Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

Jesse Kelley

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<p>Extreme heat will be a big story this week across the middle of the country where high pressure is building. However, weak cold fronts are riding around the periphery of the ridge, creating storms that can tap into the heat and humidity. These storms are likely to bring severe weather impacts from the Midwest to the East Coast in the days ahead.</p><h1>Saturday</h1><p>Saturday night destructive winds made its way across parts of South Dakota! Some of the top wind reports were between 80-90 mph! The threat for more damaging and possibly destructive winds will continue into the late hours.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031775669.png"></p><h1>Sunday</h1><p>The storm fuel on Sunday and Monday looks a lot better for the next round of severe storms. With temperatures in the 90s and 100s ahead of the next front, severe weather is looking likely. Just like Saturday, destructive winds will be one of the primary threats across the Great Lakes Sunday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784858014872.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031850022.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031869479.png">The current thinking of the forecast shows a couple of rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms. The thunderstorm threat will be highest in the afternoon and evening hours, however, storms could still be strong after the sun sets. The biggest threat will likely be damaging winds and heavy rain but we will keep an eye out on the tornado threat too. Monday, the severe threat now moves into parts of the Northeast.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/BARON 5-1785032024206.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Severe Storms Target the Midwest This Weekend

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<p>Are you over the summer heat yet? The heat alerts continue across the Central and Western U.S. through the weekend. Saturday, Rapid City achieved a brand new all time record high of 112°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785030904941.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785030942397.png"></p><h1><strong>Southwest</strong></h1><p>Extreme Heat Warnings and Advisories have been issued for parts of the Desert Southwest into Monday. Friday morning, record lows fell across parts of Arizona where the mercury only dropped into the upper 90s! The extreme afternoon highs and well-above-average lows are the reason Extreme Heat Warnings are issued. People should seek cooling centers or a building with adequate A/C during the hottest part of the day. The hot temperatures are expected to expand into the Northern Four Corners states of Utah and Colorado with highs approaching 100 degrees.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 3-1785022647693.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 4-1785022654408.jpg"></p><h1>Central U.S.</h1><p>As high pressure expands westward, the upper high also expands northward into the High Plains and Upper Midwest. Heat alerts have been issued for areas from the Northern Rockies out into the Great Lakes into Monday evening.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 4-1785022705472.jpg"></p><p>Lastly, for the Southern Plains the high heat sticks around for the weekend and most of next week because of high pressure.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 5-1785022745161.jpg"></p><p>For everyone across the country dealing with the intense, practice heat safety, take frequent breaks, and stay hydrated as best as you can in the days upcoming.</p>

Heat Wave Grips Central, Western U.S.

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Kevin Schneider

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<h1>Atlantic Basin</h1><p>Bertha has dissipated after moving inland into Texas Thursday evening, with a messy second landfall as an elongated center of low pressure. Bertha first made landfall within the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, with winds of 45 mph on Wednesday, July 22. No further tropical development is expected over the next seven days.</p><h1>Pacific</h1><p>There are a few other areas we are monitoring in the Eastern Pacific. <strong>Hurricane Fausto </strong>continues to track west, along with Tropical Storm Genevieve that formed on Friday.</p><p>Now a hurricane, Fausto is expected to track westward and remain hurricane strength through the weekend. Dry air and increasing shear mean the storm is expected to weaken some through the weekend as it approaches the Hawaiian Islands. It's too early to determine if the storm will track over the islands or head north, but some impacts can be expected. Large swells and strong currents will impact the islands next week, but wind and rain impacts from the system itself cannot be ruled out. We will continue to keep you updated!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031067825.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031087806.png"></p><h1>Genevieve</h1><p>Tropical Storm Genevieve formed on Friday south of Acapulco, Mexico. With plenty of warm waters ahead, Genevieve is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane by Sunday. Luckily, the storm will stay away from land. However, choppy waters and rough surf can be expected if visiting any of the Mexican cities along the Pacific coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785031135411.png"></p><p></p>

Tropics: Fausto Heads to Hawaii; Genevieve Will Become a Major Hurricane

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<p>Conditions have been really dry out west. We've been tracking some major fires across the state of Oregon. With multiple fires burning in the same general region, they form complexes. We have two large ones we're tracking now with containment improvements.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 4-1785022438503.jpg"></p><p>One of the biggest issues we'll track with these fires will be the smoke. Unfortunately, upper-level winds will send this moderate to even dense smoke across the Pacific Northwest that will impact air quality for the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061724-1784899203154.png">This smoke is expected to lower the air quality considerably across the area through the weekend. Red Flag warnings will be in place the next few days, so be mindful of anything that could spark a new fire over the weekend. Air quality alerts are in place for the first half of Sunday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 3-1785021499166.jpg"></p><p>Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation at :50 past the hour for your full Western U.S. breakdown!</p>

Patrick Crawford

Fire Weather Continues This Weekend

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<p>A stalled boundary over the Southeast will keep storms in the forecast into the weekend, leading to an increased risk for flash flooding.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2080088002332872753" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2080088002332872753"></div><h1>Flooding</h1><p>Flash flooding was an issue Friday across parts of North Georgia and Northern Alabama with the slow-moving showers and storms. Another batch of storms will keep the flooding threat on the table as we move into this weekend. Make sure you have a plan of action if high water becomes an issue in your neighborhood.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-25 053112-1784979080498.jpg"></p><p>All the rain that has fallen in the last month will keep the flood risk ongoing for many spots in the Mid-Atlantic.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-25 052948-1784978995612.jpg"></p><h1>Timing</h1><p>Showers and storms will continue Saturday across the Southeast. Flash flooding and even a few isolated strong storms will be possible this weekend. As the front drops south, more concentrated storm chances will move into the Sunshine State. Storms capable of producing damaging winds will be possible. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-25 05-32-34-1784979805904.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Despite this last week, it's been pretty dry for the Carolinas. Recent updates from the drought monitor show an extreme to even exceptional drought across the Carolinas. Hopefully, all this rain can offset some of those concerns.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-22 044550-1784717162590.png"></p><p>Make sure to tune into WeatherNation for the full east breakdown at :10 past the hour! Always remember, turn around and don't drown!</p>

Tropics: Fausto Heads to Hawaii; Genevieve Will Become a Major Hurricane

Fire Weather Continues This Weekend

Southeast Flood Risk Lingers Near Stalled Front

Severe Storms Target the Midwest This Weekend

Heat Wave Grips Central, Western U.S.

Tropics: Fausto Heads to Hawaii; Genevieve Will Become a Major Hurricane

Fire Weather Continues This Weekend

Southeast Flood Risk Lingers Near Stalled Front

Severe Storms Target the Midwest This Weekend

Heat Wave Grips Central, Western U.S.

Tropics: Fausto Heads to Hawaii; Genevieve Will Become a Major Hurricane

Fire Weather Continues This Weekend

Southeast Flood Risk Lingers Near Stalled Front