Kevin Schneider

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On the heels of an active opening week to Meteorological Spring, another threat of severe weather will be in the cards for the first half of the week. Remember the upper low that caused severe weather this past weekend? The other half of the low will move through Tuesday and Wednesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1772915032131.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Severe weather outlooks are already in place from Tuesday to Wednesday. With plenty of unstable air to tap into, the threat for severe weather persists. The massive outlook stretches from central Texas to the Great Lakes. An ENHANCED (level 3 out of 5) risk for severe weather is in place for Tuesday in portions of the Midwest and portions of Texas, making the risk for significant severe weather higher.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/hahahssssss-1773079246644.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/overviewwww -1773079210566.png">Additionally, more heavy rain could lead to more flooding since the grounds are already saturated from last week's storms. The current thinking is that the heaviest of the rain will be down in the South, as an additional 2-4" is likely!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-09 05-58-01-1773050308421.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web4-1773050338522.png">

Jackie Brown

Another Round of Severe Weather Likely This Week

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A ridge of high pressure is bringing unseasonably warm temperatures across much of the United States, sending temperatures above average. Another round of record highs was set today! Pierre, South Dakota, saw a new record of 75°, beating out the old record of 68°<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-09 05-24-27-1773055621870.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Not only were records broken today across the plains, but Florida saw record highs as well.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/FKS;SSSSS-1773013361442.png">The unusual warmth is being driven by a large dome of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, which is allowing warm air from the southern U.S. and Gulf region to spread across the country. This pattern not only boosts daytime temperatures but also keeps overnight lows unusually mild, limiting the amount of cooling that normally occurs this time of year. In several cities, early morning temperatures have been closer to typical afternoon highs for early March.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/AAA_WEB1-1773055880676.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/RAV 6a-1773055955315.png">Later in the week, high pressure sets up back on the West Coast, bringing temperatures soaring. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-09 113118-1773077644664.png">Highs will warm into the 80's and 90's, which will start to threaten records starting Thursday in places like Los Angeles<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-09 113314-1773077877990.png">

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps Across the Eastern United States

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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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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 fast approaching, 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 2026-03-06 080027-1772810872599.png">On Thursday, March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026. The peak is expected around late March into early April (between the 31st and 2nd). Still, the forecast for the peak is generally difficult to make beyond ten days, as blossoms will be impacted by weather conditions. Check back in for updates!<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.<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 Cherry Blossom Forecast Released For 2026

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Brittany Lockley

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A powerful early-March storm system unleashed a widespread severe weather outbreak across parts of the Plains and Midwest, producing tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail that left several communities dealing with significant destruction. The storms developed as warm, moisture-rich air surged north from the Gulf and collided with a strong cold front moving across the central United States. The combination of instability and strong wind shear created an environment favorable for intense thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes.&nbsp;<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-07 04-44-42-1772883932550.mkv" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Severe storms erupted across several states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois, before tracking farther north into the Midwest and Great Lakes. Millions of people were placed under severe weather alerts as powerful thunderstorms developed along the advancing storm system. Some storms quickly intensified into supercells, capable of producing tornadoes and very large hail.&nbsp;<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2030128965650694479" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2030128965650694479"></div>According to the National Weather Service in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Beggs tornado has a preliminary rating of EF-3 with estimated peak winds of 135 to 140 mph.One of the hardest hit areas was southern Michigan, where tornadoes damaged homes and buildings and caused multiple fatalities. Emergency crews responded to widespread damage after storms tore through communities overnight, leaving debris scattered across neighborhoods and knocking out power to thousands. In addition to the tornado threat, storms produced destructive straight-line winds and hail large enough to cause damage to vehicles, roofs and windows.&nbsp;Storm surveyors found EF2 damage in Three Rivers and EF3 damage in Union City, MI.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web1-1773050410282.png">&nbsp;<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2030093575778635918" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2030093575778635918"></div>Some of the storms produced hail larger than three inches in diameter along with wind gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour. Heavy rainfall also accompanied the storms, raising concerns for localized flooding in some areas.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web1-1773050441324.png">The outbreak is notable because it occurred relatively early in the severe weather season and impacted a broad portion of the country from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes. As the storm system continues to push east, an additional round of strong to severe thunderstorms could develop in parts of the eastern United States before conditions gradually improve.&nbsp;

Deadly Tornadoes Strike Plains and Great Lakes

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A series of powerful low pressure system has spawned several violent tornadoes over the last few days. Parts of Oklahoma and Michigan, and potentially Arkansas, saw significant impacts form tornadoes, including multiple deaths. More information about these tornadoes and their ratings can be found here.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2030033898915381363" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2030033898915381363?s=20"></div><h1>OVERNIGHT</h1>Storms continues to keep pushing eastward across the South tonight. The biggest threat will be wind and hail especially in Texas. Along with the severe threat will be flash flooding. As the sun has already set, it is very difficult to judge if you can drive through flood waters. Please REMEMBER TURN AROUND AND DON'T DROWN. The atmosphere has lots of moisture to be squeezed out in showers and storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1772939398324.png">Sunday could also see a few strong storms from North Carolina to the Gulf Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1772939469553.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1772939578493.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Have multiple ways to get severe weather warnings in the afternoon and evening hours. Brush up on your severe weather plan with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-awareness-week-2026">SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK</a>

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released For 2026

Deadly Tornadoes Strike Plains and Great Lakes

Deadly Storm System Moves East, Elevated Tornado Risk Continues

Another Round of Severe Weather Likely This Week

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps Across the Eastern United States

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released For 2026

Deadly Tornadoes Strike Plains and Great Lakes

Deadly Storm System Moves East, Elevated Tornado Risk Continues

Another Round of Severe Weather Likely This Week

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps Across the Eastern United States

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released For 2026

Deadly Tornadoes Strike Plains and Great Lakes

Deadly Storm System Moves East, Elevated Tornado Risk Continues