Kevin Schneider

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More record high temperatures were broken across the northern U.S. Monday. Some highs hit 70°.It has been a tale of two halves of the country so far this winter. In the West, temperatures have been extremely warm, while the East feels the repetitive shots of cold air, fresh from the Canadian Arctic. Now, as our pattern begins to shift, many people will feel the shift from bitterly cold temperatures to a more spring-like feel.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 163120-1771198291433.png">High pressure has ridged and is in place. This will begin to shove the arctic air back to the north and allow a significant warm-up from the Gulf to the Canadian border. Cities such as Sioux Falls, Minneapolis, and Chicago, which felt temperatures well below 0° for a good chunk of January, will suddenly feel temperatures that are more typical of April.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 155726-1771282662901.png">Down south, temperatures are expected to stay well above average this week. Some cities like San Antonio will be hanging out in the 80s this week, we should be below 70 this time of year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 155730-1771282657153.png">The southern Plains will also be feeling the anomalous warmth, helping to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> there over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we head deeper into February. 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 2026-02-16 155808-1771282694841.png">Through late February and early March, there is a high confidence that above average temperatures will stick around.

Taban Sharifi

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

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Fire outlooks have been issued across the front range and the plains through Tuesday afternoon. For today, that fire threat is elevated. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 133649-1771274228637.png">By Tuesday, the fire threat is more significant. The threat reaches extreme criteria. This is rarer to see and means the conditions are highly favorable for fires to start and spread rapidly.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 133657-1771274238519.png">Widespread Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches have been issued for the region, and that will expand further into Tuesday, some even lingering through Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154355-1771281841012.png">We are talking record-breaking heat potential with the warm daytime highs in the area. Warm weather will accompany a howling west wind into Tuesday, with some gusts surpassing 60 mph. That will help dry out an already dry atmosphere, pushing relative humidity percentages into the single digits by the afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154416-1771281861159.png">Additional fire outlooks look to remain in place Wednesday and Thursday as conditions remain elevated for fire danger.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154435-1771281915314.png">Catch all your latest updates by tuning into WeatherNation or download the WeatherNationTV app for the latest at your fingertips.

Fire Danger Upgraded to Extreme Threat in the Central Plains

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

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After a warm and dry January, the pattern out west has finally flipped. Feet of snow are expected in the Sierra, while inches of rain will fall in lower elevations. A line of severe storms is even possible by Monday morning in Los Angeles, with damaging winds and a tornado or two possible.<h1>Flooding &amp; Severe Storms</h1>The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has maintained a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) for the wind and tornado potential today from north of Paso Robles through Los Angeles.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 122052-1771273977666.png">Flash flooding is looking possible through Tuesday across portions of Southern California, including Los Angeles. The outlooks taper off by Wednesday. Numerous Flash Flood Warnings have already been issued across Southern California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 153829-1771281515749.png"><h1>Timing</h1>Rain and snow look likely off and on into Thursday as another strong trough arrives, especially on Tuesday from the Bay Area up to the Donner Pass, where another corridor on intense rain and snow looks to move in.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/0216-1771281648789.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Heavy Snow</h1>Winter weather alerts have been issued for much of California through Wednesday.<ul><li>2000-2500 feet: up to one foot</li><li>2500-3500 feet: one to two feet</li><li>3500 feet and above: four to eight feet</li><li>wind gusts up to 45-55 mph</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 153855-1771281539961.png">Travel could be impossible in some spots with the high snowfall rates and winds. Snowfall totals could surpass 4-5 feet in some areas, like Mammoth Mountain. Resorts around Lake Tahoe could also see 4-5 feet, including I-80 and the Donner Pass. The heavy snowfall rates will make mountain travel impossible at times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 133527-1771274136328.png">Even the mountains in Southern California will see heavy snowfall developing this afternoon and evening. Travel will be very difficult at times through early Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 133548-1771274157063.png">

Monster Storm System Will Wallop California

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ROCKIES - A round of snow and rain is leaving the Four Corners, but not to worry, our drought-stricken friends, more is on the way! Winter Alerts have started to expand across the four corners.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154544-1771281948450.png">The next series of strong troughs has started to impact California today, sending additional rain and snow into the Four Corners starting this evening. 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/2026/02/02-16_rsw_foru corners-1771274537666.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals could reach 1 to 3 feet in the higher elevations through Thursday morning. The system's track from the Southwest will favor upslope snow in SW Utah and Colorado, increasing totals there, such as Telluride.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154621-1771281987376.png">Most ski resorts can expect at least 6-12" through Thursday morning, with some seeing up to two feet!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 154603-1771281968921.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

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The West Coast is hogging the active weather in the early part of the week, but it won't last forever. A wave moving onshore in the coming days will turn into another chance for severe storms later this week. But there could be one big thing missing...<h1>SETUP</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 103300-1771263199965.png">The disturbance in question will ripple through the Rocky Mountains, emerging sometime Thursday. That's not the issue-the chunk of energy is more than enough to cause trouble. Let's look at the other ingredients<h1>MOISTURE &amp; INSTABILITY</h1>As the system presses in from the west, a front will drive through some dew points well into the 50's and some 60's. That should be plenty of moisture to work with. That will provide ample unstable air to power severe chances. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 103446-1771263317488.png">So if it's all systems go, why are some models struggling to pop storms? Check out the latest run of our in-house model, which is hesitant to develop storms. <hr><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-16 10-54-27-1771264500530.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>So what gives? This particular model limits the unstable air by the afternoon and pushes through the front early. If that happens, the severe threat would likely be limited. However, enough other models slow down the front, and develop more unstable air by Thursday afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center is already monitoring an area around Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Lexington. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 111825-1771265931329.png">

Monster Storm System Will Wallop California

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

California Storm Sparks Severe Chances This Week

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Fire Danger Upgraded to Extreme Threat in the Central Plains

Monster Storm System Will Wallop California

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

California Storm Sparks Severe Chances This Week

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Fire Danger Upgraded to Extreme Threat in the Central Plains

Monster Storm System Will Wallop California

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

California Storm Sparks Severe Chances This Week