Kevin Schneider

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FLORIDA - On Sunday, May 11, 2026, a wildfire broke out in the Florida Everglades after weeks of extreme to exceptional drought conditions across the state. Since Sunday, the fire has burned more than 11,000 acres and is now 60% contained, according to the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ffs.firesponse.com/public/">Florida Forest Service</a>.According to the Pembroke Pines Police Department, smoke from the fire caused traffic backups along U.S. 27, so drivers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible.<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/PembrokePinesPolice/posts/pfbid0HvFhXfxCfYR39h64pHpAB2DduAuzTX3ft2RvmdME5aLUZZydFtpcEmboBUm5xmXUl?rdid=zfULUQ0tOgYVBpUH#" data-width="500" src="https://www.facebook.com/PembrokePinesPolice/posts/pfbid0HvFhXfxCfYR39h64pHpAB2DduAuzTX3ft2RvmdME5aLUZZydFtpcEmboBUm5xmXUl?rdid=zfULUQ0tOgYVBpUH#" style="display: flex; justify-content: center"></div> The state of Florida is currently 100% drought-covered, with 98% of the state experiencing conditions worse than moderate drought.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 173747-1778542672316.png"> Incoming Rain and Storms</h2>Rain chances continue this week, raising concerns about how much moisture these drought-stricken soils can handle. While any rainfall will be beneficial, heavy downpours in a short amount of time could lead to standing water and localized flash flooding. The Weather Prediction Center has issued a MARGINAL Risk (level 1 out of 4) for excessive rainfall on Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 070555-1778591163910.jpg">Meanwhile, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a MARGINAL risk (level 1 out of 5) for severe storms along Florida’s Atlantic Coast as a cold front pushes through the state. Intense heat ahead of the front, combined with lift along the boundary, will increase the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms. Even a few tornadoes can't be ruled out with storms this afternoon that fire ahead of the boundary.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 110123-1778605360217.png">Storms may begin to develop ahead of the front during the day, but the best chance for widespread thunderstorm development will come during the afternoon and evening hours as daytime heating combines with frontal lift.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-12 rse fl-1778605374099.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Alana Cameron

Florida Wildfire and Storm Threat

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WEST - An upper-level ridge has led to very warm temperatures in the western U.S. Dozens of records are expected, each city represented by a pink dot (above) is a location where record highs could be broken or tied. Records have been falling since Mother's Day, including spots on Monday like Salt Lake City that hit 92°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 200341-1778551460349.png">Excessive Heat Warnings and Advisories remain in place for the southwest through tonight. Keep practicing heat safety as the week gets off to a hot start.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 110345-1778605455123.png">Spots like Las Vegas and Phoenix will dig into the 100s on Tuesday. Even areas as far north as Boise could threaten the century mark. If they get to 98 Tuesday afternoon, it will not only be the earliest on record, but beat the average first 98 by almost 6 weeks!!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 061251-1778588043202.jpg">The heat will slide east as the week progresses. Highs in the Central and High Plains will soar into the 90s, threatening records here as early as Tuesday afternoon. Denver normally averages 69°, and will see a high of 90° on Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 110428-1778605475814.png">

Warm Week Continues For Millions

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Adrian Hernandez

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A wave of energy pushing in from Canada will begin stirring up active weather across the Plains today, setting the stage for increasing storm chances and changing conditions across the region. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 040813-1778494102699.png"><h1>What to Expect</h1>Heavy showers are expected ahead of the frontal boundary this afternoon. Thunderstorms are possible, but severe weather is more likely along the front going through the evening hours.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-12 rnc rne-1778605180333.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2> Severe Outlooks</h2>The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather today, splitting the rest apart from the Plains and Upper Midwest. Damaging winds and large hail are the biggest concerns if any storms manage to develop along the frontal boundary.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 105828-1778605204286.png">Another MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather is in place for Wednesday. While not a high-end threat, a few isolated wind gusts are definitely possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-12 105834-1778605209694.png">When all is said and done, the northeast is likely going to walk away with the heaviest of the rainfall. Some totals in the Empire State could get upwards of an inch or two.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 194349-1778550238306.png">Make sure to stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest on your midweek forecast!

Midweek Front Brings Severe Weather to the Plains and Northeast

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Ready for hurricane 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">El Niño typically increases wind shear in the Atlantic, which is a primary reason why some forecasts are calling for a slightly less active season. The Atlantic averages 14 names storms a season but, despite the El Niño, the forecast is barely below average with 13 names storms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-08 065820-1778245110818.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">

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

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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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GULF COAST - Soaking rains influenced much of the weekend across the Gulf Coast, which has increased the flood threat through Tuesday morning as the front pushes farther into the Gulf. All of the heavy moisture led to some dense fog along the Gulf Coast.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2053520440996327579" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2053520440996327579"></div><h3>WHAT TO EXPECT:</h3>Heavy rain and strong storms have remained along a frontal boundary as it moves east/southeast. Storms will continue to dissipate through the night and into the morning but the flood threat does remain.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-11 rsc-1778538790920.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The flooding potential poses the larger threat, especially because of how waterlogged the conditions already are out there. The WPC has kept a level 2, SLIGHT, risk for flash flooding through Tuesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 163452-1778538900748.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-11 163156-1778538872915.png">This will wrap up by Tuesday morning, presenting a much quieter and clearer forecast ahead.

More Storms Move Through the Southeast

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<h1>Severe Outlooks</h1>Texas has been active today, with damaging winds and large hail being the main severe reports from today. Cranfills Gap, Texas, saw hailstones up to 4.00" in diamter, which is comparable to a softball!!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/texas hail reports -1778465088562.png">The severe threat continues into the overnight hours with large hail and gusts up to 80 mph possible. Make sure to have mulitple ways to get alerts especially into the overnight hours!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/WIND AND HAIL-1778464151903.png">There is a 2% tornado probability for portions of central Texas through the overnight hours.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/IVER-1778464168484.png">Forecast</h1>Some strong storms may hold together through the overnight hours. There will be some rain to start the day for cities like Houston and Corpus Christi.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/into-1778464309690.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>We are anticipating some heavy rain with the repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Models are forecasting up to 1-3" of rain with some isolated heavier totals before drier air arrives on Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-10 095817-1778421517777.png">

Jackie Brown

Storms Zero In on the Lone Star State Today

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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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<h1>Wednesday</h1>A cyclic supercell produced a damaging tornado across a large swath of southwestern Mississippi on Wednesday afternoon. The tornado caused damaged to homes in several towns, including Purvis and Brookhaven. WeatherNation field correspondent Brandon Clement was in the town of Brookhaven shortly after the tornado went through, showing significant damage to one neighborhood. The Brookhaven tornado was given a preliminary rating of EF-3, but surveys are expected to be finalized on Friday so check back for the final report.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2052365331382108233" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2052365331382108233"></div>Two supercells raced across Southern Mississippi Wednesday. These cells both took on the classic supercell appearance at times, including showcasing hook echoes and a donut signature. Both cells produced damaging tornadoes.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-07 07-07-38-1778159496391.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Friday- Sunday</h1>The severe weather risk will persist along the Gulf coast through at least Sunday as multiple fronts move across the region and stall. Wind and hail are expected to be the primary threats, but a tornado or two will be possible.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778292623471.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Storms look to have the greatest severe weather potential in the afternoon and evening hours. However, some strong storms could linger into the overnight hours through the Mother's Day weekend.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778292777795.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Along with the severe weather chances, heavy rain is likely across the Deep South. The forecast is calling for 2-4" of rain with some locally higher amounts up to 7". Flash flooding is possible as rainfall rates will be quite high, over 2" per hour at times. 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/2026/05/1-1778292685768.png">

Jesse Kelley

Tornadoes Cause Damage in Mississippi, Strong Storms Linger in the South

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Check out our Top 5 videos of the week!

https://youtu.be/dw_u7hnkLjI

For WeatherNation, I'm <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/meredith-garofalo/">Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo</a>

Who Made The Top 5?

Florida Wildfire and Storm Threat

FLORIDA - On Sunday, May 11, 2026, a wildfire

Warm Week Continues For Millions

WEST - An upper-level ridge has led to very w

Midweek Front Brings Severe Weather to the Plains and Northeast

A wave of energy pushing in from Canada will

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, wa

More Storms Move Through the Southeast

GULF COAST - Soaking rains influenced much of

Storms Zero In on the Lone Star State Today

Severe OutlooksTexas has been active today, w

Tornadoes Cause Damage in Mississippi, Strong Storms Linger in the South

WednesdayA cyclic supercell produced a damagi