Brittany Lockley

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Another&nbsp;threat of severe weather is expected to develop across parts of the Central Plains and Midwest this weekend as a storm system moving out of the Rockies combines with warm, moisture-rich air flowing north from the Gulf. The setup is expected to fuel multiple rounds of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall, and localized flash flooding.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-18 103639-1781800631981.png">That will stir up our latest batch of severe storms to affect the Great Plains. The midsection of the country has taken the brunt of June, leading any other area of the lower 48 in tornadoes. It just hasn't been where you would expect. "Tornado Alley" is typically thought of from Texas to Nebraska, but more tornadoes have been in Illinois and Indiana.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-17 110839-1781716130735.png">A few storms could pop off on Friday across the Plains, but the biggest risk comes on Saturday afternoon and evening.&nbsp;Conditions will be favorable for strong to severe thunderstorms, with some storms capable of producing wind gusts strong enough to cause damage and hail large enough to impact travel and outdoor activities.&nbsp;<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/2026-06-19 09-59-10-1781884792628.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>While severe weather will be a concern, heavy rainfall may become the more widespread threat. Abundant atmospheric moisture will allow storms to produce intense downpours, and some areas could see rainfall rates of more than an inch per hour. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms moving over the same locations may quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flash flooding.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 173137-1781911916396.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/plainsrain-1781912034887.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>By Sunday and early next week, the storm system is expected to push farther east, spreading heavy rain and thunderstorm activity into the Midwest and Ohio Valley. Widespread rainfall totals of several inches are possible, with isolated locations potentially receiving even higher amounts where thunderstorms persist.&nbsp;We will continue to monitor the progression of the system as it moves across the region. Residents in areas prone to flooding or severe weather are encouraged to stay informed of the latest forecasts and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts throughout the weekend.&nbsp;

Jesse Kelley

Severe Storms, Flash Flooding Threat Returns Across Plains and Midwest This Weekend

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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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The National Hurricane Center has been tracking Tropical Storm Arthur and has issued their last advisory as it degenerated to a low pressure area along the Upper Texas Coast. It may reform in the Atlantic but won't likely be a direct threat to the United States. Despite the storm degenerating, it's still bringing intense, tropical downpours to parts of the South. A rare HIGH RISK for flash flooding has been issued from eastern Louisiana through western Florida, including southern Alabama and Mississippi. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067812111733149721" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067812111733149721"></div> Already in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, several flash flood emergencies have been issued with torrential downpours in a very short period of time with all of this rich Gulf moisture in place. The radar has estimated over twenty inches of rain just southeast of Alexandria, LA. The intense rainfall rates has also led to water rescues and our Brandon Clement was on the scene of one south of Wiggins, MS.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781834844067.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/VON_061826_RSE_PERKINSTON, MS_VIDEO OF THE WATER RESCUE_CORCLIPS_BRANDON CLEMENT_MS_E061826-1781811920242.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Forecast</h1>For the rest of this weekend, thunderstorms should become more scattered instead of as numerous as the last few days. However, the grounds are very saturated and it will not take a lot of rain to cause more flooding issues.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781921688608.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781921836754.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Gulf Coast Under Water Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur Head East

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A weak low-pressure system moving through the Great Basin will help to increase fire danger Saturday for parts of the west, increasing gusty winds in the region and spurring thunderstorm activity. As the low moves into the Plains states, high pressure will build with record heat possible into next week.Warm and dry conditions will lead to drier fuels, while the low also provides higher winds. Humidity will be less than 10%in some areas with temperatures over 100 degrees. Combined with gusty winds, that's a recipe for high fire danger.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 174210-1781912553047.png">In addition to dry and gusty conditions, the low will spur thunderstorms, with the potential for rain to evaporate before reaching the ground. Known as "dry thunderstorms," these storms can create new fires quickly, sometimes many at once.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 174110-1781912491524.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 125950-1781896403326.png">When dry thunderstorms are present, downdraft winds can be intense. As the rain evaporates, it cools rapidly and accelerates toward the ground. Gusts over 58 mph are possible Friday night and Saturday in parts of the Great Basin and Utah.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 125941-1781896428454.png">Storms should wrap up into the late evening hours. Storms should be less widespread on Saturday as the low shifts east.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781921328343.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Record heat will continue to contribute to fire danger next week across parts of the West. Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California have the potential for record highs starting on Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 130014-1781896412664.png">

Dry T-Storms & Fire Danger in the West

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<h1>EARLIER THIS WEEK</h1>MONTROSE, IL - A dangerous tornado tore through the town of Montrose, Illinois on Wednesday evening along the I-70 corridor, just miles after passing through Effingham. WeatherNation field meteorologist Brett Adair captured this tornado on camera and confirmed that homes were damaged, injuries and search and rescues were happening, and power lines were taken down as a result of this tornado.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067422143177265563" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067422143177265563"></div>The tornadoes that hit Effingham caused significant damage. Field correspondent Brian Emfinger spoke to residents after the tornado moved out of the area.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067578080609308927" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067578080609308927"></div><h1>Tornado Ratings</h1>The reports are coming in slowly across parts of Indiana and Illinois, but a few preliminary reports of EF-1s and EF-2s were found. Further information was released on Friday, with the Effingham, IL, tornado found to have caused EF-3 damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781921424713.png">For more info on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation :10 and :30 past the hour for your eastern and central regional forecasts.

Tornadoes Tear Through The Midwest, Isolated Severe Storms in the South

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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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<h3>WELCOME TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON SEASON.</h3>The North American Monsoon Season (NAMS) spans from June 15 through September 30th. It is also referred to as the Southwest Monsoon and is typically strongest during July and August.<h3>What is the North American Monsoon?</h3>The North American Monsoon is a seasonal change in atmospheric circulation that occurs during the summer across northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, including parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and California. The monsoon can bring stormy weather, flooding rains, dust storms, extreme heat, and wildfire concerns to the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 153448-1781473579558.png">As the land heats up during the summer months and high pressure develops over the Southwest, a shift in wind patterns pulls moisture northward from the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. This increase in moisture provides fuel for thunderstorms. As a result, the region can experience afternoon and evening thunderstorms, heavy rainfall over short periods of time, frequent lightning, gusty outflow winds, flash flooding (especially in canyons and burn scar areas), and occasionally dust storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152535-1781473586719.png"><h3>Seasonal Outlook</h3>For the upcoming season, the Climate Prediction Center's Seasonal Drought Outlook indicates that drought is likely to persist across portions of the Four Corners region, but improvement is expected in many areas. Meanwhile, drought conditions across Nevada are forecast to persist and may even expand.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152751-1781473694048.png">Something to note, the CPC is not guaranteeing a wet monsoon season, but they are favoring above-normal precipitation and improved odds of drought relief.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152746-1781473762291.png"><h3>Why is it so important?</h3>The monsoon provides a large portion of the annual rainfall for many desert locations across the Southwest. In Arizona, for example, the monsoon can account for nearly half of the state's yearly precipitation. This rainfall can help reduce drought impacts, improve soil moisture, and lower wildfire risk. However, it can also bring hazards such as flash flooding and dangerous lightning.<h3><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 155918-1781474388486.png"></h3>For more on this season's monsoonal storm chances, be sure to join us on WeatherNation for the latest forecast and updates.

Welcome To Monsoon Season - Here's What to Expect

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Tracey Anthony

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Heat and humidity in the southern plains and along the Gulf Coast will feel very tropical and oppressive from Miami to Brownsville, Texas. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061922-1781876207334.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062145-1781876531909.png">Across the Gulf Coast, heat alerts remain in place as hot temperatures and humidity will make it feel like temperatures well into the 100s! Hot temperatures and high humidity in this part of the country can increase heat illness. Make sure to take breaks and find ways to stay cool.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061654-1781875823917.png">On Friday, Houston will have a heat index value of 114° and the most southern tip of Texas will feel close to 120°<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061724-1781875768621.png">

Gulf Coast Heat Index to Dangerous Levels

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El Niño has arrived! It didn't take long for La Niña conditions this spring to quickly be replaced in the equatorial Pacific over the last few months. A big surge of warm water has now reached the surface after traveling in deeper waters for months, taking sea surface temperatures up to the level needed for an El Niño designation.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2065059465326444738" src="https://x.com/NOAAComms/status/2065059465326444738"></div> El Niño is expected to continue for the foreseeable future (below), and will likely to continue to strengthen through the summer into fall and possibly winter (top of page). You've probably heard the term "super" El Niño mentioned - which is the same as a "very strong" El Niño in the graphic above. "Super" El Niño isn't a term officially recognized, but seeing temperatures that warm in the Pacific typically mean bigger impacts to global weather patterns, including hurricane season and the winter forecast in the United States. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-11 102033-1781194881870.png">A strong or very strong El Niño is different than a weak or moderate El Niño in terms of impacts. A very strong El Niño typically leads to a tighter and stronger sub-tropical jet, which increases wind shear in the Atlantic. If a moderate El Niño is in place through hurricane season, it's impacts in the Atlantic could be less pronounced. Regardless, WeatherNation will be monitoring the latest in the tropics and will bring you updates all season long.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-11 102059-1781195492270.png">To read the full release from NOAA about El Niño emerging - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://t.co/lS3v4K6TMC">click here!</a>

El Niño Forms, Very Strong El Niño Likely Late 2026

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Congratulations to two ski resorts in Colorado for opening this Columbus Day weekend.

Midday Friday, Keystone Resort in Colorado announced it would start its lift operations Saturday morning, October 12. The mountain's representatives said it is going to be the earliest opening date in 20+ years.

https://twitter.com/KeystoneMtn/status/1182712895357874176

Shortly thereafter, nearby Arapahoe Basin announced they were opening today (Friday).

https://twitter.com/Arapahoe_Basin/status/1182743811090313216

Arapahoe Basin opened for the 2019-2020 ski season around 3:30 p.m. local time Friday. Here's what it looked like:

<img class="size-full wp-image-113864" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/moderate.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" /> Credit: Arapahoe Basin/Ian Zinner

<img class="size-full wp-image-113866" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/D5ecreZUEAIfJPK.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" /> Credit: Arapahoe Basin/Ian Zinner

According to Arapahoe Basin reps, Friday's opening came just 99 days after the resort closed out the 2018-2019 season and that's the shortest time between seasons!

Back to nearby Keystone Resort, here's what it looked like Friday night:

https://twitter.com/KeystoneMtn/status/1182840489084538882

Clear, calm and chilly weather will greet skiers and riders on Saturday morning. Temperatures will be in the teens for the opening of the lifts! Sunshine will warm the mountains up to the 40's by the afternoon which will feel excellent.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-113867" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/ARNING.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" /><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-113869" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/10/a1-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

The outlook for Colorado is dry through the holiday weekend with cool nights and warm afternoons. The next snow event could come in as early as Thursday-Friday of this week.

Cover picture credit: Keystone Mountain

First Ski Resorts Open In North America

Severe Storms, Flash Flooding Threat Returns Across Plains and Midwest This Weekend

Another threat of severe weather is expe

Gulf Coast Under Water Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur Head East

The National Hurricane Center has been tracki

Dry T-Storms & Fire Danger in the West

A weak low-pressure system moving through the

Tornadoes Tear Through The Midwest, Isolated Severe Storms in the South

EARLIER THIS WEEKMONTROSE, IL - A dangerous t

Welcome To Monsoon Season - Here's What to Expect

WELCOME TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON SEASON.

Gulf Coast Heat Index to Dangerous Levels

Heat and humidity in the southern plains and

El Niño Forms, Very Strong El Niño Likely Late 2026

El Niño has arrived! It didn't take long for

First Ski Resorts Open In North America

Severe Storms, Flash Flooding Threat Returns Across Plains and Midwest This Weekend

Another&nbsp;threat of severe weather is expe

Gulf Coast Under Water Remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur Head East

The National Hurricane Center has been tracki

Dry T-Storms & Fire Danger in the West

A weak low-pressure system moving through the

Tornadoes Tear Through The Midwest, Isolated Severe Storms in the South

EARLIER THIS WEEKMONTROSE, IL - A dangerous t

Welcome To Monsoon Season - Here's What to Expect

WELCOME TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON SEASON.

Gulf Coast Heat Index to Dangerous Levels

Heat and humidity in the southern plains and

El Niño Forms, Very Strong El Niño Likely Late 2026

El Niño has arrived! It didn't take long for

Another threat of severe weather is expe