Kevin Schneider

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Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their rainiest April on record, and the active pattern looks to continue to start the month of May. Several cold fronts are expected to slide into the middle of the country this week after a brief warm-up. Temperatures continue to drop as the front moves to the east.By Monday, moisture is much more plentiful with a better chance for strong and severe storms.<h2>Severe Outlooks</h2>As our front drops into better moisture, storms will become more numerous as early as this afternoon. With added confidence, the Storm Prediction Center has upgraded an area centered on Mid-Missouri to a SLIGHT risk for severe storms (above). What looks interesting is the dryline that stretches south from the frontal boundary. That's the area where we could see big hail IF storms were to form. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 083332-1777905243584.png"><h2>Timing &amp; Rainfall</h2>Scattered thunderstorms are expected, with some storms reaching severe weather criteria by the afternoon hours. Some of these strong storms may persist overnight as the front continues to work its way south and east.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-04 08-36-46-1777905432917.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy downpours will be possible, and models are hinting at 2"+ rain accumulations in localized areas. This could increase an isolated flooding threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 191744-1777857585954.png">Get the latest forecast for the Central region anytime with the WeatherNation app, or at :30 past the hour in our broadcast.

Severe Storms Possible Today in the Midwest

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The last week of April was pretty stormy for the South. As we turn the page into the first full week of May, severe weather is back in the cards for parts of the Southern Plains and Deep South.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 094248-1777822989554.jpg">Severe weather chances will ramp up Tuesday and Wednesday. All modes of severe storms are on the table still, with a chance of a tornado or two.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 061204-1777896730287.jpg">A cold front is expected to stall out along the I-20 corridor, which could keep the severe weather chances nearby.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-03_rsc bams3k-1777856881602.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>If severe weather were to materialize, it would be a little different than what we've seen so far early in the severe season. Outside of Mississippi and Tennessee, the southeast hasn't seen a single tornado in the month of April.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 094505-1777823113500.jpg">Along with the severe weather chances, heavy rain is likely across the Deep South. The forecast is calling for 2-4" of rain by Thursday, and some flooding could be possible with the repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. We are slowly trying to put a dent in the drought for the South, as it will take more consistent rains over the next few months to make some significant changes. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 061231-1777896757944.jpg">

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

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WEST - A low-pressure system in the Pacific is expected to move onshore this week, bringing with it an increased chance for rain and snow across the otherwise drought-stricken West. This upper-level low will team up with a surface front as it moves into the Four Corners, increasing snow chances for Colorado from Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-03_RSW LOW-1777841970453.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Isolated-to-scattered moisture will continue to increase Monday through Wednesday across the Southwest. Models show rain and snow pushing farther inland late Monday. By Tuesday night, temperatures along the I-25 corridor will be much cooler, and snow will begin filling into Colorado.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-04 06-31-20-1777897908228.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The National Weather Service office in Denver/Boulder, Colorado, has already started issuing WINTER STORM WARNINGS for parts of Colorado and Wyoming beginning Monday night and continuing through Wednesday. Snow totals may reach 4-10 inches, with some higher elevations potentially seeing up to 2 feet.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 062422-1777897470649.jpg">Here's a look at the snowfall totals we're expecting based on our in-house model. The heaviest totals look to occur around the Continental Divide, which could make for very difficult travel near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel Tuesday into Wednesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 062855-1777897745511.jpg">For Denver, only 27.3 inches of snow have accumulated so far this season. On average, year-to-date snowfall totals should be around 50 inches. This is much-needed moisture for the Mile High City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 152349-1777844780153.png">Follow along for more information this week, @WeatherNation!

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

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Ready for hurricane season? The Climate Prediction Center is highlighting a region in the Eastern Pacific basin as a potential tropical development area during the first week of the season. As a reminder, waters here tend to warm faster than in the Atlantic; thus, the season starts about two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pacific. If a storm were to form and reach tropical storm status, it would be named Amanda. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080308-1777731407202.png">Ocean heat content has been rapidly increasing in the Eastern Pacific this Spring, which is not surprising. You might've heard about the potential for a "super" El Niño this summer. Well, the warm water created in the Eastern/Central Pacific by El Niño can lead to supercharged hurricane seasons in those regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080401-1777731353504.png">Global circulations influenced by El Niño tend to create less disruptive wind shear in the Eastern Pacific as well. Weak upper-level winds combined with warm waters tend to lead to many tropical systems. At the same time, wind shear tends to increase in the Caribbean during these events, leading to a tougher environment for tropical systems to form and survive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080343-1777731377186.png">Last season was quite active in the Eastern Pacific, with 20 named storms and 5 major hurricanes. The Mexican National Meteorological Service issued an early outlook for the 2026 season in April, calling for another active year with roughly 20 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 081157-1777731386253.png">We're going to get you ready for hurricane season at the beginning of June. Be sure to tune in for updated forecasts, information, and tips to prepare!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 083105-1777732279156.png">

Tracey Anthony

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

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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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<h1>Rainfall &amp; Forecast</h1>Afternoon thunderstorms are in the forecast for South Florida for the next couple of afternoons, bringing some isolated downpours to the region. The threat for severe thunderstorms is not in the forecast.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-03 rse-1777857906532.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There are many areas, especially across the southeast, that desperately need more rainfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-28 133607-1777404986134.png">As we head into Tuesday and Wednesday a ridge of high pressure is expected to shift into Florida to bring in the potential for record high temperatures.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/heat-1777857994659.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Cities like Jacksonville and Orlando are expected to break those records on Wednesday with highs in the low 90s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 192612-1777858116389.png">For more on this, be sure to join us live at :10 pas the hour.

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

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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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While the eastern United States is under upper-level troughing, bringing frost and freeze conditions, the Northwest will be warm this weekend. High pressure is building in for the next few days, especially for the Pacific Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-01 173209-1777678338792.png">The warmest days in the forecast period will be Sunday and Monday. For Sunday, Heat Advisories have been issued for the Portland metro area as daytime highs are expected to climb into the lower 90s. Sunday record highs could fall for multiple cities in both Washington and Oregon. Have ways to stay hydrated and check on the vulnerable people who may not have ways of adequate cooling!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 061019-1777723944350.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/PIC 2-1777668022076.jpg">Temperatures are expected to cool down a little but remain above average into next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 062826-1777804120962.png">

Record Hot in the Northwest Today

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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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A trough of low pressure will keep things cool through the rest of the week in portions of the Plains, Great Lakes, and East. Breezy and cool conditions will stick around through the weekend. Cold alerts have been issued for the next few mornings across many of these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688159965.png">Freezing to sub-freezing temperatures will be possible in the watch and warning areas. Make sure to protect tender plants from the cold! Morning lows will be cold and below average for many. Minneapolis normally has a forecast low of 43°, and will see one more chilly evening before lows moderate back into the 50s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688202141.png">Across the Northeast, temperatures will run below average as well. Lots of cities that normally see lows in the 40s will wake up this weekend in the 30s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1777688285882.png">The WPC has issued a day 3-7 hazards outlook for Sunday, May 3rd, as temperatures will be running 5°- 15° below average!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-30 144419-1777581865617.png">

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

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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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Hurricane Melissa was a devastating category 5 storm that made landfall in Jamaica as one of the strongest systems on record in the Atlantic Basin.A dropsonde recorded a wind gust of 252 mph shortly before landfall, which was verified this week by NSF NCAR (U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research) to be accurate, making it the strongest gust ever recorded in a tropical cyclone.WeatherNation Meteorologist Rob Bradley discusses the data and Melissa's intense winds with hurricane researcher Andy Hazelton, who was working the data position on the reconnaissance flight that recorded the record gust.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n8DyYwpvi0w" start="0"></iframe></div>What are meso-vortices? These are smaller scale circulations in the atmosphere that are essentially miniature low pressure systems. These can be observed within clusters of thunderstorms, but they also appear within the eye and eye wall of intense hurricanes. Melissa produced some of the most visually stunning meso-vortices in the satellite era (below).<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1983738129581301844" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1983738129581301844"></div>

Hurricane Melissa Produces Strongest Gust Recorded in a Hurricane

Severe Storms Possible Today in the Midwest

Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

The last week of April was pretty stormy for

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

WEST - A low-pressure system in the Pacific i

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

Ready for hurricane season? The Climate Predi

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Rainfall & ForecastAfternoon thunderstorm

Record Hot in the Northwest Today

While the eastern United States is under uppe

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

A trough of low pressure will keep things coo

Hurricane Melissa Produces Strongest Gust Recorded in a Hurricane

Severe Storms Possible Today in the Midwest

Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their

Severe Storms Could Reach the Southeast This Week

The last week of April was pretty stormy for

Late Season Snow Chances for I-25

WEST - A low-pressure system in the Pacific i

Potential for Tropical Development Mid-May in the Eastern Pacific

Ready for hurricane season? The Climate Predi

Florida Storms Bring Isolated Flooding

Rainfall &amp; ForecastAfternoon thunderstorm

Record Hot in the Northwest Today

While the eastern United States is under uppe

Cooler Air Sweeps From the Plains to the Northeast

A trough of low pressure will keep things coo

Rainfall & ForecastAfternoon thunderstorm