Dave Holder

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As heat builds across the western states, precipitation has also been hard to come by. Along with low humidities and breezy conditions, the increasing fire danger has prompted widespread Red Flag Watches and Warnings for the upcoming weekend! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 143524-1774039230829.png">For this weekend, fire alerts have been issued from the Black Hills of South Dakota, south through the Texas Panhandle. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 143606-1774039285554.png">While the actual temperatures of this heatwave have been the main focus, increasing temperatures lead to low relative humidities. While cities such as Denver and Amarillo feel the hottest March days ever, single-digit humidity levels look likely. Winds will kick up at times, too, in response to systems riding around the periphery of the upper-level heat dome. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 143533-1774039581487.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 143540-1774039590169.png">The Storm Prediction Center has also highlighted areas of the greatest fire danger, with Wyoming being a particular focus through Saturday. <h2>24 Fire</h2>Unfortunately, some fires have already sparked and continue to grow. The 24 Fire, located to the southwest of Colorado Springs, has expanded to over 1000 acres after breaking out earlier on Wednesday morning. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 144930-1774039787361.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 143555-1774039733292.png">

Fire Danger Continues Through the Weekend Across Central States

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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>

Rob Bradley

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After record shattering rain and hurricane force winds last weekend, Hawaii is already dealing with another strong low pressure system moving in from the west, known locally as a Kona Low.<h2>FRIDAY</h2>Catastrophic flash flooding unfolded overnight Thursday into Friday morning on the northern side of O'ahu, after 5-9 inches of rain fell from slow moving thunderstorms. A dam failure is forecast to happen sometime today. Evacuation orders have been issued for Haleiwa and Waialua as intense flooding cut off roads and inundated low lying areas. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 101325-1774023297460.png">The heavy rain was created by an approaching Kona Low, which will keep the weather pattern rainy through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 105948-1774026224554.png">Flood watches are in effect for all of the islands through the end of the weekend. The low is forecast to shift east into next week, leading to sunnier conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 101245-1774023297462.png">Bands of heavy rain will move through the islands at times over the next several days, with intensity of the showers fluctuating. Thunderstorms could lead to the development of flash flooding, especially with saturated soils from the previous Kona low.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/FORECAST-1774037485098.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals could easily surpass 1-4 inches where thunderstorms train, or move over the same locations multiple times. Most areas can expect lower totals.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 110202-1774026208382.png"><h1>Previous System Record Rain &amp; Wind</h1>Rainfall totals from the previous system are almost unfathomable. Each island had at least one weather station record over 20 inches of rain with hurricane force winds recorded as well. These intense conditions left the islands more prone for impacts from following storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 110451-1774026907445.png">

Patrick Crawford

Flash Flood Emergency for O'ahu, Additional Rain Expected for Hawaii

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Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

Jesse Kelley

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A series of systems moving across the Northern half of the nation will spark a sharp contrast with the historic heat building in the south / southeast over the weekend. Sunday is the day we are really keeping our eyes on, however, system one moves through Friday and it splits the Northeast. Rain for the Ohio Valley and Snow for New England. This is just the appetizer, the bigger impacts come Sunday - Monday.<h1>FRIDAY-SATURDAY</h1>The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal Risk (Level 1 out of 5) for severe weather today. All modes will be possible but hail and winds will be slightly higher threat. As the front stalls across the Mid South, a few severe storms will be possible Saturday across the Carolinas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1774031936685.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1774032142310.png"><h1>FORECAST</h1>For a lot of the Northeast, we will see mostly rain as the clipper pasts eastward. Snow chances will be the highest across Northern New England into the evening hours. As for thunderstorms, daytime heating should fire up storms later this afternoon into the evening hours across the Ohio Valley. Again a few storms could be severe. Storms should diminish after midnight. Saturday, more isolated to scattered thunderstorms will develop along the front from Tennessee to the Carolinas. Heavy rain shouldn't be a huge concern as some areas could receive as much as an inch.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1774032720640.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>SUNDAY</h1>The next clipper arrives Sunday. Already, the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted parts of the Mid Atlantic and Ohio Valley region with a Slight Risk of severe storms. Biggest threat will likely be winds but the forecast will be fine tuned as we get closer to the day.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1774033071247.png">

Severe Storms make a Weekend Comeback to the Ohio Valley

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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is fast approaching, and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080027-1772810872599.png">On Thursday, March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026. The peak is expected around late March into early April (between the 31st and 2nd). Still, the forecast for the peak is generally difficult to make beyond ten days, as blossoms will be impacted by weather conditions. Check back in for updates!<h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

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WEST - Heatwave would be putting this stretch of extreme weather mildly. The most intense heat event the U.S. has seen since record keeping began is unfolding and STILL getting worse. Not only were daily records broken on Wednesday, but monthly record highs for March were broken as well, despite it being the middle of the month! Las Vegas set its March record high with a high of 95°, beating out the previous record of 95° from yesterday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773973132611.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2-1773973138347.png">The heat is expected to intensify through Friday and Saturday, before temperatures drop slightly. Even though temperatures will drop somewhat, record heat will persist through at least the middle of next week, if not longer.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773973182216.png">Afternoon highs in several locations are expected to climb into the 80s, 90s, and even 100s, shattering daily temperature records and creating a dramatic contrast from the colder conditions that typically dominate early March. In some areas, temperatures are running 20 to 40 degrees above seasonal averages.Heat alerts are in effect through the weekend across portions of California, Nevada, and Arizona.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-17 124426-1773773073161.png">The Climate Prediction Center has a high confidence that temperatures will stay above normal through the end of March.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 112057-1773854463320.png">More on your Western Regional Forecast can be found:50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Records Obliterated - Extreme March Heatwave Bakes the West

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033702354504323511" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033702354504323511"></div>It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashioned blizzard. The Upper-Midwest experienced intense blizzard conditions last weekend, and while the blizzard has cleared, additional rain and snow makers are on the way. While additional snow, ice, and storms are in the forecast, these systems are not expected to be as impactful.<h1>Timing</h1>Clipper systems with limited precipitation and impacts are expected to phase through the Great Lakes and Northeast through Friday. Stronger systems begin taking shape this weekend, with heavier precipitation and gusty winds. Friday into Saturday can expect heavier rain and snow in New York and New England, while the Upper-Midwest gets a new round of moderate snowfall from the trailing system. By Sunday, that next system is expected to move from the Great Lakes into the Northeast, bringing ice, snow, rain, and wind!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-20 10-29-40-1774017019380.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rain and Snow Totals</h1>I-95 and the Central Appalachians are likely to stay on the rainy side of these systems, but higher elevations in the Northeast, along with areas that see lake-enhanced precipitation, will see some snowfall. Mountain areas could see some 6"+ totals.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-19 201431-1773972882164.png">Make sure to check in with us here on WeatherNation! We'll be covering these clipper systems all week, so follow along to stay updated on the latest!

Tracey Anthony

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes and Northeast Gusty, Cooler

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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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NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetation fire broke out with visible heat signatures detectable on satellite. As winds shifted and the fire headed south quickly, mandatory evacuations were prompted near the town of Oshkosh, NE. Since then, the fire has continued to grow, becoming the largest in state history for the state of Nebraska, named the Morrill Fire.<ul><li>Acres: 643,074</li><li>Containment: 98%</li><li>Status: Active</li><li>Counties involved: Keith, Arthur, Garden, and Morrill</li></ul>Additional fires broke out across the state on this critical fire risk day, including the Cottonwood Fire, which has now burned about 130,000 acres with 80% containment. This fire broke southeast of North Platte in Dawson, Lincoln, and Frontier counties. Evacuations were ordered last week but lifted on Saturday, March 14th.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033022876803281258" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033022876803281258"></div>The governor of Nebraska Jim Pillen issued an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/WildFiresCentralNebraska.pdf">emergency proclamation</a> to unlock state resources and support the response to multiple wildfires in central and Western Nebraska. The fires include:<ul><li>The Road 203 Fire (within the Nebraska National Forest) - 35,916 acres | 76% contained</li><li>Cottonwood Fire (near Brady and Gothenburg) - 131,259 acres | 78% contained</li><li>Morrill County Fire - 643,074 acres | 67% contained</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 2-1773936782932.jpg"><h2>Fire Outlooks and Forecast</h2>Fire weather outlooks show elevated and critical conditions in the Central Rockies into the Western Great Plains. Warm, dry, and gusty conditions are expected to persist in these areas for the next several days, making for difficult firefighting conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 3-1773936756106.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 4-1773936761845.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773946906307.png">Please stay aware of smoke plumes in your area and do not undertake activities where a spark or flame could start a new fire.

Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

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<img class="alignnone wp-image-89169" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/03/Fire-Outlook.jpg" alt="" width="635" height="357" />

Fire alerts are in place from west Texas to Colorado and Kansas today as temperatures soar into the 70s, 80s and low 90s on Thursday and Friday.

Very dry and breezy conditions are also expected across these areas over the next two day, elevating the fire concerns, especially for Friday.

Outdoor fire burning is not recommended.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-89170" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/03/Red-Flag-Alerts.jpg" alt="" width="636" height="358" />

For WeatherNation, I am <a href="http://www.twitter.com/marcusdwalter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Marcus Walter</a>.

Fire Concerns Once Again From Texas to Colorado

Fire Danger Continues Through the Weekend Across Central States

As heat builds across the western states, pre

Flash Flood Emergency for O'ahu, Additional Rain Expected for Hawaii

After record shattering rain and hurricane fo

Severe Storms make a Weekend Comeback to the Ohio Valley

A series of systems moving across the Norther

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

Top Image Credit: National Parks ServiceSprin

Records Obliterated - Extreme March Heatwave Bakes the West

WEST - Heatwave would be putting this stretch

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes and Northeast Gusty, Cooler

It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashi

Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetat