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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Several rounds of severe storms rocked the Lone Star state several times earlier this week, producing giant, 5-inch diameter hail and tornadoes! In addition, earlier on Friday, a wind gust of 119mph rocked the Victoria, TX area! Thankfully, the severe threat is beginning to wind down from west to east as the cold front pushes through.<h2>Severe Storm Outlooks</h2>Severe storms will be possible near the surface low and along the warm front through the overnight hours. The SPC has highlighted a risk area from south of New Orleans, LA to Tallahassee, FL.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777687782464.png">By Saturday, the surface low begins to strengthen, increasing southerly flow and strengthening dynamics to create severe storms. Scattered severe storms producing damaging winds are possible, while lower risks for hail and tornadoes will also be present.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-01 064417-1777639640803.png"><h2>Rainfall &amp; Forecast</h2>Storms are likely to remain persistent over the following days, although severe weather does look slightly more likely in the afternoons and early evenings. Overnight storms along the Gulf Coast will be possible overnight, including an isolated tornado threat, so please make sure you have ways to get severe weather alerts that can wake you up!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Brian Heat Gfx-1777687930367.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Through Monday, a widespread 1-2 inches of rain will be possible but some heavier downpours in South Florida will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688012800.png">With the potential combination of training storms and heavy rainfall rates, the flooding concern is elevated. The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted areas overnight through Sunday with flood potential.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688067812.png">There are many areas, especially across the southeast, that desperately need more rainfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 133607-1777404986134.png">

Jesse Kelley

Heavy Rain, Severe Storms For Texas Gulf Coast

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Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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A trough of low pressure will keep things cool through the rest of the week in portions of the Plains, Great Lakes, and East. Breezy and cool conditions will stick around through the weekend. Cold alerts have been issued for the next few mornings across many of these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688159965.png">Freezing to sub-freezing temperatures will be possible in the watch and warning areas. Make sure to protect tender plants from the cold! Morning lows will be cold and below average for many. Minneapolis normally has a forecast low of 43°, and will see one more chilly evening before lows moderate back into the 50s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688202141.png">Across the Northeast, temperatures will run below average as well. Lots of cities that normally see lows in the 40s will wake up this weekend in the 30s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688285882.png">The WPC has issued a day 3-7 hazards outlook for Sunday, May 3rd, as temperatures will be running 5°- 15° below average!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-30 144419-1777581865617.png">

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

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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.

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While the eastern United States is under upper-level troughing, bringing frost and freeze conditions, the Northwest will be warm this weekend. High pressure is building in for the next few days, especially for the Pacific Northwest. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-01 173209-1777678338792.png">The warmest days in the forecast period will be this weekend. Heat Advisories have been issued for parts of the Portland metro with daytime highs in the lower 90s. Sunday record highs could fall for multiple cities in both Washington and Oregon. Have ways to stay hydrated and check on the vulnerable people who may not have ways of adequate cooling!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777664900412.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/PIC 2-1777668022076.jpg">Temperatures are expected to cool down a little but remain above average into next week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777665054167.png">

Record Heat for the Northwest

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<h1>Heading to Churchill Downs this Weekend?</h1><h3>Derby Day Weather Outlook</h3>Current forecasts call for partly cloudy to partly sunny skies throughout the day on Saturday, with temperatures expected to top out in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Morning temperatures are likely to be brisk, with overnight lows dipping to around 40°F, before gradual warming during the late morning and afternoon hours. While the day may feel cool compared to some recent runnings of the Derby, the conditions are well within the comfortable range for outdoor spectators and participants.Perhaps most importantly, the chance of rain appears low, representing a significant improvement from earlier in the week, when unsettled weather threatened to dampen the weekend’s flagship event. While isolated sprinkles cannot be completely ruled out this far in advance, there is currently no strong signal for steady or disruptive rainfall on Saturday.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/WEB 1-1777553210631.png"></h1><h1>Impact on Track Conditions</h1>Earlier rainfall during the week may have some lingering effects on the Churchill Downs surface, particularly if showers pass through on Friday. However, with Saturday shaping up to be dry and cool, track conditions are expected to improve steadily. A dry forecast on Derby Day would allow the dirt track to firm up, reducing the likelihood of the kind of muddy, sealed surface that can dramatically influence race strategy and outcomes.For horsemen, a drying track generally leads to more predictable footing, which can be especially important in a 20‑horse field like the Kentucky Derby, where traffic, pace, and positioning are already major variables.<h1>Impact on the Horses</h1>From blazing sunshine to torrential rain, the conditions on Derby Day can significantly influence the race's outcome and the experience for horses, jockeys, trainers, and fans alike 🏇🏇 Precipitation: Track conditions are the most immediate and noticeable way weather affects the Derby. Rain can quickly turn the usually fast dirt track into a sloppy or muddy surface, altering the performance of certain horses and jockeys. Some horses, known as “mudders,” thrive in wet conditions, while others struggle. For instance, in the rain-soaked 2019 Derby, the muddy track played a role in a dramatic finish that included the controversial disqualification of Maximum Security. Handicappers and bettors pay close attention to forecasts, knowing that a change in weather could shift the odds significantly.🏇 Temperature is another critical factor. A warm &amp; humid race day can drain a horse's stamina, especially those not acclimated to the heat and humidity. Trainers often adjust their preparation and hydration strategies depending on the expected weather. Cooler temperatures, on the other hand, may benefit certain horses with more endurance and less speed.🏇 Wind also plays a subtle but real role in racing dynamics. A strong headwind down the backstretch can tire front-running horses earlier than expected, while a tailwind might benefit late closers. Though less obvious than mud or rain, wind direction and speed can change race strategies and even alter the pace of the race.In a race where every fraction of a second matters, weather isn’t just a background variable—it’s a potential game-changer. Whether the sun is shining or rain is pouring, the conditions on Derby Day can leave a lasting imprint.

Rain or Shine? Your 152nd Kentucky Derby Forecast

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<h1>MONDAY</h1>Severe storms erupted across the Midwest on Monday, causing damage to homes and other structures. Reports of damaging winds, large hail, and even a few tornadoes came in throughout Monday. Some of those tornadoes touched down after dark, creating truly nightmare-like scenes captured on video in Illinois.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2048955551267328360" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2048955551267328360"></div><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2048945300266537201" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2048945300266537201"></div>Storms started to spark up by the early evening hours on Monday. Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings were firing off into the nighttime hours across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-28 04-20-09-1777371667954.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>We picked up some pretty large hailstones out of Missouri after this system pulled through. Some reports showed hailstones reaching the size of softballs!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 042253-1777371968460.png">The gustiest winds reported were actually out of Illinois and Indiana. Looking back at the radar from Monday night, it's no surprise, being that we got that defined bow echo.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 042302-1777372048925.png">Flooding was also a major issue across places like Kansas City. With multiple heavy rounds of rainfall, we even broke several records across major cities in the Midwest. We always tell folks to never sleep on that flooding threat!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 042928-1777372180763.png">Why weren't there more high-end tornadoes? A lot of research will go into the exact whys, but one thing that jumped out at us was the cap. Temperatures above the area where storms were attempting to form were slightly warmer than expected. That snuffed out many storms before they could achieve strong to violent status on Monday evening.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 115059-1777398675567.png">TUESDAY</h1>On Tuesday, our front dropped into the southern plains, providing a focus for more thunderstorms. Supercells approached the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, nearing rush hour. Large hail fell with the most intense storms, and a few tornadoes were reported.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-29 114240-1777484739534.png">Earlier in the day, storms north of the boundary produced more massive hail in southwest Missouri, smashing multiple windows!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-29 114259-1777484807523.png">

Record Heat for the Northwest

Rain or Shine? Your 152nd Kentucky Derby Forecast

A Look Back at Moderate Risks This Week

Heavy Rain, Severe Storms For Texas Gulf Coast

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

Record Heat for the Northwest

Rain or Shine? Your 152nd Kentucky Derby Forecast

A Look Back at Moderate Risks This Week

Heavy Rain, Severe Storms For Texas Gulf Coast

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

Record Heat for the Northwest

Rain or Shine? Your 152nd Kentucky Derby Forecast

A Look Back at Moderate Risks This Week