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

JesseKelleyjpeg-1679519197409.jpeg

<p>This week, an upper level ridge takes over parts of the West. Record heat is looking possible across parts of the Northwest through Tuesday. Heat alerts remain in effect for parts of the Interstate 5 region from Bellingham, WA to just north of Redding, CA.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 195755-1782179888372.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 062916-1782124167932.png"></p><p>Tuesday will be the last of our hottest days before temperatures gradually cool down near the end of the week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 195801-1782179905499.png"></p><h1>Southwest</h1><p>In Southern California, heat advisories have been issued for parts of the LA Metro for Tuesday into Thursday. The worst of heat will be in areas northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. More alerts will be issued as we get closer to next week. Wednesday, high temperatures are expected to reach the 90s from Calabasas to San Bernardino.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 063051-1782124260871.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 063150-1782124320954.png">Some of these heat alerts extend outside of southern California and the desert into portions of the southwest. Arizona is also under heat alerts through Wednesday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 195857-1782179971480.png"></p>

Alana Cameron

Heat Returns to the West

Screenshot20260622062916png-1782124324949.png

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!

AlanaCameronjpeg-1679518648021.jpeg

<p>Devastating storms ripped through the heartland again on Sunday. Fatalities have been reported along with multiple destroyed homes in the area. The same system that prompted those numerous tornadoes will slide east, but should lose some of its intensity. The National Weather Service in Paducah, KY has put out a preliminary rating of EF-3 from the storm in Dix, IL.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2069135992326676518" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2069135992326676518"></div><h2>Severe Outlooks</h2><p>Through Tuesday morning, the Storm Prediction Center has maintained a <strong>SLIGHT </strong>(level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather across the Eastern U.S. This spans from NYC through the Deep South, and all along this front tornado warnings have been occurring.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 195310-1782179611225.png">On Tuesday, new thunderstorms will take aim again at the I-95 corridor so the SPC has issued a <strong>MARGINAL</strong> (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather across the Middle Atlantic.</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 173231-1782171257205.png">Timing</h2><p>With ongoing storms, through the night and the morning, the severity of these storms slows down as we've lost daytime heating. By the afternoon of Tuesday, new thunderstorms will develop along the heavily traveled I-95 corridor into the afternoon. Alongside severe hazards, flooding will increase in these areas too.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/east ovn-1782171309901.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p>

I-95 Corridor Under Severe Risk Through Tuesday

Screenshot20260622195310png-1782179600043.png

Adrian Hernandez

Adriannewnewjpeg-1774471713694.jpeg

<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1><p>New rounds of rainfall are expected to move in from the High Plains and down to the South over the course of the week ahead.With additional rain across saturated soils, the WPC has issued Excessive Rainfall Outlooks for the next several days.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/ovn wpx-1782179819206.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>While severe weather will be a concern, heavy rainfall may become the more widespread threat. Abundant atmospheric moisture will allow storms to produce intense downpours, and some areas could see rainfall rates of more than an inch per hour. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms moving over the same locations may quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flash flooding.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 195652-1782179826705.png"></p><p>We will continue to monitor the progression of the system as it moves across the region. Residents in areas prone to flooding or severe weather are encouraged to stay informed of the latest forecasts and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts throughout the weekend.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p>

Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

Screenshot20260622124233png-1782153797285.png

Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

KarissaKlosjpeg-1679518530192.jpeg

<p>We're only half way through 2026 and Illinois has already broken its record for the most tornadoes in a single year. According to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://stateclimatologist.isws.illinois.edu/climate-of-illinois/tornadoes-in-illinois/">Illinois State Climatologist</a>, the Land of Lincoln averages 54 tornadoes each year (1991-2020 data). As of June 21, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/summary/">Storm Prediction Center</a> has the count at 196.</p><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/4404339883174541" data-width="500" src="https://www.facebook.com/reel/4404339883174541" style="display: flex; justify-content: center"></div><p></p><p>We spoke with Trent Ford, the Illinois State Climatologist about why the state has seen an increase in tornadoes. See the full interview:</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nd534_navdI" start="0"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 124536-1782153951050.png"></p><p>The previous record was 142 set recently in 2024. In 2025, there was still more than double the yearly average. Last year saw 126 tornadoes in Illinois.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 093725-1782142687281.png"><em>Courtesy: Illinois State Climatologist</em></p><p>It's not surprising that June is an active month in Illinois. 63% of their tornadoes come between April, May and June.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-22 094023-1782142838106.png"><em>Courtesy: Illinois State Climatologist</em></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2069080473997844793" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2069080473997844793"></div>

Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

Screenshot20260622123938png-1782153589073.png

<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">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></span></p>

Rob Bradley

RobBradleyjpeg-1679518597323.jpeg

<p>Fathers across the country will have to share their glory day this year with the astronomical start of summer, also known as the summer solstice! Dads deserve their moment in the sun (pun intended), so we'll start with the Father's Day forecast, which looks hot for much of the country, except in the Upper Midwest!</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 193004-1782005417349.png"></p><p>A low-pressure system emerging from the Rockies on Saturday will push east through the Midwest on Sunday, creating numerous showers and thunderstorms. You may want to have indoor plans for these areas, especially by the afternoon. Read more about the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-this-weekend">severe weather threat here</a>.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/daddy-1782005545094.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781992012660.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Summer Solstice &amp; Summer Forecast</h1><p>Father's Day this year happens to fall on the longest day of the year, when the summer solstice occurs! The solstice happens before sunrise for the East Coast, around 4:24 am. This is the point in Earth's orbit when the Northern Hemisphere most directly tilts toward the sun. This means after today, days will gradually start getting shorter, but the heat will take a while to fade.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052822-1781954988791.png">How does the rest of the summer look across the US? Warm for most, though the Midwest could be cooler than average.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052840-1781955036807.png">Most areas of the country should expect near-normal precipitation from July through September, with parts of the Midwest and Southern Plains expecting drier-than-average conditions. Monsoon season could be active this year in the Four Corners and Southern California, leading to above-average precipitation.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052849-1781955043126.png"></p>

Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Heat Returns to the West

I-95 Corridor Under Severe Risk Through Tuesday

Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Heat Returns to the West

I-95 Corridor Under Severe Risk Through Tuesday

Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday