WeatherNation Meteorologists

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While there are still uncertainties, winter weather is going to impact the Gulf Coast this week. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings have been issued for parts of the Gulf Coast from SE Texas across to the Florida Panhandle. Winter alerts have also now been extended through eastern North Carolina.RELATED ARTICLE: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/how-cold-will-this-weekend-be">Dangerous Wind Chills Likely Into Next Week</a><h1>SET-UP</h1>Freezing temperatures have settled into the Gulf Coast. Areas like Houston and New Orleans woke up in the low 30s on Monday morning, with even colder temperatures by Tuesday morning! The cold air is going to set the stage for an impactful winter weather event now beginning to unfold.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 055247-1737377574755.jpg">A wave of energy will move through the larger trough of low pressure and provide some broad lift, starting in Texas and working east. At the surface, an area of low pressure will develop in the Gulf, pulling moisture onshore into the freezing temperatures.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-17 072305-1737124787597.png">TIMING</h1>*KEEP IN MIND THIS IS JUST ONE MODEL RUN: forecast factors will change and confidence will grow as we get closer to the event.Precipitation will move onshore into coastal Texas overnight and spread north to the I-20 corridor. Wintry precipitation potential will move east to Louisiana and Mississippi as we head into Tuesday morning, and into Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas through the rest of the day. We may see temperatures cold enough for wintry weather across the Florida Panhandle.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/gulfmexico-1737432072729.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Potential Accumulation</h1>Keep in mind - these forecasts may still shift slightly over the next day, depending on where the low develops and how much warm air it will pull into the cold. As of Monday, models are favoring areas along and north of I-10 from Texas through western Florida for snow accumulations, with higher totals from eastern Texas into Mississippi.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 210146-1737432115676.png">Freezing rain and sleet will mix in as well for areas just to the south. Prepare for travel impacts and potential power outages where heavy ice occurs. Check back in on this forecast on air or online for updates! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 210210-1737432134457.png">

Dave Holder

Gulf States Brace Snow and Ice Tuesday

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<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 070955-1737382254908.jpg">Key Messages<ul><li>Although not spreading, the Palisades Fire continues to burn in Southern California. Evacuation orders remain in effect.</li><li>Progress continues to be made in building containment lines on the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.</li><li>Have a plan in place and a go bag ready for quick evacuations!</li></ul>There are two active fires still burning across California with some level of non-containment. The Palisades fire is still the largest, having burned over 23,000 acres. It is now over 50% contained. The Eaton fire has burned over 7,000 structures and is now over 80% contained.The Eaton and Palisades Fires both rank in the top 4 most destructive fires in California history with over 15,000 structures burned.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-18 061446-1737206094062.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1877040239241224343" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1877040239241224343"></div><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-10 053546-1736512590442.jpg"><h1></h1><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1880699179649102187" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1880699179649102187"></div><h1>Forecast</h1>Unfortunately, the record-breaking lack of precipitation continues. With offshore winds returning and the vegetation still incredibly dry, an Extreme Fire Risk has been highlighted by the SPC for both the rest of Monday and Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-18 061543-1737206157979.png">Be prepared for dangerous fire conditions, and remain up to date with the forecast and any issued alerts. Red Flag Warnings are in place across southern California. The Los Angeles area, including Santa Clarita, portions of the Santa Monica Mountains, Ventura Ranges, and the San Fernando Valley, are under a PDS (Particularly Dangerous Situation) Red Flag Warning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 210356-1737432241347.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 210438-1737432283179.png">While the mountains surrounding Los Angeles will have higher wind gusts, some could push down into the city.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/windyla-1737432532927.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Tune in to your West Regional forecast at :50 past the hour, every hour on WeatherNation.

Firefighters Race to Contain Fires Before Winds Return Today

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Tracey Anthony

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The coldest air of the season is making its way across the U.S. today and it is impacting millions! Over 240 MILLION Americans across the lower 48 remain under Cold Weather alerts. The frigid temperatures accompanied by gusty winds will lead to wind chills of -50° in some locations.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/brrrr-1737432855039.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>When wind chills drop below -30°, it only takes 10 minutes for skin exposed to the elements to experience frostbite. Early signs of frostbite include redness, numbness, or a tingling sensation, which can quickly progress to pale, hard skin and eventual tissue damage if exposure continues.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 152714-1737412039019.png">Low temperatures across the Plains and Great Lakes will drop well below zero again tonight, significantly colder than compared to average for this time of the year. Eventually, this cold Arctic air will spread to the Northeast. Check out how far to the south the cold air goes. Houston's lows will be in the teens by Wednesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-20 152848-1737412132708.png">In addition to yourself, make sure you are taking care of the 4 Ps: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants if you are being impacted by these frigid temperatures!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 160117-1736895706678.png">You will find more watching your top weather headlines on WeatherNation, along with your regional forecasts.

Over 240 Million Under Cold Weather Alerts

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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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Exciting times are ahead for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts! Two planetary alignments will happen in a span of 40 days, the first featuring six planets in January, followed by a seven planet alignment in late February. Naked eye observers can expect to see four planets during each event, but adding binoculars or a telescope will help you see the rest. Planetary alignment occurs when planets are on the same side of the sun and appear to line up in the night sky. While the planets always appear to form a line, seeing several planets visible to the naked eye doesn't happen every year. Planets of the solar system have differing orbital periods so it can take a while for several to appear together. For example, Mercury takes 88 days to orbit the sun while Jupiter takes about 12 years. <h1>January Alignment</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Jan_2025_sky chart_Planets-1737305096113.png">Image credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechSince the middle of the month, four of the five brightest planets in the night sky have been visible after sunset and will continue to "line up" through the end of the month. The best chance to see these four planets and the two hiding in the dark (Neptune and Uranus) will occur around the 21st and 22nd in the southern sky after sunset, looking generally to the south. Neptune can be found just above Venus and Jupiter while using a telescope or binoculars (top of page), while Uranus will be to the right of Jupiter. This alignment will occur for multiple nights, but as the planets shift, it will be more difficult to see them all in the same sector of sky.<h1>February Alignment</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-19 084957-1737302067137.png">Planets align again in late February, but this time SEVEN planets will appear in the same sector or sky. Like the January alignment, four of the planets will be visible to the naked eye (Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars), while the others will require a tool to help you (binoculars or a telescope). For viewers in North America, trying to see the planets in the days leading up to the 28th will likely produce the best viewing. In order to see Saturn during this alignment, you'll need to be ready as the sun goes down since it will be close to the sun and horizon. While Mercury can be viewed at times without an optical zoom, it will likely need it in this alignment due to its proximity to the sun.

Brittany Lockley

Planets Align in January and February

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A cold front and trailing coastal low will keep the pattern active in the Northeast through the weekend. An initial round of rain and snow will be followed by mostly snow from late tonight through Monday morning. The exact track of the low will determine where a corridor of heavy snow falls, but there is still some uncertainty about this factor. Winter alerts have now been issued for this round of snow Sunday into Monday for parts of the Northeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-19 100947-1737306595825.jpg"> A blast of bitterly cold air, the coldest yet of the winter is waiting on the other side of a snowy end to the weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-17 075139-1737125578659.png"><h1>Forecast Timing</h1>The trailing coastal low will begin to produce snow early Sunday morning from Virginia up through New Jersey, with snow spreading up the coast into New England by the late morning hours. Snow is expected to continue into Sunday night as it tapers off from south to north.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Baron 2-1737258557911.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Snow Comparison</h1>The track of low will determine who gets the potential for over 6 inches of new snow. The Baron and GFS model both have a good handle on the snow. The biggest difference between the models are the amounts. Our in house model is favoring more snow than the GFS model. Regardless, everyone in the Northeast will see snow with the heaviest along and west of Interstate 95!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/1-1737258715042.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/1-1737258738567.png">

Patrick Crawford

One-Two Punch Brings Snow Back to the East Coast

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A strong cold front will bring heavy showers and strong storms to the Southeast this weekend, with a severe weather threat-focused in portions of Florida. Strong shear and limited instability will likely to lead to a few damaging wind gusts and a tornado or two, mainly Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Web 1-1737283995613.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Web 2-1737284023332.png"><h1>Forecast</h1>A line of isolated storms along a cold front boundary drops into this morning and continues south into Central Florida around midday today. This line of showers will be our biggest severe weather risk with the skies drying out quickly after the front pushes past. A few showers will linger across southern Florida into Monday but the whole sunshine state will feel the temperature impacts behind this rain.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-19 06-00-50-1737284480425.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rainfall &amp; Flood Potential</h1>Heavy rain is likely in northern Florida and south Georgia, with totals surpassing 2-5 inches for Saturday and Sunday totals. Rain is expected to clear in these areas by midday Sunday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/1-1737258959953.png">Temperatures will drop drastically behind this cold front. This cold air is impacting over 100 million across the country. Read more about the cold: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/how-cold-will-this-weekend-be">Dangerous Wind Chills This Week</a> Updates for the Eastern Regional Forecast are on air at :10 past the hour, or get that forecast anytime with the WeatherNaiton app.

Isolated Severe Potential for Central Florida

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While ice coverage has been increasing across the Great Lakes over the past couple of weeks (28% for Lake Erie), it's not so much as to damped the lake-effect snow machine. Together with a quick-moving Clipper system, snowfall has been spreading across the Northeast through the day Thursday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-16 155207-1737067939335.png">Another few inches of snow remains possible across the shores of Lake Erie and Ontario, down the Appalachian Mountains, and perhaps closer to the Eastern Seaboard.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-16 155522-1737068147458.png">RELATED: Read more about the cold temperatures <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/arctic-air-returns-behind-clipper-system">HERE</a>Winter weather alerts remain in place for portions of Ohio from Cleveland down to east of Charleston, WV into Friday morning. <h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-16 155724-1737068295635.png">TIMING</h1>Snow will linger into the overnight hours, but generally be wrapped up as we wake up Friday morning. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/northeastsnow-1737068392008.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Make sure to tune into WeatherNation for the latest details.

Lake-Effect Snow Brings Woes to the Northeast

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"It was nerve racking, it jolted me. I was kind-of shocked for a second. The umbrella flew out of my hand and I was kind-of disoriented and ran to my car and just tried to get out of harms way," recounts Romulus McNeill after he found himself way too close to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111518" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/waterspout.jpg" alt="" width="1708" height="813" />

WeatherNation Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo spoke with Romulus about this video, showing an incredibly-close lightning strike that occurred on Thursday.

"We were having a teacher-parent conference night for back to school and it was 6:42 p.m. and every one had already left the building. I had reservations about going
outside because I didn't want to get struck by lightning. And when I went outside, it just struck. And it was just kind-of shocking. It was nerve racking, it jolted me.
I was kind-of shocked for a second. The umbrella flew out of my hand and I was kind-of disoriented and ran to my car and just tried to get out of harms way," describes Romulus.

Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes happen in an instant. Lightning can strike miles from the base or top of a thunderstorm cloud. Always remember, 'When Thunder Roars, Head Indoors.'

Romulus continues his experience, "I felt like a static shock to my body. Like I said it hit on my right side and it was so quick, I just instantly got nervous and nerve racked. My principal said he
watched it through the inside of the building. He saw it from inside the building. It was thunder and lightning at the same time. What was crazy was that I saw the
lightning strike in front of me across the street by a store, but the lightning actually...I guess may have diverted or it could have been another lightning strike that
came right towards me."

In terms of advice for folks reading/watching this story?

"I'm going to be super careful about going outside in any lightning period...or thunder!"

Our appreciation to Romulus for allowing us to share this weather story to help others truly understand the dangers of lightning!

For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier

Man Describes His Close Encounter With A Lightning Strike

Gulf States Brace Snow and Ice Tuesday

While there are still uncertainties, winter w

Firefighters Race to Contain Fires Before Winds Return Today

Key MessagesAlthough not spreading, the Palis

Over 240 Million Under Cold Weather Alerts

The coldest air of the season is making its w

Planets Align in January and February

Exciting times are ahead for stargazers and a

One-Two Punch Brings Snow Back to the East Coast

A cold front and trailing coastal low will ke

Isolated Severe Potential for Central Florida

A strong cold front will bring heavy showers

Lake-Effect Snow Brings Woes to the Northeast

While ice coverage has been increasing across