Kevin Schneider

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The holidays make it hard to keep track of what day of the week it is. Mother Nature hasn't been helping with seemingly the same day for the past month or so. Storm systems roar onshore on the West Coast, targeting California recently, ride up and over the ridge in place around the Rockies. Eventually, they dive down through the Upper Midwest and Northeast. And we do that about every 3 days. We might have a different pattern coming. When stubborn setups break down, there can always be some downsides. Let's talk about it<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/01-04 ket stream-1767572719961.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>SETUP</h1>With persistent high pressure being hard to move, the warm weather hasn't been hard to find over the past few months. In fact, many saw their warmest December on record.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-04 103459-1767548116931.png">A strong trough will bite into our friendly neighborhood ridge, bringing back a stormy pattern to places that haven't seen much of it in recent weeks.<h1>SEVERE</h1>This strong trough will have more than enough wind energy and turning of the winds with h<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767609661409.png">ight to organize any storm that forms in the right location. The question is more about how much energy they get. This is pretty normal for a wintertime setup. On Monday, the Storm Prediction Center highlighted areas around the south with the greatest chance of seeing severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-05 104537-1767635188287.png">Right now, it doesn't look like a TON of unstable air to work with, which should limit the severity largely. However, it looks like enough ingredients will come together to see isolated severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767609686785.png">The easier problem to find will be heavy rainfall. With a few rounds of storms likely, areas from the Mid-Mississippi River Valley to the Ohio River Valley could see flash flooding develop on Thursday.<h1>SNOW..?</h1>Hard to believe that temperatures in the middle of the week will be some 15-20 degrees above average, which will lead to POTENTIALLY winter weather. Some models have cold air wrapping around the area of low pressure and catching up to the moisture.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 03-41-48-1767609736814.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There are a ton of uncertainties with this; however, with multiple moving parts to follow, there is little we know for sure about the forecast. Stay with us as we iron out the details!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-04 105627-1767549625599.png">

Late Week Storm System Brings a Different Pattern

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Adrian Hernandez

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2007919969460183293" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2007919969460183293"></div>One last push of the trough responsible for the heavy rain in California will kick off the week. This comes after several systems created major flooding and mudslides over the holidays. The threat of additional flash flooding (including with mudslides and debris flows) and heavy mountain snow will continues on Monday. <h1>Flooding Threat</h1>Rainfall totals could surpass 2-3 inches, or even higher in some mountain locations. This could lead to flash flooding and possibly mudslides in water-logged parts of Central and Northern California. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767610730018.png">Flash flood potential is expected to continue through Monday, with the WPC's excessive rainfall outlook showing a slight risk. Flood potential lingers through Monday, with a marginal risk (level 1) issued from the WPC.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767610758050.png"><h1>Timing / Forecast</h1>Heavy rain and snow have been happening across California and will slow down in intensity through Monday morning. There is more of a focus on northern California for the heaviest precipitation from now through then.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 03-59-32-1767610798593.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Snow &amp; Wind</h1><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2007829374213693448" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2007829374213693448"></div>Winter Storm Warnings are now in effect for the Sierra Nevada as well as the Trinity-Shasta mountains. Several feet of snow are expected to accumulate by the end of the weekend in many areas, including on I-80 over the Donner Pass.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-05 101532-1767633340320.png">Areas in orange and white could see 2-4 feet of snow, which is great news for the Sierra. The snowpack remains well below average due to the slow start to the season.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/we2-1767620172781.png">More details on your Western Regional Forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Heavy Rain & Snow Winding Down Tonight in California

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While there was be a temporary break in record-breaking warm temperatures, a strengthening upper-level ridge will once more bring the warm weather right back.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web4-1767611108217.png">The record potential will generally move from west to east across the country, along with the upper-level ridge. Records fell on Sunday across the High Plains, including Denver, which tied a record reaching 67°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-04 172304-1767572632534.png">Temperatures in Texas were downright hot this weekend. Down in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, temperatures soared into the 90s! Plenty more records are expected to fall across the Lone Star State in the coming days, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web4-1767611174524.png">Check out these forecasted temperatures for next week! We're looking at widespread highs of 20° or more above average again!

Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

Alana Cameron

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Persistent lake-effect snow and a series of fast-moving winter systems continue to impact the Great Lakes and the Northeast, creating a prolonged stretch of wintry weather. The pattern remains active as cold air repeatedly pours south from Canada, interacting with relatively warmer lake waters and reinforcing narrow but intense snow bands downwind of the lakes. Winter Weather Alerts<h1>RECORD SNOW</h1>Last week on Tuesday, Syracuse broke a record with 24.2" of snowfall, and could see additional snowfall through this week. Heavy snow bands plagued the Northeast through the New Year, had heavy Lake Effect snow.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/PIC 2-1767208072325.jpg">New snowfall totals are coming in with over 30" of snowfall over the past few days. The most significant lake-effect snowfall continues east and southeast of&nbsp;Lake Erie&nbsp;and&nbsp;Lake Ontario, where cold northwest winds are producing long-fetch snow bands. These bands can remain nearly stationary for hours, and additional snow can accumulate over areas that have already received several feet.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/web1-1767526574525.png"><h2>Upper Midwest</h2>Winter weather alerts remain in place for portions of Wisconsin and Michigan through Tuesday. The biggest problem here will be the freezing rain or drizzle that will lead to extremely difficult driving conditions as many people head back to work and school, Monday &amp; Tuesday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767610265870.png">A series of clipper systems will help to bring in light precipitation across this region over the next few days. Snow and ice will all be possible, so use caution if you have to be on the roads.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 03-51-18-1767610308447.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rain and snowfall totals will be heavier closer to the Great Lakes, but ice totals may reach upwards of .5" in some of these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767610339727.png"><h2>Northeast</h2>Across the northeast, we have seen our fair share of lake effect snowfall as mentioned above, but as this clipper moves in, it will give us the opportunity to see more snowfall in the area. There currently aren't any winter alerts in place for these areas, but you will see some light snow move through. As the second clipper moves in on Tuesday and Wednesday, the warm front will bring warm temperatures, enough to bring rain and freezing rain concerns next.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 03-53-06-1767610410819.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Totals don't look overly impressive, but it's enough to impact your driving as you head back to work and school this week. Check on buses and any cancellations!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web6-1767610436508.png">Tune into WeatherNation:10 past the hour for your eastern regional forecast with the latest updates on the lake-effect snow.

Tracey Anthony

Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

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It's been a slow start to the ski season for a lot of our resorts out west, so any snow in the forecast should bring a little hope to the skiers and boarders out there. The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah through tomorrow, with additional snowfall likely through the week ahead. Generally, from now through tomorrow, most of our alerts are for snowfall totals between 4"-8" with localized totals (like the Tetons) upwards of a couple of feet.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767609908712.png">The timing of this snowfall looks to come in waves as we head into this week, but the alerts above are just through tomorrow.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 03-45-21-1767609950915.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>As mentioned above, snowfall totals look to be around 4-8" with this first round, but through Thursday, some of our ski resorts could max out around a foot or two. For the Colorado Rockies and resorts of Utah, we'll be fortunate enough if we see around 9" to one foot for resorts like Vail and Park City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web3-1767610060711.png">For the Tetons, here's where we can expect some heavier totals of snowfall. White Pine may see some of the heaviest amounts. Yellowstone National Park is forecast to receive upwards of one foot at the south entrance.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767610108388.png">Whether you're hopeful or skeptical of this forecast, be sure to join us on WeatherNation live for the latest breakdown of these forecasts!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767610139939.png">

Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

Snow Returns to Ski Country

Late Week Storm System Brings a Different Pattern

Heavy Rain & Snow Winding Down Tonight in California

Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

Snow Returns to Ski Country

Late Week Storm System Brings a Different Pattern

Heavy Rain & Snow Winding Down Tonight in California

Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

Snow Returns to Ski Country