Kevin Schneider

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<p>While the severe thunderstorm risk ends with the latest system pushing off the Atlantic Coast, another potent upper trough will move into the middle states by the middle of next week. The Storm Prediction Center is already highlighting an area of potential severe weather Wednesday through Friday, from the Plains to the Lower Mississippi River Valley.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 192833-1776562725783.png"></p><p>This upper-level low will bring strong winds aloft, enhancing shear for any storms that are able to form in the environment. This turning of the winds as you go up in the atmosphere will help organize those storms.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 035121-1776678696660.png"></p><p>Meanwhile, at the surface, heat and humidity will build during the afternoons, creating an unstable atmosphere. Storms that form will strengthen quickly!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-21 03-50-02-1776765030526.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Long-range, less resolute models fire thunderstorms each afternoon, beginning Wednesday. With more rounds of rain moving over similar locations, flooding will need to be monitored as a potential threat. The WPC Excessive Rainfall Outlook has highlighted the threat of heavy rain from the Central Plains to the Southeast on Thursday and Friday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 035041-1776765059366.png"></p>

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

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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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<h1>SOUTHEAST</h1><p>Over 97% of the Southeast is in moderate to exceptional drought. These dry conditions have been one of many factors increasing the fire threat across the southeast. Over the next few days, we can see gusty conditions combined with the drought, which will aid any fires that start rapidly! Red flag warnings and fire weather watches remain in place through Tuesday. If you are in a local burn ban, please use caution and obey!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 035333-1776765226743.png"></p><p>Because of these dry conditions, we have seen multiple wildfires break out. On Sunday, fire crews responded to the N. Main Street Fire in Gainesville, Florida. As of now, this fire is 25 percent contained. Another, larger fire was burning near St. Augustine, torching over 3,000 acres. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 104423-1776789878347.png"></p><h1>CENTRAL PLAINS</h1><p>Across the plains, gusty winds, dry conditions, and drought will all contribute to extreme fire conditions. Red flag warnings and fire weather watches are in place this week, as any fire that develops can spread rapidly! Please use extreme caution if you are doing any burning, and check to make sure you are allowed to burn.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 035454-1776765307843.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/plains drought-1776713890395.png"></p><p></p>

Extreme Drought Leads To Fire Concerns Across The Nation

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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><strong>CALIFORNIA - </strong>Rain has begun in California and will continue through Wednesday, also bringing some snow chances for the Sierra. This is good news as drought has returned to the state following the historic heatwave in March. As the low moves eastward midweek, more moisture should increase across the Rocky Mountain states.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 034227-1776764560772.png"></p><p><strong>Winter Storm Warnings</strong> have been issued for portions of the Sierra Nevada through Wednesday. Generally, 12-18 inches above 5000 feet will be likely, but up to 2 feet along the highest mountain peaks is likely. Down at the lake level, 2" of snow is possible. In addition to the Sierra Alerts, <strong>winter weather advisories </strong>were issued in Northern California near Mount Shasta for 5-10 inches of snow and winds to 45 mph.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 034257-1776764589243.png"></p><p>Showers have already started as the front has pushed onshore and will continue through Wednesday. High-elevation snow also starts tonight and will be especially heavy as we head into Tuesday night before wrapping up on Wednesday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-21 03-46-15-1776764798467.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>There is also an isolated threat for heavy rainfall across Northern California, the Bay Area, all the way down through Santa Barbara, into Tuesday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 034720-1776764854012.png"></p><p>More on this forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.</p>

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

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<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1><p>A blast of cold air has brought freeze warnings across portions of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and East. Temperatures will drop sub-freezing for Tuesday morning. These temps can impact crops and sensitive vegetation with the potential to damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033536-1776764192555.png"></p><p>Lows will be cold overnight! Tuesday morning starts out with temperatures in the 20s and 30s for some.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033649-1776764227460.png"></p><p>There is even the potential for record lows to break on Tuesday morning with sub-freezing temperatures. The dots on the map are cities that could tie or break record lows.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033730-1776764265718.png"></p><p>Some of these temperatures include the 20s for cities like Syracuse, NY which may break a record Tuesday morning.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033759-1776764294595.png"></p><p>The cold snap won't last long, as by Wednesday temperatures will rebound back to above average.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033843-1776764338209.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-21 033911-1776764364505.png"></p>

Adrian Hernandez

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

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Tracey Anthony

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<p>Flooding turned serious over the last week across Michigan and Wisconsin. Heavy rain &amp; severe storms arrived on top of spring snowmelt. </p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2045208169664913798" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2045208169664913798"></div><p>A big part of this flood set up traces back to the Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where a very snowy winter left a large amount of water locked in the snowpack. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Web_1-1776694765560.png"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">At the same time, Milwaukee set a new April precipitation record by April 16, surpassing the old record of 7.38 inches from 2013. &nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Web_4-1776695176771.png"></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044823132792365142" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044823132792365142"></div><p><span style="color: black">The flood threat is not over yet. The National Weather Service in Marquette said Monday that the threat for river flooding will continue across north-central and eastern Upper Michigan as temperatures warm into the 40s, and its latest flood briefing said minor to moderate flooding is expected over the next seven days, with major flooding possible along parts of the Sturgeon and Muskegon Rivers. </span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Web_7-1776695604663.png"></p><p>For more on your central regional forecast, tune into WeatherNation :30 past the hour.</p>

Record Snow, Record Rain, Rising Rivers

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<p>Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the Midwest and Great Plains on Friday as a powerful storm system moved into the region. The same storm system was producing snow in Colorado while tornado warnings were being issued hundreds of miles to the east.<br><br>Unfortunately, tornadoes hit some residential areas causing damage to homes in several states and injuring at least one person in Iowa. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported thus far. We'll post summaries of the tornadoes, including their ratings, as that information comes in over the next few days. Head to the bottom of the page for radar loops from Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-20 103932-1776703184677.png"><br><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051753-1776512252193.png">Over one hundred tornado warnings were issued with 25 reports of tornadoes either being spotted or causing damage.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051244-1776512264052.png">Many more severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings were issued on Friday, with many warnings confirmed by reports (below).</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051758-1776512271813.png">Hail topped 3 inches in diameter (bigger than baseballs) in both the Midwest and Plains on Friday, with many significant hail reports (over 2 inches).</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051925-1776512279734.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051918-1776514705456.png">Hurricane force wind gusts also verified on Friday, with at least 5 reported over hurricane strength in the Midwest. Squall lines formed late in the day to produce large bowing segments.</p><h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051932-1776512279733.png">Radar Review</h1><p>Radar imagery from Friday was impressive, with many discrete supercells forming before the storms became more linear late in the evening. Many warnings were issued for storms, including confirmed tornado warnings (pink instead of red).</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-04-23-1776516944009.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-12-44-1776516960303.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-13-20-1776516972432.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

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<p>High pressure has been dominant on the East Coast this week, setting numerous records throughout the last week. Following Saturday's record highs, temperatures are expected to drop for Sunday and Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562247764.png"></p><p>The temperatures will be cooling off for a few days before going right back up by midweek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562405685.png"></p><p></p><h3>Fire Danger</h3><p>Despite the cooler temperatures, fire danger will be present for Sunday and Monday with the strong winds and low humidity values.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562504453.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562544985.png"></p>

Jesse Kelley

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

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<p>Since 1994, the National Parks Service has been observing <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day.htm">National Public Lands Day</a> on the 4th Saturday in September every year. This year it falls on Saturday, September 24th! This day is to celebrate the connection between people and green space in their community, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. What that also means -- you can <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm">visit any national park coast to coast for free!</a> https://twitter.com/NatlParkService/status/1572205419258585088 At WeatherNation we have been partnering with the National Park Service to bring you to parks around our Country and show you the unique qualities about them! Did you know there are 483 National Park sites in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands? Together, they cover over 84 MILLION acres.</p><h2>Lava Beds National Park (Northern California)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6c0aGmAgC38" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Virgin Islands National Park</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bvxWFzpwW1U" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Saint Gauden's National Park (New Hampshire)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xlEEJRl0d_w" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTg1gYAD1o8" start="0"></iframe></div><p>But before you head out to go camping or even hike this weekend, make sure you know what the weather is going to be like so you can dress accordingly and have everything you need.&nbsp;Join us on WeatherNation this morning for the latest updates on the forecast for the parks closest to you! <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/">CHECK YOUR LOCAL FORECAST ANYTIME HERE&nbsp;</a></p>

Free National Parks Day Saturday

Lava Beds National Park (Northern California)

Virgin Islands National Park

Saint Gauden's National Park (New Hampshire)

Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

While the severe thunderstorm risk ends with

Extreme Drought Leads To Fire Concerns Across The Nation

SOUTHEASTOver 97% of the Southeast is in mode

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

CALIFORNIA - Rain has begun in California and

Cold Blast Prompts Frost and Freeze Alerts

WHAT TO EXPECTA blast of cold air has brought

Record Snow, Record Rain, Rising Rivers

Flooding turned serious over the last week ac

Looking Back at Last Week's Severe Weather Outbreak

Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the M

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

High pressure has been dominant on the East C