Caitlin Connell

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<p>Another cold front moves through the Southern Plains, producing a low-end severe weather threat in Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday and Wednesday. Instability, or energy for updrafts, will likely be sufficient to support a few severe storms Tuesday afternoon, however, a temperature inversion will "cap" the atmosphere, preventing updrafts from rising to a point of continued lift (free convection). For now, there is potential for a clear sky "bust" to the forecast, if the capping inversion is too strong for the weak front to overcome. Warm air will stop air from rising - to break the "cap" you either need to warm the surface more beneath or drive the air up with a cold front.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-21 045205-1713697112816.png">A few storms develop in the daytime heat on Tuesday afternoon and linger into the late evening hours. Most storms fade after midnight with clouds lingering into the morning on Wednesday. Tuesday brings the possibility of significant hail to form in the areas of yellow. This means there's a chance for 2" in diameter hail or larger to form.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-23 07-04-41-1713877761369.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Wednesday can start with a few scattered showers and storms, but the severe weather threat ramps up after we reach peak daytime heating. These storms look to linger into the overnight hours a little longer and later than today's chances. So, make sure you have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts, and in a way that can wake you up.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-23 07-05-07-1713877725308.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>As the severe weather threat is ongoing throughout this week, check out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-to-the-plains-thursday-friday"><em><u>this article for more information</u></em></a>.</p>

Lucy Bergemann

Front Sparks Storms in Texas Tuesday & Wednesday

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>A swift-moving cold front has brought scattered precipitation to our northern latitude states. Minimal rainfall is expected out of this so there is no flooding threat, but winds will kick up and it could have the opposite impact on some states where there is ongoing drought and wildfire concerns. Since there is a lot of dry air at the surface, moisture will have a tough time reaching the surface for some cities. This front will keep pushing east-southeast through the Great Lakes through Tuesday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-22-1713832015635.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The SPC has a<strong> MARGINAL</strong> (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe storms in Michigan on Tuesday afternoon. Since there is some strong cooling in the middle levels of the atmosphere, during peak heating we may see some storms produce hail with a few storms capable of dropping severe hail - anything greater than 1" in diameter.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Michigan IL WI Marg-1713873974668.png">Forecast rainfall won't be too impressive in most spots, generally, less than an inch of rainfall. Some spots may manage to get a few snow flurries behind the front, with minor accumulations upwards of an inch. We could use the rain along the borders of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada! We haven't seen much moisture in the last 30 days. We're taking baby steps to add some more rain into the mix!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/30 day-1713731967062.png">One part of this system that will be felt across much of the North-Central U.S., is the gusty winds. Winds could top 30-40 mph in the afternoon, prompting some fire concerns throughout the day.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-22_winds-1713832159000.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p>

Clipper Brings Hail Chances to the Great Lakes

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<p>The spring season often means rounds of strong and severe storms in the heart of the country, with this April being no exception. Another storm system looks to continue that trend, with scattered severe storms expected in the Plains and Midwest, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (top of page).</p><p>Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/wet-weekend-in-the-lone-star-state"><em><u><span>Cold Front Sparks Storms in Texas Tuesday &amp; Wednesday</span></u></em></a></p><p>A potent upper-level low-pressure system will eject from the Rocky Mountains and move across the Plains. This will help create wind shear and lift in the atmosphere.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-20 162338-1713652049645.png"></p><p>At the surface, a well-developed dryline is forecast from west Texas to west-central Kansas. This is the boundary between dry air and muggy air and where storms could form from mid to late afternoon. Instability could be high, with forecast models already indicating a good amount of available energy.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-21 041542-1713694550440.png"></p><p>Thursday already has a <strong>slight risk</strong> (level 2 out of 5) on the threat scale, indicating the Storm Prediction Centers' (SPC) confidence in the forecast. We run the risk of seeing all forms of severe weather. So, pockets of large hail, strong winds, and a few tornadoes are all on the table. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/spc-1713875792264.jpg"></p><p>Models are already hinting at the potential for widespread storms through Oklahoma, western Kansas, and northern Texas on Thursday afternoon and evening. Storm storms are expected through Friday with another wave of energy expected into the weekend, keeping this region active. Cities under risk include Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, and Dallas. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/forecast-1713876273042.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Late Week: Multiple Days of Severe Weather

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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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<p>National Park Week started Saturday, April 20th, and runs through Sunday, April 28th, It is a week to celebrate the over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm"><strong><em><u>400 National Parks</u></em></strong></a>! Throughout the week, parks will host events to highlight the unique nature of the parks, how you can volunteer, and the innovation happening across the country. National Park Week also encompasses Earth Day, on Monday, April 22nd.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/nps-1713740968123.png"></p><p>At WeatherNation we spoke to some of the most popular, and lesser-known, national parks across the U.S. and highlighted them in our "Get Out and Explore" series.</p><h2>Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This mountain park sits near the hustle and bustle of East Coast cities such as D.C. and Philly and allows people to explore the great outdoors and reconnect with nature. The heavily forested park offers hiking, camping, stargazing, and more. If you look closely you might even find old whiskey and moonshine stills during the prohibition period.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W9VRUt93epc" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Death Valley National Park (California)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Home of extreme weather, this park is known for canyons, salt flats, and North America’s lowest point. &nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4d1AmHZQRw8?si=-FBI8TOpXtvw7zoz" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Alaska)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Lake Clark in Alaska sits about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage and is only accessible via small plane. This park boasts incredible wildlife and views as well as some of Alaska’s extreme weather.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U3IM3w8M1Yc?si=i22NXFs0uVL_TX3y" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lava Beds National Park (N. California)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Sitting just south of Oregon, Lava Beds National Monument is surrounded by volcanos. Visitors can explore lava tubes ranging in difficulty from easy to expert. This gives people a chance to explore the “volcanic plumbing” of the region. &nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6c0aGmAgC38?si=BPzHjKS7iBSK5K3X" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P. (Colorado)</h2><p><span style="color: inherit">Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the steepest and narrowest canyon of the entire U.S. and sits in Southwest Colorado. The canyon provides intense changes in temperatures and is impacted by monsoon season during the summer months.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/getko7k6xv8?si=FBWTTOSZJH-3EkeR" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Badlands National Park (South Dakota)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">An “undiscovered gem” in the national park system, Badlands offers landscapes, wildlife, and spectacular stargazing. NPS recommends spending at least some time in the park at night to fully experience another side of the park.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbXfbFmDko0?si=V71zMdVtyCkH_o9K" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)</h2><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">History lovers will love taking a trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park. Home of two major civil war battles, the park has acres of walking tours to explore a piece of American history.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTg1gYAD1o8?si=nn75R3h1z054AFxh" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (New Hampshire)</h2><p>Check out the only national park dedicated to a sculpture! It doesn't open until May so mark your calendars for next month.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xlEEJRl0d_w?si=yPubZ3-sANBW6iiQ" start="0"></iframe></div><h2></h2>

National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

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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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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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<p>The severe threat for Southern Florida has been downgraded to a general risk of a few storms tonight. Earlier in the day, the Storm Prediction Center had issued a <strong>MARGINAL </strong>(level 1 out of 5) risk for severe storms across southeastern Florida, but the threat has lessened to just a chance of an isolated storm or two this evening.  </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/THROUGH  TONIGHT  JB -1713833403871.png">The frontal boundary that brough the severe threat for today continues to push offshore, and storms continue to move offshore as well.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-22_rse fl-1713811923512.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Be sure to join us on WeatherNation at 10 minutes past the hour for more details on your eastern regional forecast.</p>

Florida Storms This Evening

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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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<p>If you're following along with our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/national-park-week-get-out-and-explore">National Park Week</a> and Get Out and Explore Program you'll know that Monday, April 22nd is Earth Day! As we celebrate the day here are ways you can save the earth!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/SAVE AERTH-1713732103031.png">On the theme of today, here's the forecast for some of our planet-themed locations in the United States. Across the northern tier of the United States, we have Mars, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto, and Blue Earth to name a few. Forecast highs will bump out of the near-freezing mark the morning will bring us for many of these cities.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/north-1713810377590.png">Across the southern U.S., we have Mercury, Venus, Globe, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto. Many of these spots should have a nice and warm afternoon, especially if you live in the southwestern United States.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/south-1713810384252.png">For more ways on how you can save our planet visit <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://earthday.org">earthday.org</a>!</p>

Monday, April 22nd - Earth Day!

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From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains to the Upper Midwest, many saw their <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/first-snows-of-the-season-for-parts-of-kansas-colorado-new-mexico/">first snowfall of the season on Sunday</a>.  In many cities, this was way ahead of schedule.  But an autumn snowfall can be beautiful....and that was indeed the case!

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The heaviest snowfall occurred in the mountains and higher elevations of Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.  However, a few inches of snow also coated the ground in states such as Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

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Even parts of the Texas Panhandle picked up a trace of snow!

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Do you have any snow photos or videos?  We'd love to see them!  Share with WeatherNation on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/WeatherNation">Twitter</a>.

- <a href="http://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistJoeAstolfi">Meteorologist Joe Astolfi</a>

Early Season Snowfall on Sunday

Front Sparks Storms in Texas Tuesday & Wednesday

Another cold front moves through the Southern

Clipper Brings Hail Chances to the Great Lakes

A swift-moving cold front has brought scatter

Late Week: Multiple Days of Severe Weather

The spring season often means rounds of stron

National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

National Park Week started Saturday, April 20

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s n

Florida Storms This Evening

The severe threat for Southern Florida has be

Monday, April 22nd - Earth Day!

If you're following along with our National P