Patrick Crawford has always been a huge weather buff! He grew up in Plano, Texas, and it was there that he experienced what Mother Nature was capable of doing. He would always turn on the television to see what local meteorologists were saying about the weather. That's when he realized he wanted to be a meteorologist.

Patrick graduated from Northern Illinois University (’04) with a degree in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Geography. Broadcast Meteorology has been great to him and he has been able to work in television markets all across the country. Some of his stops have included New Orleans, Green Bay and even Yuma, Arizona. He is so excited to be part of the WeatherNation team.

He has been awarded the prestigious CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) weather seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Feel free to catch up with Patrick Crawford on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistPC/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeteorologistPC">Twitter</a> pages.

Patrick Crawford

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An upper-level low-pressure system from the Pacific moves onshore Tuesday into Wednesday along the west coast and then is expected to move into the Plains by late week, triggering the potential for severe storms.When we look for the chance of severe thunderstorms the four ingredients we highlight make up the acronym SLIM: Shear, Lift, Instability, and Moisture. As we head into the midweek, an upper-level low that will bring more rain and snow from California, Nevada, and the Four Corners, will eject into the Plains and bring along with it the shear and lift ingredients needed for storms. Down at the surface, southerly winds at the surface will help draw up Gulf moisture. Once our surface cold front moves in bringing in the lift and instability for storms, this teams up with moisture to help create thunderstorms.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_moisture SLIM-1679252987917.JPG">Severe Outlooks</h1>The severe threat starts Wednesday around the Kansas City metro with all modes of severe weather possible as the warm front pushes through.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/day3 spc-1679318580240.JPG"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/FORECAST-1679394942336.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Severe Outlook Thursday and Friday</h1>Severe storms become more scattered by Thursday and Friday from Texas all the way to the Mid-South. All modes of severe will be in play, including a risk for tornadoes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/Capture3-1679394989109.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/Capture4-1679394997275.JPG"><h1>Forecast</h1>Generally, forecast models have a difficult time pinpointing exactly where storms will fire when we look over 3 to 4 days out. Here is an early look at who wills see storms and where they will head based on the GFS model.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/FORECAST-1679395691670.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>In addition to severe storms, heavy rain is expected from the Ohio Valley through the Ozarks. Rainfall totals are likely to range from 1-3 inches, with isolated higher totals. On the northern side of the surface low, generally, our rain shield sets up to create heavy soaking rain. Forecast models are aggressive on totals into the northern Mississippi and Ohio Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/Capture4-1679396003966.JPG">The Weather Prediction Center has issued a Day 4 and 5 outlook for excessive rainfall for a wide area including:<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_thu excess-1679337937494.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_fri exxcess-1679337944103.JPG">Details for this system still need to be fine-tuned, such as exact location, timing, and specific storm threats. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.

Severe Storm Chances Return to the Plains & South Late Week

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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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FOUR CORNERS - Snow has been coming down across the Four Corners and will continue to last through midweek bringing wind, snow-covered roads, and heavy accumulations which could lead to potentially difficult travel.Winter weather alerts are in effect through much of the 4 Corners region (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico) for higher elevation snowfall. These alerts are for two rounds of snowfall. The first could bring 12-24" in Utah, and 6-12" in Colorado. Isolated totals upwards of 2 feet are possible for the SW San Juan mountains of Colorado.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_four corners alerts 6pm-1679358736233.JPG">In addition to your standard winter alerts, Colorado is under Avalanche Watches for the most dangerous avalanche conditions starting Tuesday and continuing through Thursday. Unfortunately, on March 17th a tragic avalanche fatality occurred bringing the state count up to 9 fatalities this season. Our thoughts are with those impacted.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_colorado avalanche-1679358851570.JPG">Snowfall totals of one to three feet are possible around the highest elevations of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The lower elevations can reach around 6-12 inches. This will result in difficult mountain travel, especially at night and over the high elevation passes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_co ut snow 18z-1679358858355.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_Rsw_nm az snow 18z-1679358864329.JPG">In addition to snowfall concerns, we also have the risk of snowmelt combining with heavy rainfall to lead to the risk of flooding of rivers, creeks and streams from Southern California into Arizona and Nevada this week. Please be aware especially if you live in a flood-prone area and be prepared to leave if the rivers/streams begin to flood.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_Rsw az flood alerts-1679358870759.JPG">Rain and snow become much more widespread through Tuesday as a frontal system moves out of California and into the Four Corners. We will see wet weather continue throughout the day on Tuesday as Pacific moisture is carried inland. Snowfall levels will be above 7,000 feet generally, so don't expect much snow at the lower elevations of Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. The mountains, however, will see low visibility and difficult travel. Routes to watch will be I-80, I-70 and I-40.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_4 corn 18z-1679358887701.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For more on the Southwestern forecast join us on WeatherNation at :50 past the hour.

Four Corners: Rain, Snow and Avalanche Threat

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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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Winter weather alerts have been issued for northern Minnesota and North Dakota for 3 to 7 inches of snowfall. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for the Bismarck area in North Dakota for 3 to 5 inches of snow. In Nebraska, we have Winter Weather Advisories in effect for a light coat of ice and snow which will make the roadways slippery.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnc_ne alerts-1679359111368.JPG">Rain and snow advance out of the Rockies along an area of low-pressure Tuesday morning, impacting the Dakotas with wind and heavy snowfall. The area of low pressure will then push into the Upper Great Lakes, bringing snow to the I-29 corridor with a sharp cutoff for central and southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Be prepared for pockets of blowing snow and low visibility Tuesday into Wednesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnc_18z-1679359124179.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnc_18z precip-1679359130488.JPG">If you feel like we have had a particularly snowy winter in the Northern Plains, it has been. Both Minneapolis and Duluth are ahead of schedule for wet weather this year, with Minneapolis seeing its third snowiest winter ever on record! This next storm looks to be mainly raining for the Twin Cities area, but Duluth will pick up on additional meaningful snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_duluith mn snow-1679272346247.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_snowiest wwinters msp-1679272351351.JPG">For more on the next snow maker in the High Plains, join WeatherNation for your eastern regional forecast, always :30 past the hour.

Next Round of Winter Alerts for the Northern Plains

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Snowpack statewide is over double the normal, and much above what we typically have by April 1st, which is historically the deepest snow depth of the season. More snow is ahead this week, and while the moisture is wonderful for the state of the drought, the back-to-back systems are overwhelming California's soils &amp; rivers. The heavy rain and snowmelt led to widespread flooding around rivers and creeks, most notably in Porterville and Kernville in central California. Here, the rivers overflowed, resulting in mandatory evacuations for the surrounding communities. The southern Sierra has benefited the most from the active winter season. Soda Springs, CA has received over 56 feet of snow this season, making this season the 2nd snowiest since records started in 1946! We are about 11 feet shy of the record 1951-52 year but with more snow in the forecast, we will get awfully close in the next couple of weeks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_RSW_CALI SNOWPACK-1679358198948.JPG">Another area of low pressure in our upper atmosphere will be teaming up with pacific moisture to keep the southwest active through mid-week. Winter alerts stretch through the Sierra Nevada and San Gabriel mountains through Wednesday for heavy snow and gusty winds. Winter storm watches, warnings and advisories are in place across Northern California for the Sierra Nevada.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rSW_CALI WINTER ALERTS-1679358245935.JPG">Snowfall totals will be quite hefty in the northern Sierra especially but even in southern California areas over 7,000' could see accumulations from a foot to up to two feet of snow or more.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_california snow-1679358370004.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_Rsw_socal snow w pixels-1679358374173.JPG">Rain totals could be nearing another 3" for northern California and the Central Valleys, which will enhance the flood threat. There is a highlighted risk for heavy rain and flooding for southern California and the central valleys on Tuesday. Due to saturated soils from the previous 2 weeks' rain, an additional inch of rain could be enough to overwhelm the soils and cause flooding again. Flood alerts are in effect for southern California along with isolated spots in Arizona and Nevada.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_flood alerts-1679358378517.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_california rain-1679358382634.JPG">Our next front moves onshore late tonight and into Tuesday. We expect the heaviest rainfall to favor southern California while the heaviest snow favors the central and northern Sierra. Steady snow continues into Tuesday evening with showers into Wednesday. Dangerous rain and flooding are expected due to the falling rain and snowmelt - if you live in a flood-prone area, please have a plan to evacuate.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rsw_california 18z-1679358453982.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the snow amounts and timing for the Western U.S., with your Western regional forecast at :50 past the hour and throughout the hour as one of our top weather headlines.

California Snowfall: Now the Second Snowiest Winter ever on Record

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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!

Taban Sharifi

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<h1>Northwestern U.S.</h1>Winter alerts remain in effect for the Bitterroots, Rockies, and Tetons. A moderate amount of snow is expected, with the highest elevations expecting around 10 inches. Greater impacts will be felt at higher elevations, with the valleys expecting only around 3-6", depending on your location.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/northwest-1679350617796.JPG">Rain and snow have been progressing east while also pivoting around another low center off the coast of Washington. Moisture will remain into Tuesday morning, bringing rain and snow to many areas. Rain will be favored in mild areas of Eastern Washington. Snow should conclude sometime Tuesday afternoon or evening. Another round of snow and rain moves through the region Wednesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnw_18z-1679359443910.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Total snowfall will bring 6-10" of snow in the Rockies. Rainfall amounts will max out around 1-1.5" through Washington and Oregon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnw_18z snow-1679359459063.JPG">A closer look at the ski forecast across the Northern Rockies shows places like Grand Targhee and Pebble Creek getting another foot of snow through Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/new-1679359475909.JPG">In the days that follow, expect more mild temps in places like Seattle, Portland, and Medford, even Boise could see 50s by midweek. But for the Rockies and Northern High Plains, chilly temps will be more persistent in Casper and Billings.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-20_rnw_tue to thu-1679336169097.JPG">For more on this weather headline be sure to join us at :50 minutes past the hour for your western regional forecast.

Northern Rockies and Tetons Snow

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What a cold weekend in the Southeast and now, freezing temperatures continue into the next few days! Widespread lows were in the 20s and 30s Monday morning, and while those temperatures are much below average, it is not out of the ordinary to see our last freeze/frost of the season in mid-March for many who live between I-10 and I-20 in the South. Overnight we will see another round of frost and freeze alerts for the Southeast Coast, to include Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and coastal Virginia. Temperatures once again will dip into the 20s and 30s overnight into Tuesday morning. Cover any sensitive plants or bring them inside, if possible, to avoid a killing freeze.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/Capture-1679350202089.JPG">The coldest air will last through Tuesday before the temperature then quickly shoots back up to seasonal, or even above-average, levels. A ridge of high pressure builds in from the south, while the low responsible for cold temps retreats back into the northern tier of the country! Relief is in sight, in time for Spring Break too.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/warmup-1679319567362.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/temps se-1679350247054.JPG">From chilly to record breaking - we have the opportunity to tie or break records in Florida from Thursday through Sunday of this week! Highs will soar into the 80s with even some low 90s, potentially setting records each day for high temps! Not bad for Spring Break week!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/reocrd highs-1679335555031.png">Throughout much of Florida, temperatures will be about 10° above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/fl temps-1679350262331.JPG">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the cold air, streaming 24/7!

Lauren Bostwick

After a Brutally Cold Weekend in the South, Relief is in Sight this Week

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We're wrapping up the final weekend of winter and it certainly has been feeling and looking like it across the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes have little to no ice coverage, which means that lake-effect snow has been a headline this weekend, and will continue to occur through Monday morning. The remainder of our lake effect alerts is within the Tug Hill Plateau area (BELOW). Lake Ontario's ice coverage is currently less than 2 percent so cold air running over warmer waters helps to enhance snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_rne_alerts-1679252016525.JPG">Buffalo is one of the few cities in the Northeast with above-average snowfall this season thanks to tremendous snow events in November and December. Those events produced nearly an entire season's worth of snowfall in just a week! Cleveland and Erie are much behind what is normally seen by this time of year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/21-1679176776138.jpg">Since Saturday night, some of our top snowfall totals have been around 5-10 inches in localized spots. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_totals-1679251852857.JPG"> As our low-pressure system slowly pivots across the Northeast, expect lake effect snow bands to slowly taper this evening. Only a couple more inches of snowfall can be expected for the Interstate 81 and 90 corridors.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-19_rne_hrrr snow-1679251985330.JPG">For more on what's next for the northeast be sure to watch your regional forecast :10 minutes past the hour!

Lake Effect Snowfall Wrapping Up

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Several wildfires exploded  in Southern California from Ventura County to Riverside County, even the northernmost part of Los Angeles. Thousands have been forced to evacuate as powerful Santa Ana winds kicked up Thursday.

The Saddle Ridge Fire is the largest in southern California, located in the northern most part of the city of Los Angeles.  As of Saturday, the fire had scorched over 7,500 acres with 19% containment and over 31 structures damaged or destroyed.

So far, there has been two firefighter injuries and at least one related death to this fire.

<a href="https://www.lafd.org/news/saddleridge-brush-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEE THE LATEST SADDLE RIDGE FIRE EVACUATIONS AND UPDATED INFORMATION</a>

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https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/444100569540405/

https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/713119922527832/

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Another significant fire is the Sandalwood Fire, which continues to burn in Riverside county, California. The Sandalwood Fire broke out Thursday in Riverside County, increasing in size overnight to more than 800 acres burned and remaining around 25% containment.  More than 70 structures, including homes, have been destroyed from the flames. At least 2 deaths had been attributed to the fire as of Saturday, with <a href="https://twitter.com/RSO/status/1183084432506277888">Riverside County Sheriff's Dept working to identify remains found in a mobile home park Saturday</a>.

<a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8c67a3c459d24e4a9d0b6311846de7b9&amp;extent=-13038367.9207%2C4025484.7758%2C-13027513.8626%2C4031475.5279%2C102100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SANDALWOOD FIRE EVACUATION MAP</a>

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There are several other wildfires burning in California. The California Department of Forestry and Fire keeps a<a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/"> list of fire incidents on their website. </a>  The Briceburg Fire, located in Mariposa County had also increased to significant size, over 5000 acres. As of Friday, however, all evacuation orders were lifted, as crews maintain good control of the blaze. Other fires

https://twitter.com/VCFD_PIO/status/1182740650661306369

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Thousands people have had to evacuate from all of the wildfires in the area, and the threat for more growth and new fires to spark remains a concern today and into the weekend.

WeatherNation spoke with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles on Friday to talk about the weather that has been helping create and fuel these fires, and also learned more about the outlook as we head into Fall and Winter.

https://youtu.be/NVK527ztrWk

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With high fire danger continuing into the holiday weekend, make sure to do your part to help fires from sparking and spreading.

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