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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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2083190950491480302" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2083190950491480302"></div>After an active week of storms across the northern U.S., another round of severe storms is expected in parts of the Midwest to end the week. A cold front will drop across the region, tapping into warm temperatures and abundant moisture to fuel storms.On Thursday, winds downed trees and heavy rain caused a few flash flooding issues. Gusts topped 80 mph in the strongest storms!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785464306636.png"><h1>Severe Weather Outlooks</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 2-1785528586106.jpg">One of the main weather risks will be the chance for a few tornadoes. This includes cities like Rolla and St. Louis.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 3-1785528595666.jpg"><h1>Forecast</h1>Through the evening, these storms will become more widespread as they push into Illinois, Western Kentucky and Indiana. People attending Lollapalooza in Chicago should stay aware of the weather and have a place to shelter in mind. North of the center of low pressure, moisture will continue to wrap counter-clockwise into Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Counties that have seen heavy rainfall in the last few days should be on the lookout for localized flooding and standing water.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Fri bams-1785511873075.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy downpours also posing a threat for flash flooding. Rainfall totals could surpass 2-4 inches in some areas. Get the latest forecast for the Central Region on demand anytime with the WeatherNation app, or tune in to our feed at :30 past the hour!

Patrick Crawford

Flooding, Severe Storms Target the Midwest Again

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Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

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A <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-storm-threat-returns-to-the-midwest">low pressure system crashing through the Midwest</a> has its sights set on the Eastern U.S. Its slow-moving nature through the weekend could me severe weather and flooding east of the Mississippi to the Eastern Seaboard into early next week. <h1>SATURDAY</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 095326-1785513312711.png">Leftover storms from the Midwest on Friday will start the day on a soggy note along the Mississippi River. Those storms will push east quickly, allowing for clearing behind them. As a cold front crashes into the very moist and unstable atmosphere in the warm sector, strong to severe thunderstorms will develop Saturday afternoon from Indianapolis to Tuscaloosa.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/sat bams-1785513795828.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Deep moisture coming in from the Gulf will stretch all the way to the Great Lakes. Heavy rain could lead to localized flooding, especially in spots that have had a soggy week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 095319-1785513644150.png"><h1>SUNDAY</h1>As the system moves east, we can expect more of the same. Overnight storms bringing early day rain, then clearing fueling afternoon storms along the cold front. Sunday's severe threat will drape along the front from Buffalo to Augusta. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 100444-1785513999438.png">The trough of low pressure in the upper levels will just sit and spin, allowing for a consistent flow of Gulf and Atlantic moisture to continue through the east into next week. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/sun bams-1785514425368.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 100515-1785514343599.png"><h1>FLOODING</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 101509-1785514525085.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 100551-1785514558640.png">By Monday, there are two areas of consistent rain that need to be on the look out for ground saturation and flooding: the I-95 corridor into New York City and the Big Bend of Florida. We expect the tail end of the front to drape across the Gulf coast for a few days. As it does so, you can see potential rainfall totals above 4-6".<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 101455-1785514570687.png">

East Gears Up for Soggy Weekend

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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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An large area of high pressure continues to bring the heat across the United States. Extreme heat warnings, extreme heat watches, and heat advisories are all in place across the south and west. Find ways to stay cool!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 2-1785458697445.jpg">Another hot day is expected across the country with cities like Denver, Atlanta, and Wichita all digging into the 90s. Phoenix will see a high of 113°, which is above average for a city that is already hot! It normally averages 106°. Areas in the Southeast AND Southwest could have heat index values over 110°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 3-1785458732257.jpg"><h1>Southern Plains</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 065450-1785502502194.png">High heat index values will be the issue across the South and Southeast. Southern Georgia through central Oklahoma are expected to see the heat index between 105 - 115°.<h1>Southwest</h1>Extreme Heat Warnings and Advisories have been issued for parts of the Desert Southwest into the upcoming weekend. The same area of high pressure responsible for heating up the plains will backtrack into the Great Basin region. That will bring the dangerous heat with it, with many areas warming well above normal getting into Saturday and Sunday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 081730-1785334655961.png">Temperatures for Los Angeles will climb into the 90s, with Las Vegas climbing into the 110s. Normally this region is known for hot and dry conditions, but with monsoonal moisture in the area, the heat index values will be abnormally high!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-30 063634-1785415002534.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 065840-1785502737408.png"><h1>Northwest</h1>Temperatures across the interior Northwest will spike over the next few days as well, with heat alerts issued for Wyoming and Montana for Saturday and Sunday. Highs over 100° are possible for many lower elevation locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-31 065928-1785502781775.png">For everyone across the country dealing with the intense heat, practice heat safety, take frequent breaks, and stay hydrated as best as you can in the days upcoming.

Over 70 Million Under Heat Alerts

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Tracey Anthony

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Conditions have been really dry out west. We've been tracking major fires across Oregon. With multiple fires burning in the same general region, they form complexes. We have two large ones we're tracking now, with containment improvements underway. Unfortunately, new ones are exploding.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2082851208969019614" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2082851208969019614"></div>As we head into the weekend dangerous fire weather is expected. Eastern Washington in particular is under an Extreme Fire Outlook on Saturday. This will make it that much more difficult to suppress the fires already burning too. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061654-1785504186482.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061724-1785504194132.png">One of the biggest issues we'll track with these fires will be the smoke. Unfortunately, upper-level winds will send this moderate to even dense smoke across the Pacific Northwest that will impact air quality.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-03-29 062111-1785504106288.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-03-29 061724-1784899203154.png">This smoke is expected to lower the air quality considerably across the area through the work week. Air quality alerts are in place over the next few days.. More fire weather will be possible this weekend as Fire Watches have already been issued for the Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/PIC 2-1785458203632.jpg">Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation at :50 past the hour for your full Western U.S. breakdown!

Fire Weather Continues This Week

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<h1>Pacific</h1>Fausto is now a post-tropical cyclone. The latest advisory was issued Wednesday morning. The only other named storm across either basin is Genevieve in the Eastern Pacific.Genevieve formed on Friday south of Acapulco, Mexico. Chewing up loads of warm water, Genevieve rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane; after moving into cooler waters it started weakening, and is back to a Category 1 hurricane. Luckily, the storm will stay away from land. However, choppy waters and rough surf can be expected from the coast of Mexico up to Southern California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1785454129648.png">This storm could bring some high surf conditions to Southern California beaches this week. Waves heights 5-9 ft. are possible, especially for South-to-Southwest-facing beaches. This high surf will also occur alongside high tides. Coastal Flood Alerts have been added for Southern California into the beginning of the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 041147-1785319918565.png"><h1>Atlantic</h1>All remains quiet in the Atlantic for now. Saharan dust is working it's way across the ocean. As waters continue to warm into early fall, stay vigilant! The tropics can create systems quickly this time of year. WeatherNation will always keep you updated with the latest!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/BARON 5-1785454228560.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

After Reaching Category 5, Genevieve Weakens in the Pacific

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Tuesday, heavy rainfall moved across the Northeast in association with an upper-level low. Totals exceeded 6-7 inches for portions of New York and New Jersey.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 081020-1785334228344.png"> An Excessive Rainfall Outlook remains through today as more storms are expected throughout this region. The Weather Prediction Center has placed portions of the New England area, under a MODERATE (level 3 out of 4) risk for flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/overnighsssss-1785371222121.png">Rainfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour, allowing several inches of rain to fall in a short amount of time. This could quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to dangerous flash flooding. Come Thursday, the flash flooding threat is expected to fall off. A MARGINAL (level 1 out of 4) risk remains in place, however. Cities like Boston will be under that threat for flash flooding for two days in a row.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 040556-1785319565288.png"> Rainfall totals through Thursday morning could exceed an additional 5 inches across parts of western Massachusetts. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 163039-1785364260721.png">For the latest forecast and updates, be sure to join us on WeatherNation.

Jackie Brown

Flooding Risk Increases as Heavy Rain Targets the Tri-State Area

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UPPER MIDWEST - Through Monday, dangerous tornadoes were confirmed across the state of Wisconsin. The threat for severe storms will follow a frontal boundary across the Great Lakes and Midwest through tonight due to strong upper-level winds and a very moist and unstable low-level air mass moving through. The tornado out of Menasha, WI has been labeled as a preliminary EF-3 by the National Weather Service. Peak winds were estimated to be 140 mph.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2081823772555001897" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2081823772555001897"></div>This same front pushed storms east on Tuesday, leading to heavy rain and severe weather across the Eastern U.S. Some hail reports out of MD, VA, and NC reached 2" in diameter.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 082241-1785335005411.png">For Wednesday, the southern U.S. will see the risk for severe weather. The same front has prompted a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather around the Deep South. This is predominantly going to be a wind threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 163145-1785364321180.png">The front is expected to stall out across the region. This will give us multiple days of storms that could potentially become severe. Another MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk remains in the same region come Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 163151-1785364327620.png">There will be isolated pockets of heavy rain and potential for flooding. Some isolated rainfall totals could reach close to 4-5".<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-29 082618-1785335185632.png">For a more detailed breakdown, tune in to WeatherNation at :10 past the hour for your full eastern U.S. forecast!

Alana Cameron

Severe Weather: Energy From the Midwest Now in the Southeast

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The large Tiger Island Fire broke out SW of Fort Johnson (Polk), LA growing to 30k acres and prompting evacuations that remain in effect as of Friday. The fire was named for the hunting club it started near on Tuesday, but the cause is under investigation. Containment has dropped back to 50% after red flag conditions helped to spread the fire on Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/08/Screenshot 2023-08-25 212252-1693020177305.jpg">Part of the contributing factor to the fire danger is the prolonged period of hot and dry weather we've had. Despite dew points in the 70s, the lack of rain has allowed grasses, trees, and shrubs to become extremely "flashy" and burn quickly.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/08/drought-1692993358932.jpg">Please avoid burning as winds will spread any flames through dry brush. Additional fires have been noted in Vernon Parish also in the SW part of the state.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/08/VO_082423_RSC_VERNON PARISH, LA_INTENSE VIEW OF WILDFIRE SPREADING ONTO JD MITCHAM ROAD_FB_VERNON PARISH SHERIFFS OFFICE_JK_E082423-1692984236474.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the hot temps &amp; summer that never seems to end!