Brittany Lockley

BrittanyLockleyjpeg-1679519515040.jpeg

A big warmup is expected to take hold across the eastern United States in the coming days, bringing temperatures that will feel more like midsummer than mid-May. Much of the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast could see temperatures surge well above average as a strong area of high pressure settles over the region.&nbsp;RELATED: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-storms-possible-in-the-plains-midwest-to-end-the-week">Severe Chances on the Plains</a>A strong ridge of high pressure is migrating eastward over the next few days. That brings it squarely over the southern and central plains by the end of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-15 171204-1778886738109.png">Highs look to be the worst in the Southern Plains in terms of raw temperatures, closing in on the century mark. Record highs will be likely into early next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 081153-1778940724828.png">After a stretch of cooler spring weather, warmer air is expected to spread eastward through the weekend and into next week. High temperatures are forecast to climb into the 80s across many areas, while some cities could approach or even reach 90 degrees for the first time this year. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061131-1778851192032.png">Major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, may come close to daily temperature records if the heat intensifies enough. Some locations could end up 20 to 30 degrees warmer than what is typical for this time of year.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 081241-1778940784602.png">The heat is also expected to stick around for several days instead of quickly moving out, making it one of the more significant warm spells so far this spring. Increasing humidity levels may enhance the summer-like feel, especially in the afternoons and evenings.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 081249-1778940795899.png">The unusually warm pattern is expected to continue into next week before cooler air eventually returns. While many people may enjoy the warmer weather, the sudden jump in temperatures could lead to increased energy use and may be difficult for those who are sensitive to heat.&nbsp;For more tips on how to beat the heat tune into WeatherNation.

Early Taste of Summer Heat Expands Across the East Coast

Screenshot20260516081111png-1778940686088.png

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

RobBradleyjpeg-1679518597323.jpeg

Scattered severe storms have been moving through portions of the Great Plains and Midwest this week, including on Friday around portions of Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin. The same low pressure system will hardly move on Saturday, prompting another round of severe storms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 051332-1778930356757.png">Near record-breaking heat has helped to increase instability in the atmosphere. The warm sector (south of the warm/red frontal boundary) will be favored for isolated to scattered severe storms. Areas closer to the low pressure system could see a few tornadoes as the rotational energy is higher.<h1>Outlook</h1>There is an Enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) across the western corners of Nebraska and Kansas. Additionally, a Slight risk (level 2 out of 5) includes the surrounding areas from Colorado through central Iowa.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 051203-1778930364589.png">Extra large hailstones (over golf ball size - 2"+) and hurricane force gusts (74+ mph) are possible for areas below, which should be the more widespread hazards.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 051208-1778930736150.png">Several tornadoes are possible as well, primarily in western Kansas and Nebraska.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 051212-1778930830535.png"><h1>Forecast</h1>Storms have persisted along the warm front overnight from Illinois through Michigan and Indiana. Areas along the front between the Great Lakes and Ohio River have a better chance to see storms early in the day before they become more widespread into the afternoon. Storms in the Plains and Midwest could persist well into the overnight hours, so please have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts that can wake you up!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-16 05-32-06-1778931160970.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Since storms won't be widespread, only spotty heavy rain is expected. Isolated flash flooding is possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 053200-1778931152981.png">

Saturday Severe Storms; Midwest to the Ohio Valley

Screenshot20260516051203png-1778929935678.png

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

JesseKelleyjpeg-1679519197409.jpeg

Welcome to May in Colorado. This weekend forecast will be wacky with severe storm chances Saturday and Sunday. On the colder side of the event into Monday, snow is looking likely for the Rockies.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778873046914.png"><h1>Severe Storm Forecast</h1>Saturday, an Enhanced Risk has been issued for parts of Northeastern Colorado, Northwestern Kansas, and Southwestern Nebraska. The biggest hazards will be destructive hail and strong winds. The same areas will be at play for severe on Sunday including Denver Metro.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 062004-1778934023591.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 062011-1778934038231.png">Scattered thunderstorms will pop Saturday afternoon across Colorado and Wyoming and get stronger as they move eastward into the Plains. A few isolated tornadoes can't be ruled out either. Sunday, a new surface low forms along a passing cold front. It will force more widespread showers and storms during the day. As the upper low drops surface temperatures, snow will begin to mix with the rain in the high country and snow will gradually drop with elevation too. It can't be completely ruled out with some flakes in the Denver Metro.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-16 06-21-09-1778934115879.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-16 062048-1778934056767.png">

Severe to Snow for the Rockies and Front Range

Screenshot20260516061918png-1778934026766.png

WeatherNation Meteorologists

headshotspng-1676305264677.png

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, waters in the tropical Pacific tend to warm faster than in the Atlantic; thus, the season starts about two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pacific. The CPC has moderate confidence in the formation of a tropical system in the Eastern Pacific going through the end of May into June. If you have travel plans along the SW coast of Mexico, stay up to date with the forecast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-13 054445-1778672697750.png"> If a storm were to form and reach tropical storm status, it would be named Amanda.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080308-1777731407202.png">Ocean heat content has been rapidly increasing in the Eastern Pacific this Spring, which is not surprising. You might've heard about the potential for a "super" El Niño this summer. Well, the warm water created in the Eastern/Central Pacific by El Niño can lead to supercharged hurricane seasons in those regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-15 050125-1778842896285.png">Global circulations influenced by El Niño tend to create less disruptive wind shear in the Eastern Pacific as well. Weak upper-level winds combined with warm waters tend to lead to the development of many tropical systems. At the same time, wind shear tends to increase in the Caribbean during these events, making it tougher for tropical systems to form and survive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080343-1777731377186.png">Last season was quite active in the Eastern Pacific, with 20 named storms and 5 major hurricanes. The Mexican National Meteorological Service issued an early outlook for the 2026 season in April, calling for another active year with roughly 20 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 081157-1777731386253.png">El Niño typically increases wind shear in the Atlantic, which is a primary reason why some forecasts are calling for a slightly less active season. The Atlantic averages 14 named storms a season. Despite the El Niño, the forecast is just slightly below average with 13 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-08 065820-1778245110818.png">We're going to get you ready for hurricane season at the beginning of June. Be sure to tune in for updated forecasts, information, and tips to prepare.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 083105-1777732279156.png">

Hurricane Season Begins in the Eastern Pacific, Atlantic Soon To Follow

Screenshot20260515050018png-1778843407723.png

A low-pressure system will linger in New England through the end of the week, bringing scattered showers and gusty winds at times.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2054720850402619803" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2054720850402619803"></div><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061131-1778765024932.png"></h2><h2>THU - FRI</h2>The surface low will linger in New England Thursday into Friday before moving offshore this weekend. Expect scattered showers and a few thunderstorms in New England Thursday, with some heavy rain at times in Maine, before lingering showers get lighter and become fewer on Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778782373059.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Through Saturday morning, New England can expect to see a few inches of rain with some isolated totals over 4-5" in Southern Maine and New Hampshire.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778782488770.png">

Patrick Crawford

Stormy and Wet Weather Continues for the Northeast

Screenshot20260329061107png-1778764977801.png

Kevin Schneider

A021DDE71AA34C50BB5468289EA6B1D7jpeg-1699372868991.jpeg

<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1>The SPC has issued a slight risk across the Northwest and portions of Utah. Unusually warm temperatures, combined with a frontal boundary, will help enhance winds in the area by this afternoon. Winds could gust in excess of 75 mph in some locations that get caught underneath a strong storm. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-13 115353-1778694842992.png">The low and its associated frontal boundary are moving onshore, bringing rain and storms along with it. As highs soar into the 90's, storms will strengthen with the potential of damaging winds and hail. By Thursday morning, the frontal boundary will move out.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/wed agerrr-1778638388237.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rain is not much of a concern with this system. In fact, the lack of rain actually is a concern - some of these thunderstorms could be completely dry, meaning we get the harm of lightning and the winds without the help of rainfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-13 115430-1778694882207.png">It will be windy regardless; High Wind Warnings cover areas that could see 65 mph winds, and areas that have a wind advisory could see gusts approaching 45-50 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-13 115508-1778694919840.png">

Heat & Front Fuels Thunderstorms In The Northwest

Screenshot20260513115328png-1778694813101.png

FLORIDA - On Sunday, May 11, 2026, a wildfire broke out in the Florida Everglades after weeks of extreme to exceptional drought conditions across the state. Since Sunday, the fire has burned more than 11,000 acres and is now 60% contained, according to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ffs.firesponse.com/public/">Florida Forest Service</a>.According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, smoke from the fire caused traffic backups along U.S. 27, so drivers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible.<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/PembrokePinesPolice/posts/pfbid0HvFhXfxCfYR39h64pHpAB2DduAuzTX3ft2RvmdME5aLUZZydFtpcEmboBUm5xmXUl?rdid=zfULUQ0tOgYVBpUH#" data-width="500" src="https://www.facebook.com/PembrokePinesPolice/posts/pfbid0HvFhXfxCfYR39h64pHpAB2DduAuzTX3ft2RvmdME5aLUZZydFtpcEmboBUm5xmXUl?rdid=zfULUQ0tOgYVBpUH#" style="display: flex; justify-content: center"></div> The state of Florida is currently 100% drought-covered, with 98% of the state experiencing conditions worse than moderate drought.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 173747-1778542672316.png"> Incoming Rain and Storms</h2>Rain chances continue this week, raising concerns about how much moisture these drought-stricken soils can handle. While any rainfall will be beneficial, heavy downpours in a short amount of time could lead to standing water and localized flash flooding. Rain totals will be more isolated Wednesday and totals will be less than Tuesday, where areas in north Florida picked up over 2". <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-03-29 060538-1778678292624.png">Wednesday the severe storm threat remains low, and just general isolated thunderstorms are expected. Fingers crossed some of that rain gets down to the Everglades to help with that fire! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061107-1778678402180.png">

Tracey Anthony

Florida Wildfire and Storm Threat

ezgif593223bda0f66654gif-1778543129933.gif

Steady rain for the northern California coast and mountain snowfall hit the region on Thursday but energy is now pushing east, impacting Utah, Colorado and Wyoming today. Snowfall rates of up to 1/2" per hour could be possible at times, reducing visibility and causing slick travel on I-80, I-70, and other mountain highways. Winter Weather Alerts are in effect for the region into Saturday morning although most snow tapers off by early evening Friday. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-08 11-21-40-1702059729325.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall accumulations will be most impressive through the Tetons of Wyoming, where upwards of half a foot of snow could be possible into the end of this workweek. Again, this is great for ski resorts but will make traveling tough!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot 2023-12-07 212026-1702009295371.png">The Centennial State's ski resorts will also see beneficial snow, with some of the highest amounts topping up to 9" in the Steamboat Springs area!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot 2023-12-07 164536-1701992749671.jpg">

Snow Hits Colorado & Utah Today

Early Taste of Summer Heat Expands Across the East Coast

A big warmup is expected to take hold across

Saturday Severe Storms; Midwest to the Ohio Valley

Scattered severe storms have been moving thro

Severe to Snow for the Rockies and Front Range

Welcome to May in Colorado. This weekend fore

Hurricane Season Begins in the Eastern Pacific, Atlantic Soon To Follow

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, wa

Stormy and Wet Weather Continues for the Northeast

A low-pressure system will linger in New Engl

Heat & Front Fuels Thunderstorms In The Northwest

WHAT TO EXPECTThe SPC has issued a slight ris

Florida Wildfire and Storm Threat

FLORIDA - On Sunday, May 11, 2026, a wildfire