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<div>Lucy is originally from the Boston area but has spent the last four years forecasting and living in Colorado! She stayed in the northeast for her education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Oswego with a B.S. in Meteorology. Just a few days after graduation, she made the cross country move to Colorado Springs, CO to begin her career at KKTV, the CBS affiliate. Lucy has covered historic blizzards, tornadoes, windstorms, the largest wildfires in Colorado state history and dust storms ... they truly "get it all" in Colorado! Lucy is excited to forecast on a national level and continue her passion of explaining the science behind the weather!</div>
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Lucy Bergemann

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<p>The spring season often means rounds of intense and severe storms in the heart of the country, and this April is no exception. A potent upper-level low-pressure system moves across the Plains Friday, creating wind shear and lift in the atmosphere. The severe threat has two distinct areas of focus. Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/weekend-forecast-more-severe-weather-in-the-plains"><strong><em><u>Weekend Severe Threat</u></em></strong></a></p><h2>South Side - Tex-a-Homa</h2><p>Storms in Texas and Oklahoma intensified overnight Thursday into Friday morning, producing large hail and tornadoes in Oklahoma before sunrise. On the southern extent of our severe threat, a TORNADO WATCH is in effect. This includes Dallas-Fort Worth and many cities along I-35 and I-45. Park your car under cover and prepare for intense weather this afternoon.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/south tor-1714152217573.jpg">Additional storm development is expected for the rest of the day around a dryline that surges through central Texas.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 11-20-42-1714152301623.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>North Side - K.C., Omaha, Des Moines</h2><p>Our threat will be most elevated around the area of low pressure with natural spin in the atmosphere. This includes the cities of Kansas City, Omaha, and Des Moines. There is a heightened risk of tornadoes and damaging hail from individual supercells that develop in the afternoon, including tornadoes that are EF-2 or stronger and hail 2" in diameter or greater. Please have numerous ways to get alerts.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/north tornado-1714155735631.jpg">A <strong>tornado watch</strong> is also in effect for eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and northern Kansas through 7 PM this evening. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/n or-1714155735628.jpg">Individual storms develop in the second half of the day from eastern Nebraska through southern Oklahoma and Arkansas before forming into a line of thunderstorms late Friday night and early Saturday morning. A few storms will be ongoing in the Midwest early Saturday morning, but they should be sub-severe.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 11-16-42-1714152001843.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Over 35 Million Under Severe Threat Today

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<p>Temps are climbing in the Northeast, and by early next week, the frost start of the last few days will be in the rearview. Thanks to a ridge of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico sliding north, southerly flow arrives into our region, boosting temperatures.  </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 08-55-00-1714144926800.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Highs jump into the 70s and even the 80s for major cities in the Northeast, from Louisville to Boston, with D.C. approaching 90! Multiple cities have the opportunity to tie or break records, starting Sunday and continuing through the beginning of the week. This includes D.C., Akron, Scranton and Ashville. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/three day temps-1714143429017.jpg">The warmest day will be Monday with widespread highs about 15-20° above average! It will feel more like late June than late April - time to break out the shorts!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/high vs avg-1714143429019.jpg"></p>

From frosty temps to Record Warmth in the Northeast

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<p>If it seems like April has been particularly busy with severe weather, that would be correct - except for two days, each day has seen some severe weather. Nearly half of those days have been Level 3 or higher. Related Article - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-to-the-plains-thursday-friday"><strong><em><u>Friday's Severe Weather Threat. </u></em></strong></a>Storms on Saturday are in nearly the same locations of the last few days, so please do not become a victim of severe weather fatigue. </p><h2>Saturday</h2><p>Our storm threat on Saturday is an <strong>ENHANCED</strong> (level 3 out of 5) risk that extends from Des Moines, IA, to farther south through Wichita Falls, TX. The southern threat will be more potent, with damaging hail and tornadoes possibly occurring. Storms ongoing in the morning in the Great Lakes region will be leftover from Friday's storm threat. The afternoon's heat will help develop storms once again in the Plains - these linger into the overnight hours and ultimately into Sunday morning, too. This means you must have multiple ways to get weather alerts, which need to be able to wake you up.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 12-27-42-1714156195444.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Sunday</h2><p>More severe weather looks likely on Sunday as the front hits warm, moist air over the central and southern Plains. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe weather outlook across the Great Plains and Midwest, and severe weather will continue into Monday morning in an overnight threat, so please look ahead to the weekend and have multiple ways to get alerts.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 12-28-24-1714156143300.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Flood Threat</h2><p>In addition to the severe weather, there is a flood threat, especially in Missouri, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Our bullseye for the heaviest rain will be Saturday through central Oklahoma and northern Texas. We anticipate that with multiple rounds of heavy rainfall, the ground will struggle to absorb additional rain that falls this weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/wpc rain-1714146718592.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/ero-1714130328265.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the severe weather threat and forecast information.</p>

Weekend Forecast: More Severe Weather in the Plains

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<p>Snow is on the way for the Intermountain West this weekend and potentially, but less likely for Denver, Salt Lake City, and Cheyenne, WY. An area of low pressure arrives from the Pacific through the weekend, tapping into moisture to bring low-elevation rain and high-elevation snow. Winter alerts have been issued for the southern Cascades, Wasatch, Colorado Rockies, and the Northern Rockies through Sunday. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/winteralertsjpg-1714133039383.jpeg">Widespread showers are expected in the West on Friday, with snow showers at the highest elevations possible. Energy then slides into the central Rockies Friday through Sunday, turning rain to snow by Saturday morning in the Colorado Rockies and Wasatch. With scattered showers, it will be a soggy stretch for much of the West. Snow levels drop as low as 7,000 feet in elevation on Saturday as temperatures cool. The low-pressure system responsible for the wet weather will slowly exit to the Plains, so expect lingering rain and snow showers into Monday for Wyoming and Colorado.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-26 12-33-20-1714156432181.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The heaviest snowfall will range over 10k feet, with the potential for 12" or more snow. Even down to 7k (foothills outside of Denver), we could see over 6" of snow. Traveling on I-70 will be difficult, but the fresh snow will help ski resorts that are still open, like Breckenridge. We will unlikely see snow in the cities of Denver and Colorado Springs, with heavy rainfall more likely. On average, the Mile High City sees its last snowfall on April 28th. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/snow accumulation-1714133746187.jpg">As mentioned above, cold air will follow our front, bringing temperatures to frosty lows on Sunday and Monday. The 30s are expected to return to the Dakotas, Nebraska, and the Front Range of Colorado. There will be a sharp cutoff of freezing temperatures thanks to our front but expect lows to drop for everyone as the front pushes east early next week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1714133806213.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest information on our warm temperatures and weekend snow potential.</p>

Spring Snow on the Horizon in Colorado

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<p>A critical fire risk is in place for west Texas, eastern Colorado, and New Mexico through the next few days as gusty winds and dry grasses and low humidity create a dangerous situation. If a spark were to start, these are the conditions where rapid, life-threatening fire growth would be possible. Humidity values will be in the single digits and teens, meaning there will be no moisture in our atmosphere to help taper fire growth.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1714134189244.jpg">Strong winds are anticipated on Friday, especially through New Mexico. Winds will be sustained along the Front Range of New Mexico and Colorado between 30-50 mph with isolated wind gusts over 65 mph. If a flame starts, it will move as quickly as the winds, at about 40 mph. We can't stress enough how critical this week's fire risk is.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/forecast-1714134246383.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Drought conditions are extreme and exceptional for southern New Mexico, while most of the region is experiencing moderate drought. Northern New Mexico and SW Texas are experiencing pockets of severe drought (level 3 out of 5).</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/drought-1714053897089.jpg"></p>

Critical Fire Risk in West Texas, New Mexico

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<p>More people die from heat every year than ALL other extreme weather COMBINED. So how do you know how hot it is it <em>really</em> going to be?&nbsp;The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC] worked collaboratively to produce a new HeatRisk tool rolling out this summer from coast to coast. The tool had previously been used on the West Coast, but the 2024 summer will bring this experimental product to all cities across the U.S. </p><p>According to <span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">Kimberly McMahon, the NWS Public Weather Services Program Manager, "HeatRisk is a great tool to just put into context, how hot it's going to be compared to what they're used to." </span></p><p><span>The HeatRisk scale ranges from minor to extreme impacts and is color-coded from yellow to magenta. For reference, a MINOR impact day is your typical summer day.&nbsp;MODERATE days bring impact to vulnerable populations, especially people who are in the sun for long periods or without A/C. On these days, fans and open windows help to alleviate heat impacts inside.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/major-1713896597233.jpg"><span>MAJOR impact days can be deadly for those without A/C and power interruptions are possible due to the heat stress. Hospitals are likely to see an increase in the number of ER visits due to heat-related illnesses. Outdoor activities should be shifted to cooler times of the day.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/mod-1713896597231.jpg"><span>Finally, EXTREME impact days are for long-duration or potentially record-breaking heat events. There will be little to no relief from the heat overnight... and power outages are likely due to the stress on the grid. Outdoor activities should be canceled, and you should stay in cool spaces.&nbsp;</span><span style="color: windowtext">&nbsp;In 2023 during Phoenix's month-long stretch of 100°+ degree days, more people died in their un-air conditions homes than outdoors. </span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/xtreme-1713896597235.jpg">The HeatRisk tool incorporated heat forecast and historical data from NOAA to include: how above normal the temperatures are, the time of year, the duration of the heat, and overnight relief potential.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;It also considers at what temperature heat deaths occur for over 700 cities in the U.S.. That data was imperative in designing the tool to know at what level heat becomes deadly, unique to geographic location. For example, Phoenix's 110°, though hot, wouldn't be an "extreme" day during the summer. Take that same 110° but for Chicago? The risk becomes extreme. </span><span>Look for the new HeatRisk product and temperature forecasts this summer on WeatherNationTV. For more information from NOAA, visit the </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/#:~:text=The%20NWS%20HeatRisk%20is%20an,both%20daytime%20and%20nighttime%20temperatures"><strong><em><u><span>HeatRisk Dashboard.</span></u></em></strong></a></p>

Steve Glazier

NOAA Debuts "HeatRisk" Tool Nationwide

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s noisemakers are set to return in a <em>big</em> way this year as not one, but <em>two</em> sets of periodical cicadas will emerge in the Midwest and Southeast. It is the first time these two specific broods have surfaced <em>together</em> since 1803! This is the first time since 2015 that a 13 year cycle brood emerges at the same year as a 17 year brood.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5jJPrP5rfE" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>The southern brood emerges every 13 years and is known as the <strong>Brood XIX, </strong>the largest brood in the U.S.. The Northern Illinois brood has a period of 17 years, making these two broods overlap uncommon. They will only overlap in central Illinois, where is expected to be the noisest!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Closer look at Illinois locations overlap.mp4_snapshot_00.01.232-1713196589008.jpg"></p><blockquote><p>Katie Dana, a researcher with the Illinois Natural History Survey who studies the cicadas says, “We have broods emerging across the U.S. almost every year, but we don’t often have broods emerging at the same time. Just like how birds have different songs, cicadas have different songs...we have over 3,000 different species of cicadas so we have so many different songs.”</p></blockquote><p>Periodical Cicadas are large, loud insects with bright red eyes. They live underground for years. Once the cicadas take to the skies, they will be in the air for about 3-4 weeks, mating before laying eggs and reburying themselves for another 13 or 17 years.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Slow zoom east coast brood locations.mp4_snapshot_00.06.391-1713196589005.jpg">Depending on where you live, the double brood emergence could start as soon as April but will happen whenever the ground temperatures reach 64°. According to Katie, “It’s those warm soils that push them out of the ground, but they’re also looking for some moisture. If you have really dry soil, it’s going to make it hard for them to dig out.” Given that we've had some of our warmest winters on record in the Midwest we are looking at the opportunity for earlier emergence of the broods.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Warmest Winter on Record.mp4_snapshot_00.05.538-1713196589007.jpg">If you’re less than thrilled about these beaty-eyed bugs, focus on the positives. They provide extra nutrition for birds and animals and spark a reset for oak trees allowing them to produce more acorns a few years after they emerge. If that’s not enough to get you through... the next time these two broods will be out at the same time won't be for another 221 years, which will give you plenty of time to learn to appreciate the cicada screams.</p>

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

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Blizzard conditions are in full swing across much of the midwest. Chicago is NOW included in the Blizzard Warning in effect for the next 12-24 hours.

Visibility levels are down to a quarter mile or less in some spots due to the prolonged winds gusting close to 30-40 mph creating white-out conditions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-100280" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/11/Capture-33-728x408.jpg" alt="Blizzard Warnings Continue For The Midwest" width="879" height="492" />

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Rain will change over to snow for Chicago late tonight into early Monday morning where approximately 8-12" of snow is expected to accumulate very fast.

Winds will gust close to 45 mph for Chicago through Monday morning knocking visibility levels down to a 1/4 mile or less for your morning commute.

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-100281" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/11/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-17-1.gif" alt="Blizzard Warnings Continue For The Midwest" width="880" height="497" />

Conditions for Chicago will rapidly go down hill beginning this evening between 6 - 8 pm.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-100284" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/11/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-18-1.gif" alt="Blizzard Warnings Continue For The Midwest" width="879" height="495" />

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-100283" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/11/Capture-35-728x408.jpg" alt="Blizzard Warnings Continue For The Midwest" width="873" height="489" />

Conditions will not improve for Illinois until the afternoon hours on Monday as winds will remain strong even after the snow tapers off.

Meteorologist <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/merry-matthews/">Merry Matthews</a>

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