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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Next week, an upper level ridge takes over parts of the West. Record heat is looking possible across parts of the Northwest early next week. Heat alerts have been issued for parts of the Interstate 5 region from Bellingham, WA to just north of Redding, CA.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781994061473.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781994108617.png">The hottest days will be Monday and Tuesday before temperatures gradually cool down near the end of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781994262761.png"><h1>Southwest</h1>In Southern California, Extreme Heat Watch has been issued for parts of the LA Metro for Tuesday into Thursday. The worst of heat will be in areas northeast of Downtown Los Angeles. More alerts will be issued as we get closer to next week. Wednesday, high temperatures are expected to reach the 90s from Calabasas to San Bernardino.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781994494672.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781994533112.png">

Heat Returns to the West

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Another&nbsp;threat of severe weather is expected to develop across parts of the Central Plains and Midwest this weekend as a storm system moving out of the Rockies combines with warm, moisture-rich air flowing north from the Gulf. The setup is expected to fuel multiple rounds of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall, and localized flash flooding.&nbsp;A watch has been issued for parts of the Plains and Northern Rockies into the evening hours.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781990871900.png">Severe weather will be in the cards for this weekend across the Plains as an upper low and cold front work together to promote thunderstorm development. All hazards will be possible including some very large hail, destructive winds over 75 mph, and a few strong tornadoes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781990993203.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781991144390.png">Storms are getting going now across the Western Plains and storms shall get stronger throughout the day. Into the evening and overnight hours, storms should congeal into a large complex with damaging winds as the primary threat. Sunday, the leftover storms will push into the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys causing more severe storms. With additional daytime heating, more storms should pop across Kansas and Nebraska and everything will push eastward. Large complexes capable of producing heavy rain and strong winds will be likely into Monday morning.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781991647211.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>While severe weather will be a concern, heavy rainfall may become the more widespread threat. Abundant atmospheric moisture will allow storms to produce intense downpours, and some areas could see rainfall rates of more than an inch per hour. Repeated rounds of thunderstorms moving over the same locations may quickly overwhelm drainage systems and lead to flash flooding.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781991713189.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781991835588.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>We will continue to monitor the progression of the system as it moves across the region. Residents in areas prone to flooding or severe weather are encouraged to stay informed of the latest forecasts and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts throughout the weekend.&nbsp;

Severe Storms, Flash Flooding Threat Returns Across Plains and Midwest 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>

Rob Bradley

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067812111733149721" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067812111733149721"></div> Numerous flash flood warnings were issued as tropical downpours took over the Gulf Coast states over the last few days. Check out some of the storm totals from the leftovers of Arthur.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/pic5-1781960903702.png">This historic rain event has affected many residents in the Gulf Coast States. Check out some of the impacts we found from the heavy rainfall.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/VON_061826_RSE_PERKINSTON, MS_VIDEO OF THE WATER RESCUE_CORCLIPS_BRANDON CLEMENT_MS_E061826-1781811920242.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Forecast</h1>Isolated severe storms are in the forecast Saturday afternoon and evening for areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. These storms should be isolated but with saturated grounds from the previous rains will increase the flood risk.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781990493694.png">With saturated grounds in place, the threat of flooding and flash flooding will be in the forecast into early next week. Check out some of the forecast rainfall from the Southern Plains to Eastern Florida.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781990553551.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781990600600.png">There is still a level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat on Saturday from Jacksonville through New Orleans. Scattered flash flooding is expected, with a few severe storms not out of the question.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781990722560.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Flood Risk Continues This Weekend for the Gulf Coast States

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Father's across the country will have to share their glory day this year with the astronomical start of summer, also known as the summer solstice! Dad's deserve their moment in the sun (pun intended) so we'll start with the Father's Day forecast, which is look hot for much of the country, except in the Midwest!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052828-1781955003279.png">A low pressure system emerging from the Rockies on Saturday will push east through the Midwest on Sunday, creating numerous showers and thunderstorms. You may want to have indoor plans for these areas, especially by the afternoon. Read more about the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-this-weekend">severe weather threat here</a>.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1781992012660.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Summer Solstice &amp; Summer Forecast</h1>Father's Day this year happens to fall on the longest day of the year, when the summer solstice occurs! The solstice happens before sunrise for the East Coast, around 4:24 am. This is the point in Earth's orbit when the Northern Hemisphere most directly tilts toward the sun. This means after today, days will gradually start getting shorter, through the heat will take a while to fade.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052822-1781954988791.png">How does the rest of summer look across the US? Warm for most, though the Midwest could be cooler than average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052840-1781955036807.png">Most areas of the country should expect near normal precipitation from July through September, with parts of the Midwest and Southern Plains expecting drier than average conditions. Monsoon season could be active this year in the Four Corners and Southern California, leading to above average precipitation.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 052849-1781955043126.png">

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

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A weak low-pressure system moving through the Great Basin will help to increase fire danger Saturday for parts of the west, increasing gusty winds in the region and spurring thunderstorm activity. As the low moves into the Plains states, high pressure will build with record heat possible into next week.Warm and dry conditions will lead to drier fuels, while the low also provides higher winds. Humidity will be less than 10%in some areas with temperatures over 100 degrees. Combined with gusty winds, that's a recipe for high fire danger.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 051141-1781953928064.png">In addition to dry and gusty conditions, the low will spur thunderstorms, with the potential for rain to evaporate before reaching the ground. Known as "dry thunderstorms," these storms can create new fires quickly, sometimes many at once.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 051114-1781953945578.png">When dry thunderstorms are present, downdraft winds can be intense. As the rain evaporates, it cools rapidly and accelerates toward the ground. Gusts over 58 mph are possible Saturday in parts of Utah through SE Idaho and Wyoming.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-20 050952-1781953951175.png">Storms should wrap up into the late evening hours. Storms should be less widespread on Saturday as the low shifts east.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/2026-06-20 05-12-44-1781954274212.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Record heat will continue to contribute to fire danger next week across parts of the West. Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California have the potential for record highs starting on Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-19 130014-1781896412664.png">

Patrick Crawford

Dry T-Storms & Fire Danger in the West

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<h1>EARLIER THIS WEEK</h1>MONTROSE, IL - A dangerous tornado tore through the town of Montrose, Illinois on Wednesday evening along the I-70 corridor, just miles after passing through Effingham. WeatherNation field meteorologist Brett Adair captured this tornado on camera and confirmed that homes were damaged, injuries and search and rescues were happening, and power lines were taken down as a result of this tornado.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067422143177265563" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067422143177265563"></div>The tornadoes that hit Effingham caused significant damage. Field correspondent Brian Emfinger spoke to residents after the tornado moved out of the area.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2067578080609308927" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2067578080609308927"></div><h1>Tornado Ratings</h1>The reports are coming in slowly across parts of Indiana and Illinois, but a few preliminary reports of EF-1s and EF-2s were found. Further information was released on Friday, with the Effingham, IL, tornado found to have caused EF-3 damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1781921424713.png">For more info on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation :10 and :30 past the hour for your eastern and central regional forecasts.

Tornadoes Tear Through The Midwest, Isolated Severe Storms in the South

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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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<h3>WELCOME TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MONSOON SEASON.</h3>The North American Monsoon Season (NAMS) spans from June 15 through September 30th. It is also referred to as the Southwest Monsoon and is typically strongest during July and August.<h3>What is the North American Monsoon?</h3>The North American Monsoon is a seasonal change in atmospheric circulation that occurs during the summer across northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, including parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and California. The monsoon can bring stormy weather, flooding rains, dust storms, extreme heat, and wildfire concerns to the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 153448-1781473579558.png">As the land heats up during the summer months and high pressure develops over the Southwest, a shift in wind patterns pulls moisture northward from the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. This increase in moisture provides fuel for thunderstorms. As a result, the region can experience afternoon and evening thunderstorms, heavy rainfall over short periods of time, frequent lightning, gusty outflow winds, flash flooding (especially in canyons and burn scar areas), and occasionally dust storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152535-1781473586719.png"><h3>Seasonal Outlook</h3>For the upcoming season, the Climate Prediction Center's Seasonal Drought Outlook indicates that drought is likely to persist across portions of the Four Corners region, but improvement is expected in many areas. Meanwhile, drought conditions across Nevada are forecast to persist and may even expand.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152751-1781473694048.png">Something to note, the CPC is not guaranteeing a wet monsoon season, but they are favoring above-normal precipitation and improved odds of drought relief.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 152746-1781473762291.png"><h3>Why is it so important?</h3>The monsoon provides a large portion of the annual rainfall for many desert locations across the Southwest. In Arizona, for example, the monsoon can account for nearly half of the state's yearly precipitation. This rainfall can help reduce drought impacts, improve soil moisture, and lower wildfire risk. However, it can also bring hazards such as flash flooding and dangerous lightning.<h3><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-14 155918-1781474388486.png"></h3>For more on this season's monsoonal storm chances, be sure to join us on WeatherNation for the latest forecast and updates.

Welcome To Monsoon Season - Here's What to Expect

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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.