Kevin Schneider

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It is that time of year again—when millions of Americans hit the road or the skies to connect with friends and family. AAA is expecting a record number of travelers this year, surpassing the record-breaking 2024. Most travelers will be hitting the road vs flying.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o78PUXSJCJU" start="0"></iframe></div><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 104347-1763401813998.png">With millions hitting the roads, traffic will be hard to avoid, no matter where you are heading. However, there will be some better times to do your traveling. AAA suggests starting the journey early, but with a reasonable night of sleep the night prior.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 105052-1763401888415.png">With so many traveling over the holidays, there are some favored destinations. Other than New York City, the other 9 top destinations favor warm weather in late November.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 110215-1763402544204.png">How does this compare to previous years? With more than 6 million people expected to fly, that's a 2% increase compared to last year, but it's a more than 10% jump compared to pre-pandemic levels!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-17 105653-1763402231681.png">

Rob Bradley

A Record Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Week Expected

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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>

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Hurricane Melissa was a devastating category 5 storm that made landfall in Jamaica as one of the strongest systems on record in the Atlantic Basin.A dropsonde recorded a wind gust of 252 mph shortly before landfall, which was verified this week by NSF NCAR (U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research) to be accurate, making it the strongest gust ever recorded in a tropical cyclone.WeatherNation Meteorologist Rob Bradley discusses the data and Melissa's intense winds with hurricane researcher Andy Hazelton, who was working the data position on the reconnaissance flight that recorded the record gust.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n8DyYwpvi0w" start="0"></iframe></div>What are meso-vortices? These are smaller scale circulations in the atmosphere that are essentially miniature low pressure systems. These can be observed within clusters of thunderstorms, but they also appear within the eye and eye wall of intense hurricanes. Melissa produced some of the most visually stunning meso-vortices in the satellite era (below).<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1983738129581301844" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1983738129581301844"></div>

Hurricane Melissa Produces Strongest Gust Recorded in a Hurricane

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A strong storm system that brought severe storms and flooding rain to Texas and Oklahoma is on the move. The trough is moving east with more impactful weather before it heads into the Atlantic Saturday afternoon.Severe storms are possible along the cold front tonight through Saturday morning from Kentucky into Mississippi. Wind damage is expected to be the primary hazard, so be sure to secure any loose objects outdoors.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763781379997.png">Scattered heavy downpours are expected to persist north of the low across the Midwest and Ohio Valley tonight. Severe storms could form into the overnight hours. Our high-resolution forecast model shows supercell thunderstorms developing late in the evening in West Tennessee, before tracking east overnight into the Deep South.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/New Baron Video 3-1763781681080.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals don't look too impressive thanks to the progressive movement of this system. 1-2 inches is expected for most areas that see thunderstorms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763781727696.png">

Jesse Kelley

Trough Shifts East, Severe Storms & Flooding Possible

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A cut-off low-pressure system has been slowly moving across Southern California, sending rounds of showers and thunderstorms into the Four Corners and Great Basin. On Wednesday, the same area of low pressure resulted in a few strong to severe storms in the Phoenix metro. Last Wednesday night, there was a report of rain and hail, possibly leading to a partial roof collapse!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/VO_111925_RSW_AVONDALE, AZ_COMPILATION OF HAIL AND FLOODING IN SUBURBIA PHOENIX_@LukeMishler_TW_RS_E111925-1763606179480.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>In the mountains, snow has been piling up! 6-10" of snow was reported across multiple states from Thursday into Friday.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-21 084059-1763739684823.png">Next Wave</h1>As another system brings moisture back to the region to end the week, additional flooding (as well as thunderstorms and snow) will be expected. Heavy snow is set to return to the mountains as well, with difficult travel expected, especially on I-70 in Colorado.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-21 165128-1763769094105.png"><h2>Forecast</h2>Rain and snow chances will persist throughout the weekend, as the system moves to the Northeast. We'll mostly clear out by the beginning of next week.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/New Baron Video 3-1763781078358.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rain totals through Sunday could top an inch or two in some areas of Arizona. Expect heavy snow in the mountains, upwards of 6"+ in many locations. Ski resorts in Colorado could see more than a foot!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763781111607.png">

Brittany Lockley

Four Corners Expecting More Flooding Rain, Mountain Snow

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CALIFORNIA - The middle of November has been active on the west coast, with multiple storm systems tracking into California over the last ten days. Another low is taking aim at the Golden State to start the weekend, with flash flood potential elevated around Los Angeles Thursday, before the heaviest rain moves into the mountains and deserts. Heavy snow is expected as well, prompting winter weather alerts into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and in Southern California.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/New Baron Video 3-1763694575745.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy rain will move down the coast from Central California into Southern California throughout the night into early Friday. As the low stalls just offshore, additional rounds of rain and snow linger in Southern California through midday Saturday before the low finally moves east, leading to clearing skies.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 071516-1763650396917.png">Southern California could see several inches of heavy rainfall, which may lead to a flooding risk, especially because we have had a lot of recent rainfall. The higher elevations can expect up to five to ten with localized amounts of 16 inches of snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763694483048.png">The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has issued two slight (level 2 out of 4) threats for Southern California to see heavy rainfall and flooding Thursday through Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/New Baron Video 3-1763681671126.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The National Weather Service has also added winter storm warnings for the Riverside County Mountains and San Bernardino County mountains for Thursday through Saturday, with the heaviest snowfall expected Thursday night into Friday morning. Totals of 5-10" will be possible over 6000 feet, with up to 16 inches at the mountain peaks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 075344-1763650440978.png">You can also watch the regional forecast on demand with the WeatherNation app!

Flood Risk Elevated in Southern California

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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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Another November day in the south and another day of more record warmth! The high-pressure system bringing the record temperatures continues to dominate the pattern and will stick around through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 163946-1763682036367.png"><h1>Southern Plains</h1>As a cold front sweeps through, it'll bring temperatures back to seasonal norms for the weekend. However, the front will not push down into the Gulf, allowing these areas to remain much warmer than average into next week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 164135-1763682107853.png"><h1>Southeast</h1>Areas out ahead of the front, like much of the Southeast, will continue to see high temperatures push more than 15° above-average in some locales. While it might not be reaching dangerous levels, it's hard to remember to make Thanksgiving travel plans when it's this warm!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 164450-1763682297661.png">For more information on the central heat, tune into your central regional forecast at :30 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Multiple High Temperature Records Tumbling Again Thursday

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A stormy pattern has developed across the Southern Plains and Midwest, thanks to large troughs of low pressure moving from the Four Corners east of the Rockies. Severe storms developed on Thursday, producing gusty winds and MASSIVE hail in portions of Oklahoma. Hail topped baseball size in a few areas! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 102922-1763659777410.png"><h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1>Another round of heavy downpours and a few severe storms can be expected Thursday from Texas into Missouri. As the low lifts north and east, the heaviest showers will follow into Thursday night and early Friday. Storms should subside for the start of the weekend before returning in earnest late Saturday into Sunday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/New Baron Video 3-1763694853336.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>SEVERE THREAT</h1>The SPC has issued a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather on Thursday for portions Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas as the front moves east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763694701145.png">There are a few things that might hinder the severity of these storms. Questionable timing on the storms could keep them from reaching their full potential. Since storms could hold off until after sunset, the window to tap into the unstable air that builds up during the day could be narrow. One ingredient we know we have plenty of is moisture.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1763694735649.png">The Weather Prediction Center has also issued excessive rainfall outlooks starting now and continuing through the end of the week. The main concern for flash flooding will be on Thursday, when the second big push of widespread storms will move through.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-20 082738-1763652464882.png">We'll have the latest updates on this developing situation at :30 past the hour in your Central Regional Forecast!

Heavy Rain + Storms Target Texas and the Central U.S.

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Unprecedented heat blazed the High Plains and West on Friday, June 4th with cities shattering records and bringing an early start to the summer season. Let's look at Bismarck, North Dakota first. The city's average high for early June is around 75 degrees. The record high on Friday was 95 degrees. Yet Bismarck did not stop there. The city topped out at a whopping 106 degrees on Friday, June 4th! It was the single hottest day for Bismarck since July of 2007.

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Nearby Minot, North Dakota didn't get as hot as Bismarck, but still hit 105 degrees on Friday! In fact, Minot surpassed its previous record high by 11 a.m. on Friday!

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Here is a list of other observed record high temperatures on Friday:

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Now to the West. Salt Lake City, Utah hit the century mark on Friday. SLC hit 100 degrees which makes it the *earliest* 100-degree-day on record for the Salt Lake City area. It beat out the previous earliest 1oo-degree-day of June 5th, which happened last year! The average date for the first 100-degree-day in SLC is in early July! This was a solid month ahead of schedule.

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Want to learn more about the heat this weekend? Read about it in our related article below:

<a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/potential-record-heat-for-memorial-day/">Related Article: Record Breaking Heat</a>

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