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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<p>Heavy rainfall overnight and into this morning has closed several roads across southeast Texas due to a high amount of water on the roadway. Radar estimates have shown totals near a foot northeast of Houston around the Livingston and Huntsville, TX area. Ground truth observations from reliable weather stations verify those estimates, accumulating up to nearly 10 inches in parts of the Lone Star State! Looking ahead, a flood watch remains in effect for dozens of counties in Texas and parishes in Louisiana for the potential of flooding today. As we look ahead towards the long term, river flooding will be a concern near the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers as upstream dams release water southward!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 053031-1714649442634.jpg">Looking even deeper at the flood potential, it appears that areas east of Austin, specifically east of College Station, will see more locally heavy rain this morning into this afternoon. This part of Texas is under a "moderate" risk of excessive rainfall, meaning numerous flooding occurrences will be likely and you will want to seek higher ground in the event of heavy rain.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/1-1714670573750.png"></p><p>There are some near-term and high-resolution weather models, such as the HRRR, that indicate the potential of 7-9 more inches of rain just east of College Station, Texas. While this is just one weather model, we have already seen 9" of rain in Texas so another several inches of precipitation cannot completely be ruled out.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Baron 2-1714671300912.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Be mindful of flooding today. Avoid floodwaters and seek higher ground. Never drive through these flooded roads either. In addition to the heavy rainfall, large hail, strong winds, and a few tornadoes will be possible in parts of Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas through this afternoon and through tonight. The highest risk of severe weather will occur in the Enhanced Risk in West Texas. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/1-1714671053300.png"></p>

Numerous Roads in Texas Impassable This Morning

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<div>Lucy is originally from the Boston area but has spent the last four years forecasting and living in Colorado! She stayed in the northeast for her education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Oswego with a B.S. in Meteorology. Just a few days after graduation, she made the cross country move to Colorado Springs, CO to begin her career at KKTV, the CBS affiliate. Lucy has covered historic blizzards, tornadoes, windstorms, the largest wildfires in Colorado state history and dust storms ... they truly "get it all" in Colorado! Lucy is excited to forecast on a national level and continue her passion of explaining the science behind the weather!</div>
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Lucy Bergemann

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<p>This weekend an incoming storm system will bring widespread wet weather to the West Coast with snow anticipated into the high elevations of California. A low-pressure system moves out of the Pacific Ocean and slides onto the West Coast by Saturday. This incoming storm system pulls in moisture from the Pacific in addition to lift to assist with storm development and support through the West Coast. This comes on the heels of a storm system bringing wet weather from the Pacific Northwest through the Rockies into Thursday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-30 14-20-53-1714510761654.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>A frontal boundary moves onshore Friday with rain and snow spreading inland throughout the evening Friday into Saturday. As temperatures fall throughout the day on Saturday we will see more high-elevation snowfall, especially in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades. Steady snow continues into Sunday for the highest elevations with rainfall for lower elevations. Where that cut-off is is still to be determined as the system gets closer and we can determine the temperature profile.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Baron 2-1714671953237.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The heaviest snowfall will be in the Sierra Nevada, where upwards of 3" of snow is likely for the highest elevations. Snowfall in the Cascades of Oregon and Washington will be on a similar total amount.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/1-1714672068143.png"></p><p>If it feels like snow is falling late into the season, you may be surprised to know that the season's last snow for many West Coast communities lingers into May and for the highest elevations, even into June!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/est avg snowfall-1714510694011.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the forecast for the upcoming weekend.</p>

First Weekend in May Brings Snow to West Coast

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<p>Unfortunately, we've had back-to-back weeks with an EF-3 tornado tearing across the Central United States, causing damage, injuring people, and unfortunately causing fatalities. We've learned of one death associated with the Westmoreland, Kansas tornado earlier this week and our thoughts go out to those impacted. The National Weather Service has rated the Westmoreland, KS tornado an EF-3. EF is short for Enhanced Fujita and can help estimate the maximum winds within a tornado, based on the extent of storm damage.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1785437957110858030" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1785437957110858030"></div><p>Our field correspondent, Brandon Clement, took this video in Westmoreland early Wednesday morning of some of the damage. There were multiple homes impacted with the roof and second-floor stories torn off. There were tractor trailers tossed around like toys. Trees were snapped in half. According to local media, at least 20 buildings sustained irreparable damage.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/VO_050124_RNC_WESTMORELAND, KS_DRONE VIEW OF TORNADO DAMAGE_WHATSAPP_BRANDON CLEMENT_KW_E050124-1714570595498.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The severe weather risk continues Thursday for eastern Kansas and much of the Plains. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Marginal risk (level 1 out of 5) across much of the Central U.S. indicating a couple of storms here and there that may cause damage from an isolated tornado, large hailstone, or damaging wind gust. An Enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) is forecast across parts of Texas and Oklahoma where large hail is likely this evening along with the wind and tornado threat. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/1-1714671534645.png"></p><p>Showers and storms are ongoing now in Texas and Central Plains. Heat during the day will help to enhance these thunderstorms and potentially contribute to stronger winds through Louisiana and Mississippi in the second half of the day. Individual storms form back through the Plains of Oklahoma and Texas by sundown Thursday night and cluster into our overnight severe threat along and east of I-35 through Friday morning. Showers continue into the Great Lakes this afternoon through the overnight too.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Baron 2-1714671666384.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Tornado Threat Targeting the Nation's Heartland

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<p>Temperatures will be soaring along the East Coast this week as a ridge of high pressure dominates the forecast. The warmth will stretch from Florida and the Gulf Coast to New England. It will feel like early June rather than early May. On Wednesday, a record high was broken in Greenwood, Mississippi where the temperatures hit 91° beating the old record of 90° set back in 1959.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/ms-1714612882675.png"></p><h2>Northeast</h2><p>In the Northeast, our warmest days will be Thursday and Friday when temperatures jump into the 80s and even close to 90 degrees for many cities along I-95. This will be about 20 degrees above average. There is potential for record breaking temperatures across the northeast as Baltimore is expected to reach 97 on Thursday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 070822-1714655497617.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 070834-1714655361652.png">The warmth continues on Friday in the mid-Atlantic while we start to see cold air intrusion in New England. Temperatures fall through the weekend back towards or below average (Northeast). The reason for the cool down in New England is a cold front that moves on Thursday. It won't produce a whole lot of wet weather, but a few isolated showers in coastal Massachusetts and Maine are possible. More showers arrive with an additional system on Saturday and will contribute to a larger cool-down for the Midwest.</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 070843-1714655381249.png">Southeast</h2><p>The heat will also impact the Southeast, and while it won't necessarily be record-setting, it will be about 10-15 degrees above normal. Highs jump into the 90s in Florida Peninsula with close to 90 even up into central Alabama. In Atlanta, we'll run about 10 degrees above average on Thursday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 070852-1714655390684.png">There is confidence in the above-average temperature forecasting continuing through the next couple of weeks. We expect above-average temperatures from the Carolinas through the Gulf Coast!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-02 071007-1714655415816.png"></p>

Brittany Lockley

Temps Climb on the East Coast

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>Welcome to May! The month normally boasts severe storms, Mother's Day and later sunsets. This weekend will be the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday evening - and rain could affect things.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Summer countdown-1714568488325.png">A dynamic upper-level low will bring the shot at some storms on Friday to parts of the Ohio River Valley, but models are hinting at a fast moving wave joining the party late Friday night into Saturday. That could meet up with enough moisture to keep scattered showers around northern Kentucky into the first day of the weekend. This is where it could be raining around race-time (below).</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/GFS for KY-1714568498978.png">The Kentucky Derby says on its website that it's a "rain or shine" event, so no delays are expected. However, the conditions could be a little muddy for the horses when the gates open Saturday at 6:57 PM ET.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/kentucky derby daypart-1714568509182.png"></p>

Jackie Brown

Trotting Around Rain Chances at the 150th Kentucky Derby

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<p>Similar areas that have been at risk since the end of April will experience another bout of severe weather on Monday, May 6th. The Storm Prediction Center [SPC] has issued the severe weather outlook from central Nebraska through northern Texas, indicating high confidence in the severe weather potential. </p><p>This is thanks to another wave of energy from the Pacific moving east throughout the weekend, providing enough lift to support storm development. At the surface we have moisture streaming north contributing to instability ahead of a surface cold front. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-01 10-51-01-1714583042845.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The central and southern Plains are a bullseye for severe weather in May. The moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and cooler air from Canada clash over Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, elevating the severe threat. We know this is another day of severe weather on the horizon, but please don't let severe weather fatigue get the best of you.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/BULLESYE-1714582936940.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest information on the severe weather threat ahead in early May. </p>

Monday Severe Weather Threat Hits the Plains Again

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<p>Spring snow opportunities continue in the Rocky Mountains, with snow expected through the middle of the week from the Cascades of Oregon to the Rockies of Montana, the Tetons of Wyoming, and the Front Range of Colorado. The snow is especially welcomed at ski resorts that are still open. Breckenridge is expected to stay open through May 12th, and Snowbird in Utah is expected to close on Memorial Day Weekend!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/nwww-1714613142940.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>This active pattern is all thanks to two areas of low pressure in our upper atmosphere, known as "double barrel lows," that follow one right after the other. The low-pressure systems pull in moisture and energy to produce high-elevation snowfall and rainfall for the lower elevations.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-30 10-31-43-1714495076445.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Steady snow continues in the highest elevations of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado through Wednesday, with another round of moisture moving onshore for Oregon, mostly as rain. The bottom line is that it stays unsettled in our highest peaks through the end of the week. Snowfall totals will be 6"+ for areas over 8,000' where winter weather advisories are in effect for Montana mountains.</p>

Spring Snow in the Mountain West

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Both the Carr and Cranston Fires located in California continue to grow. The Carr Fire near Redding, Califronia has grown rapidly, from a size of more than 28,000 acres on Thursday to a size of more than 44,000 acres by Friday morning.

Here are some of the latest statistics and information on these fires:

<img class="alignnone wp-image-94527" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/07/Carr-Fire-Stats.jpg" alt="" width="937" height="527" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-94528" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/07/Cranston-Fire-Stats.jpg" alt="" width="931" height="524" />

Tune into WeatherNation for the latest.

For WeatherNation, I am Meteorologist Marcus Walter.

&nbsp;

Latest Statistics on Carr and Cranston Fires

Numerous Roads in Texas Impassable This Morning

Heavy rainfall overnight and into this mornin

First Weekend in May Brings Snow to West Coast

This weekend an incoming storm system will br

Tornado Threat Targeting the Nation's Heartland

Unfortunately, we've had back-to-back weeks w

Temps Climb on the East Coast

Temperatures will be soaring along the East C

Trotting Around Rain Chances at the 150th Kentucky Derby

Welcome to May! The month normally boasts sev

Monday Severe Weather Threat Hits the Plains Again

Similar areas that have been at risk since th

Spring Snow in the Mountain West

Spring snow opportunities continue in the Roc