Kevin Schneider

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<p>Artemis 2 is finally ready to launch! After testing reveled a few issues in February and March, those issues have been resolved which has given the mission a go for launch in a window that opens Wednesday afternoon, April 1st.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091928-1774711352235.png">What is the Artemis program? To put it simply, it's the first step in a series of programs to send humans to Mars, but first, Artemis aims to bring humans back to the moon, establishing a base while testing humanity's ability to live outside of Earth's orbit.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091131a-1774710738504.jpg">This will be the first mission since 1972 to take humans before low-earth orbit, and likely farther from earth than any human has traveled before.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 065315-1775048005746.jpg"></p><p>When it comes to launch day, the forecast is critical. Florida will likely have some pop-up showers, but it's a bit too early to determine if any thunderstorms could be in the area. Lightning poses a major issue and does frequently cause delays in Central Florida, but even a building cumulus field can cause launch issues.</p>

Jackie Brown

FORECAST: Artemis II Set To Launch Today

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<p><strong>ABOVE - </strong>The month of March has been setting record after record, with nearly 100 locations nationwide breaking <strong>all-time March records</strong>. Each red dot above denotes a city that has tied or broken its all-time March record.</p><p></p><h1>Heat Continues</h1><p>The ridge of high pressure has slid east, and we are seeing record warmth across the Plains and Midwest! Records were set in cities like Carbondale, IL, and Poplar Bluff, MO. Carbondale, IL saw a new record of 85°, breaking the old record of 83°.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/record high tempsss-1775009247401.png">We'll threaten records for a few more days. And then things change...</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/fjfjfjdss-1775063897988.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Temperatures are above average on Friday and Saturday, but dip back down to the 40s on Sunday for cities like Chicago and Cleveland.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/thsjsjfff-1775009380824.png">Above-average temperatures will remain in place for the south on Friday, and will be near average by the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/friday through sattttt-1775009391137.png"></p><p></p>

April Brings Cooler Temperatures

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<p>A severe weather threat is taking shape across the southern Plains this week as a stalled boundary, a sharpening dryline, and an upper-level disturbance come together over a record-breaking warm and increasingly humid central airmass.</p><h2>OUTLOOK</h2><p>An <strong>ENHANCED </strong>risk has been issued for Wednesday afternoon and evening. Damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/fjfjfjss-1775063569605.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/wind s-1775063505900.png"></p><h2>TIMING</h2><p>Storms look to fire along the dryline and will be discrete supercells, increasing the threat for large or very large hail. Eventually, these will merge together to form a line of storms that will close in on Wichita and OKC.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/fjjjjaaaffff-1775063687419.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p>

Severe Threat Ramps Up in the Plains

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<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">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></span></p>

Rob Bradley

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2038956981763903857" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2038956981763903857"></div><p>Several waves of low pressure will traverse the northern tier of the country through the end of this week, bringing plenty of lift and clashing temperatures to set the stage for heavy rain and severe storms. </p><h1>Severe Weather Outlooks</h1><p>After storms pushed through the Great Lakes on Tuesday, the risk will follow the front slightly south and east on Wednesday to the Ohio River Valley and the Mid-Atlantic. Wind is the primary risk, but all hazards (hail &amp; tornadoes) are also possible. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 065851-1775048344637.png">A trailing storm system will bring another threat back to the Great Lakes on Thursday, with an elevated risk around Lake Michigan and the northern Mississippi River Valley. Wind is expected to be the most widespread hazard, but hail and tornadoes are possible. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 063212-1775046874287.png">The tornado potential will be elevated around Lake Michigan on Thursday, with even a few strong tornadoes possible (hatched area). Have multiple ways to get tornado alerts and review your tornado safety plan - have a safe location at work and at home.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 065253-1775047985918.png"></p><h1>Forecast Timing</h1><h2>Wednesday</h2><p>The afternoon and evening will be prime time for severe storms Wednesday and Thursday. Storms look to form over the Appalachians around midday before strengthening and moving east into the late afternoon and evening hours. Storms will gradually lose energy past midnight. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-01 07-09-43-1775049357011.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Thursday</h2><p>Thursday's storms could be feisty a bit earlier in the day, as leftover energy from Wednesday's storms moves north overnight. After the early morning sizzle, storms take a break while energy rebuilds ahead of the next front. As the cold front moves through during the afternoon, a new round of storms blooms ahead of the cold front while racing to the northeast. Storms will gradually lose energy through the overnight hours.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-01 07-12-01-1775049159182.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Heavy rain could lead to flooding, with 1-3 inches possible in heavier downpours. Isolated flash flooding is possible. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-31 152917-1774992562417.png">Tune into WeatherNation for the latest on these storms.</p>

Several Severe Storm Chances For the Midwest, East Coast

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

Taban Sharifi

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<p>While much of the country, and in particular the Southwest, has been baking underneath a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/record-heat-rolls-east-this-week"><strong><em>historic heatwave</em></strong></a>, a shift in the jet stream has brought cooler and wetter weather back to the area.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2038436047768670271" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2038436047768670271"></div><p></p><h1>Alerts</h1><p>Winter Alerts are in effect across the higher elevations of Utah and Colorado. Some areas are expecting a foot of snowfall, with isolated locations seeing higher totals. Winds will also be gusty across the higher terrain.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 073829-1775050716364.jpg">The Sierra Nevada Mountains also have winter alerts in place through Wednesday. Travel delays and slick roadways will be likely. Stay safe as this much-needed moisture arrives across the higher terrain.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 073848-1775050740821.jpg"></p><h1>Forecast Timing</h1><p>Precipitation chances will persist through Thursday, especially for the Four Corners. Another strong upper-level low dropping in from the Northwest could keep things active through the latter half of next week.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/fhfhfhfhfhssss-1775008736440.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 073927-1775050775021.jpg">Although not a "drought buster" by any means, these systems will at least help put a dent into the record-low snowpack across the West, along with some relief from the heat!</p>

SW Pattern Change Ahead: Tracking Rain & Snow

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<p>It's been unbearably hot across the West for the last week, after warm and dry conditions for a good chunk of the winter season. This has led to drought conditions, with dry vegetation ready to burn. Another cold front moves across the Northern Rockies and High Plains, increasing fire danger into the upcoming week. Fire Weather Alerts are in effect overnight.  There are even threats for isolated dry thunderstorms that can spark wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico overnight.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/overnightttttssss-1774923482169.png">In Nebraska, the Ashby and Minor fires grew rapidly by tens of thousands of acres, very close to the Morrill burn scar. Given the continued fire weather conditions, more fire growth is possible.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-30 083405-1774881249265.png">An elevated threat for fire weather continues Tuesday across portions of New Mexico and Texas.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-30 083433-1774881277930.png">Keep it locked in on WeatherNation, as we continue to update you on these fires and their impacts!</p>

Critical Fire Danger & Isolated Dry Thunderstorms

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<p><em>Top Image Credit: National Parks Service</em></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div><p>Spring is here and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 050710-1774696193114.png">On Thursday, March 26th, the National Mall announced peak bloom has been reached! The peak is expected to last about a week or so, depending on weather conditions. On March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026, which was only off by about 3 days - an impressive forecast!</p><h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2><p>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm"><strong><u>many types of cherry trees</u></strong></a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm"><strong><u>about two to three weeks to reach peak</u></strong></a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080844-1774534352362.png"></p><h2>Past Blooms</h2><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"><br>Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).</p><p>Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto"><strong><u>recorded all the way back to the 9th century</u></strong></a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/"><strong><u>late March through late April</u></strong></a> from north to south across the nation.</p>

Alana Cameron

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

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<em>"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,"</em> 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.

<em>"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</em>
<em>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.</em>
<em>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,"</em> 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,<em> "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</em>
<em>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</em>
<em>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</em>
<em>came right towards me."</em>

In terms of advice for folks reading/watching this story?

<em>"I'm going to be super careful about going outside in any lightning period...or thunder!"</em>

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

FORECAST: Artemis II Set To Launch Today

Artemis 2 is finally ready to launch! After t

April Brings Cooler Temperatures

ABOVE - The month of March has been setting r

Severe Threat Ramps Up in the Plains

A severe weather threat is taking shape acros

Several Severe Storm Chances For the Midwest, East Coast

Several waves of low pressure will traverse t

SW Pattern Change Ahead: Tracking Rain & Snow

While much of the country, and in particular

Critical Fire Danger & Isolated Dry Thunderstorms

It's been unbearably hot across the West for

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Top Image Credit: National Parks ServiceSprin