Kevin Schneider

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Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico, but the moisture, wind, and coastal hazards are still going to impact areas in the next few days. Heavy rain has already prompted flash flooding, with elevated winds reportedly leading to some damaged trees. <h1>Track &amp; Wind Potential</h1>Hurricane Hilary made headlines in 2023 as it nearly made landfall in California as a hurricane, with heavy rain impacting the deserts and mountains. This system won't have the same wind energy, but could still bring strong and gusty winds to the region that could cause damage, especially in mountainous terrain. The center of Rachel has stayed south of San Diego; however, some elevated winds have been felt already. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 040219-1791712953065.png">Desert areas can expect gusts to 35-45 mph on Sunday. The fast forward movement could bring those strong gusts north in Utah or even parts of Wyoming and Idaho. Widespread power outages are not anticipated but a few isolated outages are possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-10 091007-1791645365648.png"><h1>Rain &amp; Flood Forecast</h1>Flooding will likely be the biggest impact from Rachel in the West, and even heavy snow! As moisture is pulled into the west, a cold trough from Canada will help usher the moisture north, sending it through Montana where temperatures will be dropping quickly.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-10 091618-1791645386493.png">Numerous and significant flash floods are possible for areas like Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, St. George, and Cedar City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 040415-1791713071248.png">Moisture begins spreading into the region late Saturday, but the bulk of the impacts are being felt Sunday and Monday as heavy rain and the remnant core of the storm quickly move north. Flooding rain could close roads and impact travel in desert and mountain regions - stay vigilant and limit travel if possible!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1791683127851.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Severe storms are possible, in addition to the flooding impacts. A few damaging wind gusts and tornadoes are possible for areas below.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 040532-1791713146779.png">

Rob Bradley

Rachel Spreading Moisture into the Southwest

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, FL, around 8:30 pm CT as a Category 2 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds were reported at 105 mph with a minimum central pressure of 971 mb.On Wednesday evening, Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. This breaks the decades-old record of the latest to form in the modern, satellite era.The storm got off to a slow start, but quickly strengthened Friday, becoming a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph. Although it weakened slightly as it came ashore, there are widespread reports of wind damage and power outages along the coast. Isaias is now a post-tropical cyclone as it continues moving northward into the Mid-South.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2108724199535919547" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2108724199535919547"></div>As of Sunday morning, there are still over 300k customers without power in Florida, including the majority of Santa Rosa County. <h1>Lingering Flood &amp; Severe Weather Threats</h1>Flash flooding and severe storms will accompany strong wind gusts as the remnants of Isaias move north. Flash flood watches are in effect from North Carolina to Virginia, with the Weather Prediction Center highlighting a SLIGHT risk of excessive rainfall in these parts as well.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 034741-1791712124607.png">Sunday's severe weather risks will include strong downdraft winds, in addition to a few tornadoes. The area of greatest concern is again in the Mid-Atlantic<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 034951-1791712205412.png">Heavy rain will continue to lift north and east throughout Saturday, bringing several rounds of heavy rain to areas east of the circulation, especially in the Carolinas.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1791682920636.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation. We'll bring you the details you need, and cut out all the hype.

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Impacts Spreading North

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The Twin Cities saw an afternoon high soar to 90 on Saturday - something out of the ordinary for them. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the month of October here is 92. We may threaten that again to close out the weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 072124-1791724977328.png">A ridge will re-establish and start to take over the weather story in the midsection of the country over the next few days. While it won't bring the triple-digits back necessarily, the 90's are more than enough to set records. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 073123-1791725498664.png">For folks in the upper midwest, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A front dropping through will break the heat - but farther south will take a little longer. The southern plains and southeast will get back to and stay in another round of August-like heat. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 073157-1791725551502.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 073210-1791725557886.png">

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week

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A strong upper-level trough digging south from the Gulf of Alaska will bring some noticeable changes to the weather pattern. Wind, snow, and fire weather are possible, and this pattern will last into early next week.<h2>UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH</h2><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic4-1791651989874.png">WINTER ALERTS</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic3-1791652288574.png">Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect for the rest of the weekend. The parts of Montana under the Warning could experience over 1 foot of snow accumulation. This will create very dangerous travel conditions. This includes extremely low visibility and fast accumulations that could deteriorate road conditions. Some areas have already picked up more than 6 inches of snow!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 035329-1791712427646.png"><h2>FORECAST SNOWFALL</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 035459-1791712512564.png">Our in-house model is showing significant snowfall through Monday. Forecast models can overpredict snowfall in the Fall months, so this is not a given, but with it being the first big snow in these areas, impacts will be felt. These numbers are in addition to what has already falling.

Digging Trough Brings Wind and Snow to the Northern Rockies This Weekend

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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>

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Isaias ended the late season streak of no hurricanes in the Atlantic, but how will the rest of the season shape up? Record breaking wind shear is likely to continue to limit most tropical systems in the Atlantic, but a few more storms are still possible. The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a low pressure system near the Cabo Verde Islands, giving it a low chance to develop as it moves NNW. This system is not a threat to the United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 042241-1791714411718.png"><h1>Pacific Basin</h1>The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season and looks to continue to create additional activity through the next week. Several systems could bring impacts to the United States. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 043428-1791714875528.png"><h2>Rachel </h2>Rachel is now post-tropical and is moving through the Southwestern United States producing flooding, storms, and gusty winds - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/california-in-the-cone-rachel-heads-toward-the-southwest">click here to read a more detailed forecast.</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 043017-1791714626646.png">We also have Hurricane Simon which formed Wednesday afternoon off the coast of Acapulco. Simon is an impressive hurricane, very close to a category 5, and will be riding up the coast through Colima and Jalisco, bringing major impacts to those Mexican states.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 043121-1791714705711.png">Simon is expected to weaken considerably after moving over the state of Jalisco, before making another landfall as a tropical storm near Mazatlan on Tuesday, in the state of Sinaloa. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-11 043137-1791714779428.png"><h1>El Niño Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 104818-1791478116096.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Niño continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific. El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures across portions of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Those unusually warm waters can influence weather patterns around the globe while also creating an environment that can favor tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-28 194202-1790646127358.png">This year’s El Niño has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-12 063433-1789216512410.png">

Tropics: Another Blob in the Atlantic, Pacific Stays Hyperactive

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Deep tropical moisture streaming north from the Gulf is combining with a slow-moving front, setting the stage for widespread showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast. Apalachicola, Florida, saw 7.49 inches of rain on Monday; this was the wettest October day on record! More heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible Thursday into Friday, along with an isolated tornado or two. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2107561532381090282" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2107561532381090282"></div>A stalled front is taking the moisture from Isaias and pulling it across Central and Northern Florida. For more info on Isaias and its impacts, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Gulf-Braces-For-Tropical-Impact">read here</a>.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-08 09-10-32-1791472273083.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some localized totals of 5-6 inches of rain will be possible. Watch out for localized flash flooding and ponding on the roads in the usual spots.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 085923-1791472325822.png">In addition to heavy rain, extra rotational energy from Isaias could spawn a few tornadoes on Thursday. Stay tuned to WeatherNation TV for additional details and live coverage.

Flooding, Tornadoes Target Central Florida Thursday

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Brittany Lockley

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A major temperature divide is unfolding across the United States as millions experience a true taste of fall while parts of the West continue to deal with summer-like heat.&nbsp;A surge of cooler air has spread across much of the central and eastern United States, sending temperatures tumbling and bringing some of the chilliest conditions of the season so far. Meanwhile, unusually hot weather continues across portions of the West Coast, where temperatures are running well above what is typical for early October.&nbsp;Summer Hangs On in the West&nbsp;While jackets are coming out farther east, residents across portions of the West are still dealing with significant heat.&nbsp;Temperatures across parts of California and the interior West are running roughly 10 to 15 degrees above average in some locations. Triple-digit temperatures have even been recorded in portions of Southern California despite the calendar moving deeper into October.&nbsp;Los Angeles experienced consecutive October days with temperatures reaching at least 100 degrees, highlighting the intensity of the unusual fall heat.&nbsp;The persistent warmth stretches beyond Southern California, with above-average temperatures extending through portions of the Great Basin and toward the northern Rockies.&nbsp;Over the next 3 days, many cities will be near, tie, or break the current records.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 035357-1791366853404.png">Heat alerts remain in place through Friday. Los Angeles is under an extreme heat warning, meaning use caution if working outdoors and make sure to drink plenty of water.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 035446-1791366898851.png">Check out temperatures in Los Angeles: the average high is normally 80°, but temperatures will flirt again with the century mark even in the next few days. Temperatures will remain in the upper 90s for Las Vegas, and Phoenix will dig into the 100s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 035550-1791366965841.png">The Northwest will also be threatening record-high temperatures. High temperatures will stay hot in most of the cities in the Northwest. These highs will be anywhere from 10-15° above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 035630-1791367010235.png">Meanwhile, in the Northeast, Fall Air Settles In&nbsp;A strong cold front has helped usher cooler, drier air into a large portion of the country. Behind the front, daytime temperatures are struggling to climb out of the 50s and 60s in some areas.&nbsp;The cooler air is especially noticeable during the overnight and early morning hours. Temperatures are dropping into the 30s and 40s across parts of the northern tier, Great Lakes and Northeast, creating the potential for frost in some of the coldest locations.&nbsp;For areas that have enjoyed a relatively warm start to fall, the change may feel especially dramatic.&nbsp;The arrival of the cooler air is also pushing temperatures below seasonal averages across portions of the central and eastern U.S., signaling a more traditional October weather pattern.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 040003-1791367220514.png">A Coast-to-Coast Temperature Contrast&nbsp;The dramatically different conditions are creating a weather map that looks more like two different seasons.&nbsp;Much of the East is experiencing crisp mornings, cooler afternoons, and increasing frost potential, while parts of the West remain firmly locked in a pattern more typical of late summer.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-07 040204-1791367341750.png">Eventually, the western heat is expected to ease as the weather pattern shifts. Until then, millions of Americans will continue experiencing very different versions of October depending on which side of the country they call home.Tune in to WeatherNation for the latest on this forecast and records that break throughout the days to come.

Fall Chill Grips the East While Record Heat Bakes the West

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Wild developments have surfaced from the state of California after local authorities arrested a man believed to be tied to the Park Fire. He pushed a burning car into a ditch, that started the blaze on Wednesday, July 24. The day it started, it grew over 124,000 acres with little containment. Now, the fire is <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/24/park-fire">burning more than 399k acres</a>. The fire is burning across Butte and Tehama County, north of Chico. According to CalFire, the fire continues to burn very actively in steep terrain, which has made it difficult to access for firefighters.Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Wildfire%20Smoke%20Impacting%20Air%20Quality%20Across%20the%20West,%20Central%20U.S.">Wildfire Smoke Impacting Air Quality Across the West, Central U.S.</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/1-1722656433076.png">The map below shows the Park Fire's recent activity which started after a burning car was pushed into a gully. On Wednesday, it was sparked and began moving to the north of Chico (red). Then Thursday (dark orange) it burned to the north. Friday (orange) the fire burned to the east and northwest. Saturday (light orange), the fire burned toward CA Highway 44. Then on Sunday and Monday (mustard to light yellow), more flames engulfed Highway 44 and reached farther east into the Plumas National Forest. Tuesday (lightest yellow) headed towards Mineral and Prattville.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/1-1722626545687.png">Within the first five days, the Park Fire grew to become one of California's largest wildfires on record. On Friday, August 2nd it surpassed 399,000 acres, making it the 4th largest wildfire in California state history. The largest wildfire (or group of fires) was the August Lightning Complex fires in northern California in 2020, when more than a million acres of land was scorched.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/08/1-1722626651028.png">We're entering the hottest time of the year in this part of the country, which could continue drying vegetation and making it conducive for fire starts. Prevent future fires by obeying burn bans, avoiding anything that sparks, and properly disposing of anything lit on fire. We will continue to update you on this developing story.

Park Fire Now the 4th Largest in California History

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