WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p>A ridge of high pressure continues to dominate the southern tier of the US, sending storms riding around the ridge through the Midwest and Northeast. Under the high-pressure block, extreme heat and humidity will persist, lasting into this week for some. The long-lasting heat dome has triggered heat alerts from Missouri through Florida, with extreme heat warnings in effect (pink boxes, below) along with many heat advisories. Highs will soar into the triple digits, feeling 5-15 degrees hotter with the humidity. Make sure to find adequate ways to stay cool!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 035101-1787046679900.png"></p><p>Feels-like temperatures remain dangerously hot across the central and southern United States. Many areas will feel like 110-115 in the afternoon. On Tuesday, the feel-like temperatures will continue to be in the triple digits as well.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 035142-1787046711434.png"></p><p>Some places could be so hot that we're threatening records around the South as well. Especially in the Sunshine State</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 035201-1787046736456.png"></p>

Adrian Hernandez

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

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<p>Lala continues to move westward of Kauai, still bringing bands of heavy rainfall and gusty winds to portions of the smaller Hawaiian Islands.</p><p>The Hawaii Department of Transportation reported that parts of Highway 11 on the Big Island were shut down due to flooding. More than 130,000 customers lost power Saturday at the height of the storm. As the storm moves west-northwest, expect conditions to slowly improve as the blustery showers back off.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2088807962383143316" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2088807962383143316"></div><p>Flooding continues to be a problem for Hawaii as all of this rain makes it back into the ocean. Some areas picked up more than 3 FEET of rain thanks to Lala!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-17 101407-1786983268612.jpg"></p><p>Lala, now over open Pacific waters, has strengthened back into a hurricane. According to the NHC, Lala is expected to intensify to a category two. At this point, additional impacts to the Hawaiian islands will be limited, but surf and rip currents will be something to watch. Larger swells generated by the system could amplify these coastal concerns.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 035803-1787047106402.png"></p>

Hawaii Cleaning Up after Lala Grazed the Islands

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>The last few days, Mother Nature has turned down the heat somewhat for the Southwest, with the extra clouds and monsoon storms back in the picture. As we get through the work week, high pressure returns westward to the Desert Southwest. <strong>Extreme heat alerts</strong> have been issued for cities including Phoenix, Vegas, Tucson, and Yuma.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 034619-1787046394532.png"></p><p>Monday high temperatures will return to the upper 100s and low 110s for the Southwest. So, make sure you stay hydrated and look after the elderly with the high heat returning.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 034528-1787046340696.png"></p><p>If you thought the hot temperatures would be a short-term thing, you would be wrong! Hot temperatures are here to stay for the end of August.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 034551-1787046364533.png"></p>

Heat Returning to the Desert This Week

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<p>Last week, several rounds of storms moved through areas of the Midwest, producing significant wind gusts and flash flooding. Another cold front will arrive shortly after the previous front leaves, sparking a new wave of severe storms, including potential for flash flooding.</p><h1>Forecast</h1><p>Wind shear will increase across the Plains and Midwest as a strong trough moves across Canada, while a cold front will cut into the United States. Along the front, isolated to scattered severe storms have been moving through, prompting severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Instability will be somewhat limited, so severe storms are more likely in the afternoons when daytime heating can add energy to the atmosphere.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-18 03-35-18-1787045744547.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Outlooks</h1><p>The SPC has maintained a <strong>SLIGHT</strong> (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather across the Plains and Midwest. As the front swings farther south and east on Tuesday, another round of scattered severe storms is anticipated from Nebraska through western Illinois.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 033748-1787045886317.png"></p><p>The same frontal system will continue to stall out into more of the Mid-South as we head into Wednesday. A slight risk close to the low has been issued into Arkansas and Missouri.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 034127-1787046102143.png"></p><p>By Tuesday, heavy rain will become a bigger hazard, with scattered flash flooding possible for areas in dark green (below). Soils are saturated from last week's rain in many of these areas, meaning runoff or flooding will occur more quickly than normal. Totals can get up to 3" in some isolated spots.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-18 03-43-06-1787046202452.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 034157-1787046130096.png"></p>

Cold Front Brings Severe Storms to  Plains

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<p><strong>MIDWEST - </strong>After a week of flooding rains in the Midwest, today we enjoy a break from the relentless rainfall. However, many remain under flood watches and warnings as rivers remain swollen.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2088604118151479464" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2088604118151479464"></div><p></p><p><strong>FLOOD THREAT</strong></p><p></p><p>Additional rainfall could increase the risk of flash flooding across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Appalachian region. As the front works through, some localized flooding will be possible overnight. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/OVERNSSSS-1787016460932.png"></p><h2>Overnight Severe Threat</h2><p>The Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service have issued a severe thunderstorm watch through tonight across the Southern Appalachians. The SPC has us under a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe storms through the overnight hours.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-17 193201-1787016747073.png"></p><p></p><p></p>

Alana Cameron

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2087625672491721115" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2087625672491721115"></div><p>Get ready for one of the most spectacular displays of the cosmos visible on earth - a total solar eclipse! Totality will only cover a small portion of the globe, however, while many others will see a partial solar eclipse.<br><br>A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. There's a small "hard shadow" where the total solar eclipse occurs, where the sun is completely obscured by the moon, leaving only the outer ring, or corona, of the sun visible. The larger "soft shadow" covers a larger portion of the globe, but only a section of the sun will be obscured. Even though both are eclipses, the experience in the path of totality is completely different than in the partial zone. Totality ushers in darkness and massive changes, including temperature drops, changes in animal behavior, and more. If you have the chance to see a total solar eclipse, it is highly recommended you take advantage of the opportunity.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124538-1786128790332.png"></p><h1>Path of Totality</h1><p>People in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and an incredibly small piece of Portugal, will be able to experience totality if skies are clear enough. The eclipse will begin in the arctic circle before dropping south to cruise over the North Atlantic and eventually western Europe.<br><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124037-1786128740977.png"><br>Western Iceland, including Reykjavik, will get to experience totality for a about 60 seconds in the late afternoon on Wednesday, August 12th. This will occur around 5:45 - 5:50 GMT from north to south.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-07 13-00-09-1786129629600.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Some lucky folks in Spain will have nearly two minutes of totality (toward the middle of the path), while folks closer to the outside of the path will only get about 20-30 seconds of magic. The sun will be approaching the western horizon, or sunset, as totality occurs, making for a truly incredible sight. Totality begins on the northern coast around 8:26 pm local time (CEST) and will end as it moves south of Mallorca in the Mediterranean around 8:33 pm.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-07 13-00-28-1786129642319.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Partial Solar Eclipse</h1><p>In the United States, only a partial eclipse will be visible and only for a portion of the country. A partial eclipse will be visible in the early afternoon, peaking around 2:00 pm ET, from portions of Montana to eastern North Carolina. Only a small sliver of the sun will be obscured for many, with about a fifth of the sun obscured in northern New England, mostly in Maine. All of Alaska (expect the far western Aleutians) will experience a partial solar eclipse as well. Southern Alaska will see a quarter of the sun obscured, peaking around 8:15 - 8:30 am Alaskan Daylight Time, while northern Alaska will see about half of the sun covered by the moon.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124624-1786128804207.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124629-1786131371992.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-08 103029-1786206678322.png"></p><h1>Next Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S.</h1><p>A total solar eclipse will cover portions of the United States in 2044, mostly moving through Canada, but parts of western North Dakota and Montana will get a view. In 2045, a large section of the United States will be able to experience a total solar eclipse. The path of totality runs from Northern California through Salt Lake City and Denver, before moving across the South from Little Rock to Miami, FL. It's never too early to make plans...</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124638-1786131683080.png"></p><h2><strong>NASA's Research:</strong></h2><p>Through this eclipse, NASA will have multiple scientific experiments on-going related to the eclipse to help us better understand these celestial events. We spoke with NASA to learn more.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EyvkXNZBrYk" start="0"></iframe></div>

Tracey Anthony

What to Know About the Total Solar Eclipse on August 12th

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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!

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<p><strong>HIGH PLAINS</strong> - Tuesday proved to be an incredibly active day across the Central and High Plains. Storms in these parts had updrafts that exceeded 100 mph! Therefore, we were seeing hailstones that were 4.5" in diameter! That's about the size of a grapefruit. Once again, strong storms fired up Wednesday afternoon, bringing large hail and damaging winds. Wind gusts reached over 70 mph for portions of Iowa.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/plains winds-1786581631787.png"></p><h2>Overnight</h2><p>The severe threat will continue through Thursday morning. The threats we'll be tracking out here will be very similar to yesterday: damaging winds and some hail.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-12 200422-1786586713559.png"></p><p>Some storms will hold together into the overnight hours. Expect more rounds of rain and storms again on Thursday!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/paisnsss-1786581513163.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rainfall totals</h1><p></p><p>Not only will severe weather be a threat, but heavy rainfall will be embedded in some of these storms. Our model data shows some areas through South Dakota and Iowa receiving upwards of 4 inches of rain through Friday!</p><h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/forecast rianfll through friday-1786581841657.png"></h1><p>Be sure to join us on WeatherNation for this story during:30 past the hour on your Central Regional Forecast.</p>

Repeated Severe Threat for the High Plains

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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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Temperatures froze over in Florida during the last weekend of January. Temperatures were below freezing all the way into South Florida. Iguanas were freezing as far south as Hollywood, Florida! Yikes!

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<h1>Record Temps</h1>
It seems like 2022 was off to a cold start for the Sunshine State. Comparing this cold snap to years in the past, it definitely makes the books. NWS Miami tweeted that nearly ALL reporting stations in their region reached their lowest since January 2020.

https://twitter.com/NWSMiami/status/1488932605785485315

January 30th, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers and Vero Beach all tied their coldest morning lows.

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Check out some of the temperatures from that same morning.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169161" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2022/01/01-30_rse_lows-since-midnight.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1iusvr4 r-16y2uox r-1777fci r-kzbkwu">
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<div id="id__jdxct3apral" class="css-901oao r-18jsvk2 r-37j5jr r-a023e6 r-16dba41 r-rjixqe r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">In SW Florida and areas around Lake Okeechobee, there were temperatures that reached the lowest since February of 2015. Ortona in Glades County hit 28 degrees, the lowest since January of 2018. Palmdale reached 25 degrees, this made it the coldest since December of 2010! Immokalee, reaching 28 degrees, and and Belle Glade, reaching right at freezing, were coldest since January of 2012.</span></div>
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When temperatures get below a certain point in Florida, Iguanas literally start falling from the trees. For more on why that happens we turn to the experts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsFsLPZWEWo

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Tune in to your East Region Forecast at :10 past the hour and the Central Region Forecast at :30 past the hour on WeatherNation for more details.

Florida Freezes Over: A Look Back to the End of January

Record Temps

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

A ridge of high pressure continues to dominat

Hawaii Cleaning Up after Lala Grazed the Islands

Lala continues to move westward of Kauai, sti

Heat Returning to the Desert This Week

The last few days, Mother Nature has turned d

Cold Front Brings Severe Storms to Plains

Last week, several rounds of storms moved thr

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

MIDWEST - After a week of flooding rains in t

What to Know About the Total Solar Eclipse on August 12th

Get ready for one of the most spectacular dis

Repeated Severe Threat for the High Plains

HIGH PLAINS - Tuesday proved to be an incredi