Kevin Schneider

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After a busy week, the weekend doesn't look like it will let up much. Another trough will swing in, replacing the last that kept severe chances around all week. This next trough (above) that will drop in looks as if it could even be a touch stronger!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 102133-1776270101860.png">It looks like there will be just as much unstable air to work with, helping power storms in the afternoon. Because many of the ingredients don't change, just their origin, the severe outlook will look familiar. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172800-1776382096562.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 173141-1776382310006.png">Right now, the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted an Enhanced Risk from Oklahoma all the way back into the Great Lakes. All hazards are possible on Friday, including strong tornadoes, hurricane-force winds, and very large hail. Thunderstorms will begin to fire up along the front during the afternoon hours and take off from there into the evening and overnight hours. Saturday, the upper-level low slides into the Northeast, bringing the potential of severe weather into areas like Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1776367570824.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 173335-1776382423142.png">A big cooldown is in store for most east of the Rockies. Considering how warm we've been, it'll be a very welcome change!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-16 06-37-20-1776335853250.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Dave Holder

Next Severe Threat: Friday and Saturday

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As strong high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere remains in place, record high temperatures continue to fall. On Thursday, records fell from New Jersey to Florida!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172012-1776381682389.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172022-1776381693624.png">Further records are expected to be broken through the first half of the upcoming weekend, with temperatures running more than 20 degrees above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 171948-1776381728014.png">Across the Southeast, temperatures will remain well above normal through Saturday before a cold front sweeps through. Many cities are expected to approach 90 degrees, far above the typical April highs in the 70s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172259-1776381793199.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172400-1776381849855.png"><h3>Fire Danger</h3>With this kind of warmth, fire concerns increase. Hot, dry conditions can quickly dry out soils and vegetation, creating more fuel for fires. Again on Friday, there is an elevated threat of fire danger for much of North Carolina and Virginia. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 172433-1776381885299.png">

Eastern Heat and Fire Danger Persist

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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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COLORADO - An estimated 70+ car pileup happened on Colorado's I-70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel earlier on Tuesday, April 14th. Light snow was being reported throughout the day. I-70 was closed well into Tuesday evening, but has since been reopened.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044230476697674132" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044230476697674132"></div>A frontal boundary is moving across the Northern Rockies. As a result, widespread winter weather alerts are in place for higher elevations across the Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368636354.png">This system is expected to reach Utah by Thursday and much of Colorado by Friday. This next round of snow for Colorado looks to bring snow levels lower, down to the I-25 corridor.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1776368744309.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals will vary by elevation, but mountainous areas could pick up 1-2 feet of snow through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368777034.png">The air will feel much cooler over the next few days. Numerous areas are under frost and freeze alerts.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368815559.png">In true Colorado fashion, Denver's nighttime lows will drop into the 20s and 30s after a mild start on Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368844993.png">More details on this forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

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UPPER MIDWEST and GREAT LAKES - Three straight days of destructive severe storms moved through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Wednesday, NWS Kansas City confirmed two EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes that hit the city of Clinton, MO. Check out the video below of the tornado knocking over a fuel tanks.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/VO_041626_RNC_CLINTON, MO_AWESOME CLOSE UP SHOT OF THE TORNADO VORTICE &amp; KNOCKS OVER LARGE CYLINDERS_FB_MS_E041626-1776367783604.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 073701-1776346632507.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044202476317093912" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044202476317093912"></div><h2>Thursday</h2>The outlook shifts east and south for Thursday. As the cold front sweeps through, we'll have a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather for most of the outlook. However, the SPC has higher confidence in Northern Arkansas, Southern Missouri, and central New York chances of severe weather. A SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather is issued for those areas, with all threats being on the table. If you are in the brown shaded area below, you have an elevated risk of seeing a tornado. Have a severe weather plan in place as you go about your day.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 073857-1776346756175.png">Timing</h1><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1776367968861.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms in the same areas, this may lead to an isolated to scattered flooding risk across the Great Lakes region. Be prepared for flooding, especially if you still have some snow on the ground; frozen ground can take longer to absorb flood waters compared to unfrozen ground. Flood alerts continue into Friday with the next round of severe storms in the forecast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368095919.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368119393.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044599476434907195" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044599476434907195"></div>

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

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SW PLAINS - Portions of Texas and Oklahoma are at risk of severe thunderstorms through Thursday morning. The threat for severe storms is expected to slow into the overnight hours but is still non-zero. Wind reports earlier on Wednesday gusted up to 84 mph in Elk City, Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195038-1776304346569.png">In addition to this significant hail risk, there is also a risk of tornadoes with these supercells.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195124-1776304385162.png">The risk for flooding is fairly minimal in these areas, but models do have a few localized, heavier downpours through the next couple of days in these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 132632-1776281196660.png">

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

Next Severe Threat: Friday and Saturday

Eastern Heat and Fire Danger Persist

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

Next Severe Threat: Friday and Saturday

Eastern Heat and Fire Danger Persist

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma