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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While the west continues to bake under a record shattering ridge of high pressure, storm systems continue to ride around the ridge, bringing cooler temperatures and unsettled weather farther east. A strong cold front will quickly drop temperatures across the Midwest Thursday as it drops to the south and east, but it also looks to trigger numerous strong and severe storms on Thursday. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued an enhanced risk from Illinois to Ohio, with a lower level threat extending from Kansas through Pennsylvania.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 182414-1774484667461.png">There are a couple significant threats with these storms to watch out for. One of those is the significant tornado threat. Meaning, if there is a tornado, there is the potential for it to be a stronger tornado. Right now, the outlook has the threat of an EF2 or stronger possible in the hatched area.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 2-1774537639543.jpg">Another significant threat is for hail. Cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis have the threat of 2"+ hailstones. Severe hail potential begins at 1". Significant wind gusts (74+ mph) are also possible for areas in the blue shaded region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 054205-1774525372328.png">Showers will start the day on Thursday but there should be enough of a break between rounds of storms for the afternoon convection to have plenty of energy. Severe storm potential kicks off in the early afternoon and could persist through midnight before storms move out of the favorable environment.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/FORECAST-1774538044042.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall rates are likely to be heavy enough to cause isolated flash flooding. Nuisance flooding, like ponding on roads, is expected.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 2-1774538077664.jpg">

Administrator

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley Thursday

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It's been unbearably hot across the west for the last week, after warm and dry conditions for a good chunk of the winter season. This has led to drought conditions, with dry vegetation ready to burn.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 132958-1774553409830.png"> As a cold front drops south to end this week, dry and gusty conditions are expected to develop that will lead to a critical fire risk. The front may also trigger dry thunderstorms on Thursday, which could create cloud to ground lightning strikes with minimal precipitation. These areas have been highlighted with the brown shade (top of page), while the critical fire risk is highlighted in red.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 185145-1774486345196.png">Widespread Red Flag Warnings have been issued for much of the central portion of the country, from Wyoming south into New Mexico and Oklahoma! The majority of the alerts will continue through Thursday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 065334-1774529671619.png">Further updates on the more recent Morrill Fire (the largest in Nebraska state history) have shown increasing containment. However, two additional fires broke out overnight into early Thursday 3/26. The Ashby and Minor fires very quickly grew by tens of thousands of acres very close to the Morrill burn scar. Given the continued fire weather conditions, these fires will likely continue to grow at a rapid pace.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 132905-1774553363826.png">Keep it locked in on WeatherNation, as we continue to update you on these fires and their impacts!

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is here and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080814-1774534143457.png">On Thursday, March 26th, the National Mall announced peak bloom has been reached! The peak is expected to last about a week or so, depending on weather conditions. On March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026, which was only off by about 3 days, an impressive forecast! <h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080844-1774534352362.png"><h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

Patrick Crawford

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

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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!

Alana Cameron

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ABOVE - The month of March has been setting record after record, with nearly 100 locations nationwide breaking all-time March records. Each red dot above denotes a city that has tied or broken its all-time March record.This heatwave will continue to impact the southwestern U.S., but through Thursday, the potential for record-breaking temperatures will expand into more of the central U.S. Dozens of records fell Wednesday afternoon, including in Denver, which broke another all-time March record by reaching the upper 80s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 064714-1774529273292.jpg">Afternoon highs in several locations are continuing into the 100s, shattering daily temperature records and creating a dramatic contrast to the colder conditions that typically dominate early March. In some areas, temperatures are running 20 to 40 degrees above seasonal averages.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 064838-1774529337292.jpg"><h2>Central U.S.</h2>Thursday looks to be another hot day across the country, with nearly 70 sites that could break records. In cities like Kansas City, temperatures are expected to run around 30 degrees above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 182725-1774485265417.png">Late Thursday, a cold front will swing through, bringing some areas a significant temperature drop on Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 182729-1774485311300.png">The Climate Prediction Center has high confidence that temperatures will remain above normal through the end of March.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 174847-1774396132757.png">

Brittany Lockley

More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

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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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Heavy rainfall from moisture that inundated the Hawaiian Islands late last week is on the move. It's being funneled around an area of high pressure, taking aim at the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully, it won't be nearly as heavy or intense as what Hawaii faced.Related: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/flash-flood-emergency-for-oahu-additional-rain-expected-for-hawaii">Kona Low Recap</a>This round looks like it will be a little different than the previous round, which brought only rain to the area. Snow levels with this system will drop a bit, bringing a shot at some wintry impacts to the mountain passes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 033707-1774345071882.png">An active Jetstream will bring more energy into the region on Tuesday. That's when you can expect the most widespread rain, with only scattered coverage from Wednesday onward.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-24 03-38-07-1774345113637.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There will be winds with this latest batch, with some of the mountain peaks expecting the worst of them. Sporadic power outages will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 033943-1774345194700.png">Make sure you're staying tuned to WeatherNation for your northwest forecast at :50 past the hour!

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley Thursday

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain

Severe Storms Target the Midwest, Ohio Valley Thursday

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

More Records Obliterated - Heat Soars into Central U.S.

Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain