Kevin Schneider

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While the severe thunderstorm risk ends with the latest system pushing off the Atlantic Coast, another potent upper trough will move into the middle states by the middle of next week. The Storm Prediction Center is already highlighting an area of potential severe weather on Thursday and Friday, from the Central Plains to the Lower Mississippi River Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 192833-1776562725783.png">This upper-level low will bring strong winds aloft, enhancing shear for any storms that are able to form in the environment. This turning of the winds as you go up in the atmosphere will help organize those storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 035121-1776678696660.png">Meanwhile, at the surface, heat and humidity will build during the afternoons, creating an unstable atmosphere. Storms that form will strengthen quickly!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/0420-1776695361167.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Long-range, less resolute models fire thunderstorms each afternoon, beginning Wednesday. With more rounds of rain moving over similar locations, flooding will need to be monitored as a potential threat. The WPC Excessive Rainfall Outlook has highlighted the threat of heavy rain from the Central Plains to the Gulf Coast from Wednesday to Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 082952-1776695398089.png">

Taban Sharifi

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

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Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the Midwest and Great Plains on Friday as a powerful storm system moved into the region. The same storm system was producing snow in Colorado while tornado warnings were being issued hundreds of miles to the east. Unfortunately, tornadoes hit some residential areas causing damage to homes in several states and injuring at least one person in Iowa. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported thus far. We'll post summaries of the tornadoes, including their ratings, as that information comes in over the next few days. Head to the bottom of the page for radar loops from Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562751431.png"> <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051753-1776512252193.png">Over one hundred tornado warnings were issued with 25 reports of tornadoes either being spotted or causing damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051244-1776512264052.png">Many more severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings were issued on Friday, with many warnings confirmed by reports (below).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051758-1776512271813.png">Hail topped 3 inches in diameter (bigger than baseballs) in both the Midwest and Plains on Friday, with many significant hail reports (over 2 inches).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051925-1776512279734.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051918-1776514705456.png">Hurricane force wind gusts also verified on Friday, with at least 5 reported over hurricane strength in the Midwest. Squall lines formed late in the day to produce large bowing segments.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051932-1776512279733.png">Radar Review</h1>Radar imagery from Friday was impressive, with many discrete supercells forming before the storms became more linear late in the evening. Many warnings were issued for storms, including confirmed tornado warnings (pink instead of red).<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-04-23-1776516944009.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-12-44-1776516960303.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-13-20-1776516972432.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

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Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1>A blast of cold air has brought freeze warnings across portions of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and East. Temperatures will drop sub-freezing over the next few mornings. These temps can impact crops and sensitive vegetation with the potential to damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. These alerts will be in place through Tuesday morning. By midweek, temperatures will jump back to above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034040-1776678053300.png">Monday &amp; Tuesday mornings will be cold with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Protect your plants and bundle up!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034115-1776678090267.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034141-1776678114757.png">There is even the potential for record lows to break on Tuesday morning with sub-freezing temperatures. The dots on the map are cities that could tie or break record lows.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-19 144638-1776631609657.png">Some of these temperatures include the 20s for cities like Syracuse, NY which may break a record Tuesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034254-1776678187237.png">The cold snap won't last long, as by Wednesday temperatures will rebound back to above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034330-1776678227296.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 034401-1776678255971.png">

Adrian Hernandez

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

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After a quiet weekend, the next upper level low pressure moves in from Alaska. With the close proximity of the low just hanging off the coast, the chance of rain and snow will be increasing for Southern Oregon and Northern California!Heavy rain will be possible for Northern California, especially on Monday and Tuesday, where a few inches will be possible. As colder air drops for the Sierra, some snow chances will be possible, too. Again, this is good news as drought has returned to the state following the historic heatwave in March. As the low moves eastward midweek, more moisture should increase across the Rocky Mountain states. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 033313-1776677616660.png">Winter Storm Watches have been issued for portions of the Sierra Nevada from Monday through Wednesday. Generally, 4-9 inches above 6500 feet will be likely but up to 12-18 inches along the highest mountain peaks is likely. Down at the lake level, 1-4" of snow is possible. In addition to the Sierra Alerts, winter weather advisories were issued in Northern California near Mount Shasta for 5-10 inches of snow and winds to 45 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 033349-1776677643831.png">Showers will begin today, but the bigger push of moisture moves in Monday through Wednesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-20 03-35-10-1776677732540.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There is also an isolated threat for heavy rainfall across Northern California, the Bay Area, all the way down through Santa Barbara, for Monday and Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 033545-1776677766736.png">More on this forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

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High pressure has been dominant on the East Coast this week, setting numerous records throughout the last week. Following Saturday's record highs, temperatures are expected to drop for Sunday and Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562247764.png">The temperatures will be cooling off for a few days before going right back up by midweek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562405685.png"><h3>Fire Danger</h3>Despite the cooler temperatures, fire danger will be present for Sunday and Monday with the strong winds and low humidity values.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562504453.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562544985.png">

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way