Kevin Schneider

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Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their rainiest April on record, and the active pattern looks to continue to start the month of May. Several cold fronts are expected to slide into the middle of the country this week after a brief warm-up. Temperatures continue to drop as the front moves to the east.<h2>Severe Outlooks</h2>Through the overnight hours, the Storm Prediction Center has portions of the Midwest under a SLIGHT risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe weather, with one of the primary threats being large hail.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174044-1777938061872.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174109-1777938112736.png"><h2>Timing &amp; Rainfall</h2>Some of these strong storms may persist overnight as the front continues to work its way south and east.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-04 overnight svbr'-1777938136094.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy downpours will be possible, and models are hinting at 2"+ rain accumulations in localized areas. This could increase an isolated flooding threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 191744-1777857585954.png">Get the latest forecast for the Central region anytime with the WeatherNation app, or at :30 past the hour in our broadcast.

Alana Cameron

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

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The last week of April was pretty stormy for the South. As we turn the page into the first full week of May, severe weather is back in the cards for parts of the Southern Plains and Deep South.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 094248-1777822989554.jpg">Severe weather chances will ramp up Tuesday and Wednesday. All modes of severe storms are on the table still, with a chance of a tornado or two.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 121122-1777918287657.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 121114-1777918295456.png">A cold front is expected to stall out along the I-20 corridor, which could keep the severe weather chances nearby.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-04 tue-1777938215814.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>If severe weather were to materialize, it would be a little different than what we've seen so far early in the severe season. Outside of Mississippi and Tennessee, the southeast hasn't seen a single tornado in the month of April.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 094505-1777823113500.jpg">Along with the severe weather chances, heavy rain is likely across the Deep South. The forecast is calling for 2-4" of rain by Thursday, and some flooding could be possible with the repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. We are slowly trying to put a dent in the drought for the South, as it will take more consistent rains over the next few months to make some significant changes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 121148-1777918313212.png">

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

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WEST - A low-pressure system in the Pacific is expected to move onshore this week, bringing with it an increased chance for rain and snow across the otherwise drought-stricken West. This upper-level low will team up with a surface front as it moves into the Four Corners, increasing snow chances for Colorado from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.Isolated-to-scattered moisture will continue to increase now through Wednesday across the Southwest. Models show rain and snow pushing farther inland late Monday. By Tuesday night, temperatures along the I-25 corridor will be much cooler, and snow will begin filling into Colorado.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/WESSSSTT-1777932496189.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The National Weather Service office in Denver/Boulder, Colorado, has already started issuing WINTER STORM WARNINGS for parts of Colorado and Wyoming through Wednesday. Snow totals may reach 4-10 inches, with some higher elevations potentially seeing up to 2 feet.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174436-1777938286731.png">Here's a look at the snowfall totals we're expecting based on our in-house model. The heaviest totals look to occur around the Continental Divide, which could make for very difficult travel near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel Tuesday into Wednesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 121314-1777918437012.png">For Denver, only 27.3 inches of snow have accumulated so far this season. On average, year-to-date snowfall totals should be around 50 inches. This is much-needed moisture for the Mile High City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174507-1777938313873.png">Follow along for more information this week, @WeatherNation!

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

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Ready for hurricane season? The Climate Prediction Center is highlighting a region in the Eastern Pacific basin as a potential tropical development area during the first week of the season. As a reminder, waters here tend to warm faster than in the Atlantic; thus, the season starts about two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pacific. If a storm were to form and reach tropical storm status, it would be named Amanda. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080308-1777731407202.png">Ocean heat content has been rapidly increasing in the Eastern Pacific this Spring, which is not surprising. You might've heard about the potential for a "super" El Niño this summer. Well, the warm water created in the Eastern/Central Pacific by El Niño can lead to supercharged hurricane seasons in those regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080401-1777731353504.png">Global circulations influenced by El Niño tend to create less disruptive wind shear in the Eastern Pacific as well. Weak upper-level winds combined with warm waters tend to lead to many tropical systems. At the same time, wind shear tends to increase in the Caribbean during these events, leading to a tougher environment for tropical systems to form and survive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080343-1777731377186.png">Last season was quite active in the Eastern Pacific, with 20 named storms and 5 major hurricanes. The Mexican National Meteorological Service issued an early outlook for the 2026 season in April, calling for another active year with roughly 20 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 081157-1777731386253.png">We're going to get you ready for hurricane season at the beginning of June. Be sure to tune in for updated forecasts, information, and tips to prepare!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 083105-1777732279156.png">

Jackie Brown

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

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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!

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<h1>Rainfall &amp; Forecast</h1>Afternoon thunderstorms are in the forecast for South Florida for the next couple of afternoons, bringing some isolated downpours to the region. The threat for severe thunderstorms is not in the forecast.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-03 rse-1777857906532.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>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">As we head into Tuesday and Wednesday a ridge of high pressure is expected to shift into Florida to bring in the potential for record high temperatures.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/heat-1777857994659.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Cities like Jacksonville and Orlando are expected to break those records on Wednesday with highs in the low 90s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 192612-1777858116389.png">For more on this, be sure to join us live at :10 pas the hour.

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding