Kevin Schneider

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Fire outlooks have been issued across the Front Range and the plains through Wednesday. Widespread Red Flag Warnings have been issued for the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202751-1771385277340.png">Earlier in the day, wildfires broke out in the Oklahoma panhandle that caused evacuations in the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202843-1771385360303.png">Fire outlooks remain in place on Wednesday as yet another front drops in, kicking wind gusts up to 50-60 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 160202-1771369326567.png">Some wind reports have hit 100 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 160216-1771369350334.png">

Alana Cameron

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

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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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CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been impacted by our first frontal boundary that prompted severe warnings, flash flood warnings, heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds. The next of a series of fronts moves onshore over the next day or so to add more to all of the previous totals.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2023502650579284209" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2023502650579284209"></div><h1>Heavy Rain &amp; Flooding Threat</h1>Flash flooding is looking possible overnight across portions of Southern California, including Los Angeles. Numerous Flash Flood Warnings have already been issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 160340-1771369425663.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2023476221364084906" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2023476221364084906"></div><h1></h1><h1>Timing</h1>Rain and snow look likely off and on into Thursday as multiple rounds of rain and snow move through. Check for road closures and delays as heavy snow will be very impactful across the higher elevations and passes.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/jfjfjf1111-1771385148558.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Heavy Snow</h1>Winter weather alerts have been issued for much of California through Wednesday.<ul><li>2000-2500 feet: up to one foot</li><li>2500-3500 feet: one to two feet</li><li>3500 feet and above: four to eight feet</li><li>wind gusts up to 45-55 mph</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 160507-1771369512251.png">Travel could be impossible in some spots with the high snowfall rates and winds. Snowfall totals could surpass 4-5 feet in some areas, like Mammoth Mountain. Resorts around Lake Tahoe could also see 4-5 feet, including I-80 and the Donner Pass. The heavy snowfall rates will make mountain travel impossible at times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 165313-1771372403749.png">Even the mountains in Southern California will see heavy snowfall developing this afternoon and evening. Travel will be very difficult at times through early Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 160527-1771369538551.png">

Jackie Brown

Monster Storm System Walloping California

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More record high temperatures were broken across the northern U.S. on Tuesday. Some highs hit nearly 80° in Nebraska.The ridge of high pressure will continue to push east, bringing the heat east through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161437-1771370084805.png">More record high temperatures will be possible through Friday as the heat builds east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161528-1771370135856.png">Temperatures to the south will push towards the 80s on Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161658-1771370241504.png">The warmest temperatures this week will be Thursday across the Southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161645-1771370276312.png">The southern Plains will also be feeling the anomalous warmth, helping to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> there over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we head deeper into February. The chance for thunderstorms in a more spring-like pattern will continue along with it!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 155808-1771282694841.png">Through late February and early March, there is a high confidence that above average temperatures will stick around.

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

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The West Coast is hogging the active weather in the early part of the week, but it won't last forever. A wave moving onshore in the coming days will turn into another chance for severe storms later this week. But these could look a little different...<h1>SETUP</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 103300-1771263199965.png">The disturbance in question will ripple through the Rocky Mountains, emerging sometime Thursday. That's not the issue-the chunk of energy is more than enough to cause trouble. Let's look at the other ingredients<h1>Moisture &amp; Instability</h1>As the system presses in from the west, a front will drive through some dew points well into the 50's and some 60's. That should be plenty of moisture to work with. That will provide ample unstable air to power severe chances.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-16 103446-1771263317488.png">So if it's all systems go, why are some models struggling to pop storms? Check out the latest run of our in-house model, which is hesitant to develop storms.<hr><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02172-1771369980040.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>So what gives? Low-topped supercells are the biggest worry if storms manage to form. Those are storms that don't reach quite as high in the atmosphere, but still contain the ability to rotate. What happens in the evening is a little less certain-do we have enough thunderstorms to merge into a line? Or is the threat going to be limited to the daytime hour?<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 071106-1771337473956.jpg">Even with the uncertainty, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe weather on Thursday:<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 161153-1771369917849.png">

Next Shot at Severe Storms This Week

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ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in place across the four corners for additional snowfall for the region. Some parts of Utah and Colorado have already seen over half a foot of snowfall. More is on the way.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202558-1771385178757.png">On and off rain and snow showers are expected to continue through much of the week, dropping feet of snow for some areas in the Rockies.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/0217-1771369170131.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals could reach 1 to 3 feet in the higher elevations through Thursday morning. The system's track from the Southwest will favor upslope snow in SW Utah and Colorado, increasing totals there, such as Telluride.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-17 202609-1771385185965.png">Most ski resorts can expect at least 6-12" through Thursday morning, with some seeing up to two feet!Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

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Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi this weekend. Leaving behind strong damaging winds and tornadoes. Two reports have been confirmed out of Mississippi from Sunday, both rating EF-1.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160500-1771196706661.png">Strong and severe storms have developed across the south and will continue through tonight. The threat continues across portions of Florida and Georgia. Damaging winds and tornadoes will be the primary concern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160628-1771196792439.png">Be sure to join us on WeatherNation as we track this system's development!

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

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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.

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NORTHEAST - As this next clipper system continues through, we can see snow and some lake-effect snow. A high-pressure system will move in, and things will taper off on Thursday night.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-11_rne-1770838643023.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>When all is said and done, the heaviest snow ends up in upstate New York and most of the New England area. With a few of these lake effect bands cranking well into late week, we can see some totals top out at 6"!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-11 123841-1770838732760.png">But what about those temps after the fact? Well, judging by the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) 6-10 day outlook, we're likely to continue with these above-average temperatures even after Valentine's Day weekend. It'll also do a good job thawing out some of that snow left behind by this week's clipper!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/web5-1770808056886.png">Make sure to stay locked in on WeatherNation! We'll cover this system for you all day, as well as break it down in depth in your east regional every :10 past the hour!

Tracey Anthony

Lingering Snow in the Northeast

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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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Another day of increasing fire danger for the Four Corners.  Areas of Colorado are under a fire weather danger throughout Wednesday and red flag warnings are in place from the central to western part of the Centennial State.  Here is the very latest on today's risk.
<h1>Alerts</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-113536 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/cape-hat-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-113537 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/karen-fan-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

All the ingredients will be in the forecast today across Central Colorado leading to an increase in fire danger.  You will want to use caution in the red flag areas with any outdoor activities that can create sparks or flames.
<h1>Wind Forecast</h1>
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<img class="alignnone wp-image-113538 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/Capture-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

The winds shouldn't be an issue for a majority of the Southwest, but over Colorado the wind speeds will be strong enough to create dangerous conditions.  This will likely be during the afternoon hours.
<h1>Prevention Tips</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-113540 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/Camp-fire-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

Here are some tips to keep in mind to help prevent starting any wildfires.  This includes obeying local burn bans and proper disposal of cigarettes and matches.

Keep checking with WeatherNation for the latest on today's fire risk.

Fire Weather Risk for Colorado Wednesday

Alerts

Wind Forecast

Prevention Tips

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

Fire outlooks have been issued across the Fro

Monster Storm System Walloping California

CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

More record high temperatures were broken acr

Next Shot at Severe Storms This Week

The West Coast is hogging the active weather

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mis

Lingering Snow in the Northeast

NORTHEAST - As this next clipper system cont