>, so don't let the severe weather fatigue get you.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/spc-1714131211977.jpg">Saturday morning starts off quiet and dry for most. It's not until the heat of the afternoon that we expect to see some strong storms fire off. These linger into the overnight hours and ultimately into Sunday morning, too. This means it's imperative you have multiple ways to get weather alerts, and they need to be in a way that can wake you up. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 05-09-52-1714129811223.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>More severe weather looks likely on Sunday as the front hits warm, moist air over the central and Southern Plains. The Storm Prediction Center has issued severe weather outlooks across the Great Plains and Midwest, indicating confidence in the threat of severe weather potential. 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><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/spc-1714130010512.jpg">In addition to the severe weather, there is a flood threat, especially in Missouri, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Our bullseye for the heaviest rain will be Saturday through central Oklahoma and northern Texas. We anticipate with multiple rounds of heavy rainfall the ground will struggle to absorb additional rain that falls this weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/rain-1714130067512.jpg"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/ero-1714130328265.jpg"></p><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the severe weather threat and forecast information.</p>

Weekend Forecast: More Severe Weather

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<p>A critical fire risk is in place for west Texas, eastern Colorado, and New Mexico through the next few days as gusty winds in combination with dry grasses and low humidity create a dangerous situation. If a spark were to start, these are the conditions where rapid, life-threatening fire growth would be possible. Humidity values will be in the single digits and teens meaning there will be no moisture in our atmosphere to help taper fire growth.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1714134189244.jpg"></p><p>Strong winds are anticipated on Friday, especially through New Mexico. Winds will be sustained along the Front Range of New Mexico and Colorado between 30-50 mph with isolated wind gusts over 65 mph. If a flame starts, it will move as quickly as the winds, at about 40 mph. We can't stress enough how critical this week's fire risk is.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/forecast-1714134246383.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Drought conditions are extreme and exceptional for southern New Mexico, while most of the region is experiencing moderate drought. Northern New Mexico and SW Texas are experiencing pockets of severe drought (level 3 out of 5).</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/drought-1714053897089.jpg"></p>

Critical Fire Risk in West Texas, New Mexico

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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>

Steve Glazier

NOAA Debuts "HeatRisk" Tool Nationwide

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s noisemakers are set to return in a <em>big</em> way this year as not one, but <em>two</em> sets of periodical cicadas will emerge in the Midwest and Southeast. It is the first time these two specific broods have surfaced <em>together</em> since 1803! This is the first time since 2015 that a 13 year cycle brood emerges at the same year as a 17 year brood.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5jJPrP5rfE" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>The southern brood emerges every 13 years and is known as the <strong>Brood XIX, </strong>the largest brood in the U.S.. The Northern Illinois brood has a period of 17 years, making these two broods overlap uncommon. They will only overlap in central Illinois, where is expected to be the noisest!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Closer look at Illinois locations overlap.mp4_snapshot_00.01.232-1713196589008.jpg"></p><blockquote><p>Katie Dana, a researcher with the Illinois Natural History Survey who studies the cicadas says, “We have broods emerging across the U.S. almost every year, but we don’t often have broods emerging at the same time. Just like how birds have different songs, cicadas have different songs...we have over 3,000 different species of cicadas so we have so many different songs.”</p></blockquote><p>Periodical Cicadas are large, loud insects with bright red eyes. They live underground for years. Once the cicadas take to the skies, they will be in the air for about 3-4 weeks, mating before laying eggs and reburying themselves for another 13 or 17 years.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Slow zoom east coast brood locations.mp4_snapshot_00.06.391-1713196589005.jpg">Depending on where you live, the double brood emergence could start as soon as April but will happen whenever the ground temperatures reach 64°. According to Katie, “It’s those warm soils that push them out of the ground, but they’re also looking for some moisture. If you have really dry soil, it’s going to make it hard for them to dig out.” Given that we've had some of our warmest winters on record in the Midwest we are looking at the opportunity for earlier emergence of the broods.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Warmest Winter on Record.mp4_snapshot_00.05.538-1713196589007.jpg">If you’re less than thrilled about these beaty-eyed bugs, focus on the positives. They provide extra nutrition for birds and animals and spark a reset for oak trees allowing them to produce more acorns a few years after they emerge. If that’s not enough to get you through... the next time these two broods will be out at the same time won't be for another 221 years, which will give you plenty of time to learn to appreciate the cicada screams.</p>

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

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Areas in the Southwest might see severe weather for today. We have a marginal risk of severe weather throughout Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. This means these areas could see isolated thunderstorms throughout the day. The storms could produce damaging winds, hail, and even a tornado.

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Storms will start up in the early afternoon and continue into the late night hours. These storms could produce heavy rainfall.

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With an abundant amount of rain falling in such a short period of time, flash flooding could be a concern. Multiple flash flood watches have been put into effect throughout Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming for today.

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For WeatherNation -Meteorologist <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/shelly-lindblade/">Shelly Lindblade</a>