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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While the Midwest has finally seen a break from a cold and snowy pattern, warmer air and increasing moisture could lead to numerous severe storms on Thursday. A Pacific low is now strengthening in the lee of the Rockies and will continue moving east, bringing lift and wind shear to the region. At the surface, moisture from the Gulf is pulled north into mild winter temperatures. These parameters should allow for numerous severe storms Thursday afternoon, including the chance for strong tornadoes. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 103904-1771522786981.png">The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for portions of Illinois and Indiana for Thursday. Scattered damaging wind and large hail are expected to be the most widespread hazards, but several tornadoes are possible, including strong tornadoes for the areas in orange (above).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 103909-1771522795656.png">The tornado potential is expected to be elevated, with a few tornadoes possible for the region in brown (above). Several intense tornadoes are possible for the areas in the yellow hatched region. Intense tornadoes can destroy or damage well built structures, so please have multiple ways to get alerts and know where your tornado safe place is. A basement or storm shelter is ideal, but if those aren't options heading to a room in the interior of your home/building is recommended, putting as many walls between you and the outside.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/New Baron Video 3-1771528849162.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Storms are expected to intensify through the early afternoon, persisting through the evening as they move to the northeast. By around midnight most storms should lose the energy needed to produce damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771528889231.png">Rainfall could be briefly intense, but flash flooding is not expected. Areas that see multiple thunderstorms could pick up 1-3" of rain.

Jesse Kelley

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

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Tracey Anthony

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PLAINS - Multiple active fires broke out on Tuesday across the Plains of Kansas and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Fire danger continues through the end of the week with red flag warnings and fire weather watches in place until then.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771529371736.png">The fires that began on Tuesday have burned a large amount of real estate, estimates show over 310,000 acres of wildfires burned since Tuesday afternoon causing low visibility and evacuation orders issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 165212-1771458739592.png">In the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, the Ranger Road Fire has burned nearly 300,000 acres since Tuesday with little to no containment.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/we1-1771513754619.png">As our front has been moving through, a critical fire weather outlook risk is in place. Wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible. Fire weather outlooks continue into Thursday and through the end of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/we3b1-1771513807538.png">Some winds were clocked close to triple digits. The winds prompted a blowing dust advisory to be issued on Tuesday afternoon, and a 30+-vehicle pileup resulted from brownout conditions along I-25 in southern Colorado.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 9-1771425927888.png">

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

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Brittany Lockley

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CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been impacted by the first of several frontal boundaries, which prompted severe warnings, flash flood warnings, heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds since Tuesday morning. Another Pacific system is bringing heavy snowfall and rain to California on Thursday. Strong damaging winds will be another primary concern across the state, especially with saturated soils from the rain. Within the past 72 hours, there have been several reports of landslides and debris flows across the state.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 075311-1771512817264.png">Snow totals have already exceeded 6 ft. for Homewood Mountain. Some areas could still see another foot of snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 152111-1771453280925.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2024232039315296461" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2024232039315296461"></div><h1>Timing &amp; Accumulation</h1>Another quick-moving system continues throughout Thursday, delivering another round of rain and mountain snow before tapering off late Thursday afternoon and evening. Several inches of additional snow are expected in the mountains, particularly above 5,000 feet. Snow levels could drop to around 4,000 feet Thursday morning and again Thursday night into early Friday, which means portions of Interstate 5, especially near the Grapevine, could see accumulating snow and lingering slick conditions into Friday morning. Check for road closures and delays as heavy snow will be very impactful across the higher elevations and passes.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/FORECAST-1771521066425.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Winter weather alerts remain much of California through Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 075626-1771513059085.png">Travel could be impossible in some spots with the high snowfall rates and winds. Another foot or more is likely across the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. For the mountains in Southern California, another half a foot still looks likely.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185450-1771466110061.png"><h1>Rain</h1>Rainfall totals with this next system are expected to range from about a quarter to a half inch across the coast and valleys, with up to an inch possible in the mountains. Areas north of Point Conception may see slightly higher totals due to persistent northwest flow keeping showers around longer. Behind the storm, Friday looks dry but chilly. Depending on how quickly skies clear and winds calm overnight, some valleys could experience patchy frost or even freeze conditions early Friday morning.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 044904-1771501755089.png"><h1>Winds</h1>Strong winds will remain a hazard across the state. Especially across Southern California, some wind speeds could reach gusts above 70 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185601-1771466167682.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 152932-1771453780073.png">The weekend brings some improvement. Saturday is shaping up to be the nicest day of the next seven as a weak ridge builds overhead. Expect mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and a modest warm-up with highs climbing into the 60s.&nbsp;However, the quiet weather will not last long. Another system is forecast to move into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, bringing renewed moisture and unsettled conditions back into Southern California. While forecast models vary on timing and coverage, current projections show a 30 - 40% chance of rain Sunday through Tuesday. At this point, the system does not appear particularly moisture-rich, and rainfall amounts look relatively light.&nbsp;

Patrick Crawford

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

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More record high temperatures were broken across the northern U.S. on Wednesday for the 3rd straight day. Some highs reached to the 60s and 70s. This heat is going to continue to shift east. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 9-1771513975387.png">The ridge of high pressure will continue to push east, bringing the heat east through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 113242-1771439569480.png">More record high temperatures will be possible through Saturday as the heat builds east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184923-1771465793558.png">Temperatures to the south will push into the 80s again on Thursday<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184911-1771465801711.png">The warmest temperatures this week will be on Thursday across the Southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184940-1771465806630.png">Southern Plains anomalous warmth will help to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we wrap up the month and head into March. The chance for thunderstorms in a more spring-like pattern will continue along with it!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185013-1771465823044.png">

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in place across the Four Corners, with additional snowfall expected in the region. Some parts of Utah and Colorado have already seen over a foot of snowfall. An additional amount of snowfall is on the way for the Four Corners through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 081213-1771513946742.png">On and off rain and snow showers are expected to continue through much of the week, dropping feet of snow for some areas in the Rockies.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-19 08-12-44-1771514011118.mkv" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals could reach 1 to 3 feet in the higher elevations through Thursday. The system's track from the Southwest will favor upslope snow in SW Utah and Colorado, increasing totals there, such as Telluride.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-19 08-12-44-1771514037748.mkv" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Most ski resorts can expect at least 6-12" through Thursday morning, with some seeing up to two feet!Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow