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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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is here and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 050710-1774696193114.png">On Thursday, March 26th, the National Mall announced peak bloom has been reached! The peak is expected to last about a week or so, depending on weather conditions. On March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026, which was only off by about 3 days - an impressive forecast!<h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080844-1774534352362.png"><h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

Adrian Hernandez

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

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It's been unbearably hot across the West for the last week, after warm and dry conditions for a good chunk of the winter season. This has led to drought conditions, with dry vegetation ready to burn. Another cold front moves across the Northern Rockies and High Plains, increasing fire danger into the upcoming week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062044-1774779654629.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062111-1774779681091.png">On the heels of the largest fire in Nebraska's history, two additional fires broke out last Thursday morning. The Ashby and Minor fires grew rapidly by tens of thousands of acres, very close to the Morrill burn scar. Given the continued fire weather conditions, more fire growth is possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062145-1774779714146.png">The Storm Prediction Center has also highlighted areas of elevated fire concern for Sunday. In fact, southeastern Wyoming has again been upgraded to a Level 2, Critical Risk.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062205-1774779740798.png"> Keep it locked in on WeatherNation, as we continue to update you on these fires and their impacts!

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

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Artemis 2 is finally ready to launch! After testing reveled a few issues in February and March, those issues have been resolved which has given the mission a go for launch in a window that opens Wednesday afternoon, April 1st.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091928-1774711352235.png">What is the Artemis program? To put it simply, it's the first step in a series of programs to humans to Mars, but first, Artemis aims to bring humans back the moon, establishing a base while testing humanity's ability to live outside of Earth's orbit.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091131a-1774710738504.jpg">This will be the first mission since 1972 to take humans before low-earth orbit, and likely farther from earth than any human has traveled before.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062330-1774779830004.png">When it comes to launch day, the forecast is critical. Florida will likely have some pop-up showers, but it's a bit too early to determine if any thunderstorms could be in the area. Lightning poses a major issue and does frequently cause delays in Central Florida, but even a building cumulus field can cause launch issues.

Artemis 2 Set To Launch Wednesday, Watching the Forecast

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A strong cold front raced across the Midwest on Thursday, producing numerous severe thunderstorms. A few small tornadoes were confirmed in Ohio; otherwise, the biggest issues were wind and hail.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044015-1774608059978.png">Hail the size of tennis balls fell in Mount Etna, Indiana, with quite a few more significant hail reports over the size of golf balls! Thankfully, the hail was nowhere near the size of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/destructive-tornadoes-hail-rip-through-central-us">record-breaking 6"+ hailstone that fell about two weeks ago</a>.<h1>Next Week's Storm Systems</h1>Cool and drier conditions are expected behind the front, but temperatures and humidity will recover quickly across the east through next week. Several weaker waves of low pressure will move through to start the week before a large trough moves off the Rockies late in the week, bringing back several ingredients needed for severe storms. Models remain uncertain about the exact timing and locations of the late-week severe weather, but heavy rain and strong storms will be possible. Check back for updates!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044152-1774608384293.png">As the weak wave of low pressure moves through Monday night into Tuesday, severe storms will be possible around the Great Lakes. This threat will likely continue along the front into Tuesday afternoon from the Great Lakes down to Texas.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 2-1774710916738.jpg">Forecast Timing</h1>When the clipper system arrives on Tuesday, we are seeing some high confidence in intense thunderstorm activity. The severe threat could increase by late Monday into early Tuesday morning. Here is the latest forecast from our WeatherNation in-house forecast model.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-29 06-18-40-1774779546623.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The SPC has already highlighted areas from Iowa through Michigan for severe weather potential starting late in the evening on Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061922-1774779577765.png">The CPC is highlighting a large area from the Great Lakes to the Lower Mississippi for heavy rain that could lead to flooding late in the week. Severe storms will be possible in the Plains, Midwest, and South as well.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1774641978910.png">While it's still a bit too early to determine locations and threats for this next event, climatology tells us where tornadoes are more likely heading into the month of April.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044209-1774608399915.png">

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

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Dave Holder

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While much of the country, and in particular the Southwest, has been baking underneath a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/record-heat-rolls-east-this-week">historic heatwave</a>, a shift in the jet stream will mean cooler and wetter weather ahead!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-29 06-14-41-1774779312485.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>This weekend, stronger upper-level winds are beginning to overspread the Desert Southwest. As this occurs, rain and high-elevation snow chances will increase on Sunday and Monday with afternoon heating.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 115526-1774634146026.png">Unfortunately, drought conditions have been building across much of the West for the last couple of weeks. Extreme and Exceptional Drought now covers the majority of western Colorado. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-29 06-16-23-1774779405184.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Precipitation chances will persist through much of next week, especially for the Four Corners on Tuesday. Another strong upper-level low dropping in from the Northwest could keep things active through the latter half of next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061654-1774779433756.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061724-1774779458476.png">Although not a "Drought Buster" by any means, these systems will at least help put a dent into the record-low snowpack across the West, along with some relief from the heat!

Artemis 2 Set To Launch Wednesday, Watching the Forecast

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

Artemis 2 Set To Launch Wednesday, Watching the Forecast

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

Artemis 2 Set To Launch Wednesday, Watching the Forecast

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead