Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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This week brings some nice days to the southern plains and southwest, especially if you like the warmth! A very strong ridge of high-pressure will dominate, and many will see temperatures in the 70s and 80s! Denver is normally 48° this time of year, and will see highs in the 60s and 70s! Speaking of, Denver broke a record high on Tuesday, warming up to 71°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 170236-1771977847157.png">Los Angeles, you will be feeling like summer with forecast highs in the upper 80s to 90!! Can we say pool/beach days?<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 170217-1771977766838.png">The southern plains will see the record-warmth as well! San Antonio is set to reach 91° on Thursday, with most being 15-20 degrees above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 170319-1771977806118.png">In addition to well-above-average temperatures, some record highs are set to take place across the Southwest and the Southern Plains.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 170222-1771977816136.png">Check out the 7-day forecast in Phoenix! The average is normally 72°, but the highs will be in the 90s! Whew!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/PH-1771964288876.png">Los Angeles, you too will be in record territory with some highs this week in the upper 80s to 90°!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/los angeles-1771964410881.png">Make sure to watch WeatherNation for the latest updates on the record-warmth.

Alana Cameron

Spring & Summer Like Temperatures For the Southwest

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Kevin Schneider

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Inches of rain and feet of snow fell across the Western United States during the past week, thanks to a series of powerful low-pressure systems. The Pacific coast will stay active through Wednesday with a few additional systems behind to keep the stormy pattern going. However, this system has far warmer air to tap into across the West Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 092706-1771950453572.png"><h1>Timing</h1>The low-pressure system is moving through, bringing heavy mountain snow and rain. Snow levels are expected to be quite high, above 8,000 feet, leading to rain falling on top of the feet of snow California recorded last week.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-24 rsw-1771978442959.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Precipitation &amp; Flood Potential</h1>Rainfall totals in Northern California and Southern Oregon could surpass 4-5 inches in some locations, with snowfall totals in the NW topping a foot. Temperatures appear to be too warm for heavy snow in the Sierra, outside of the highest peaks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 171250-1771978452900.png">Winter storm warnings and advisories are in place across portions of the Northwest over the next few days. In the winter storm warnings, some of the heaviest snowfall totals can reach up to two feet of snow.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 171435-1771978542406.png">

Heavy Rain & Snow Across The West

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Last week, multiple fires broke out across the central plains, burning over 325,000 acres. The fire threat is back, and an elevated fire weather outlook is in place across New Mexico and Texas. Dry conditions and gusty winds have led to dangerous fire conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 165447-1771977570700.png">Red flag warnings and fire weather watches remain in place through Wednesday. Fires that do develop can spread rapidly.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 170000-1771977615691.png">Fire outlooks have been extended into Wednesday, also at a critical risk, but not covering as much real estate. The same areas are likely to be impacted.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 105415-1771955790429.png">FORECAST MOISTURE:The combination of relative humidity in the teens and single digits, combined with gusty winds, will increase the fire threat. Please use caution if burning, as any fire that develops can spread rapidly.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2-24 rh-1771977644947.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>FORECAST WIND GUSTS:<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-24_rsw wind-1771977636298.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Elevated Fire Danger Across Southern Plains

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MAJOR SYSTEM RECAP:The Northeast hasn't seen a system this intense in years. The massive scale of impacts, combined with duration, is impacting millions. Numerous records were broken for snowfall record totals for daily totals, but also for storm totals. Providence, RI hit 37.9" of snow, which broke the storm total snowfall record. The last record was from the February 1978 blizzard that hit 28.6" of snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 114401-1771958655179.png">Blizzard warnings, winter alerts, and flood alerts dominated these past few days, as the Nor'Easter moved through. Some areas in New York and Rhode Island saw over 3 feet of snow. Check out these videos from Massachusetts.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/VON_022326_RNE_BRANT ROCK, MA_POWER FLASHES DURING HIGH WINDS_DROPBOX_JONATHAN PETRAMALA_LS_E022326-1771870850192.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/VON_022326_RNE_QUINCY, MA_CAR STRUGGLING TO MOVE ON THE SNOWY ROADS_DROPBOX_JONATHAN PETRAMALA_LS_E022326-1771871598927.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>POWER OUTAGESHundreds of thousands are without power across the Northeast, as this low pressure continues to linger. Be sure to check on neighbors and loved ones in the area!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 092339-1771950253813.png">SNOWFALL TOTALSSnowfall totals have well surpassed 3 FEET across portions of the Northeast!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 161627-1771975062864.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 161620-1771975068073.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 161636-1771975076164.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-24 161614-1771975125043.png">WINDSWind gusts have been hurricane strength in some parts. Nantucket, MA reached a gust of 83 mph, which is Category 1 hurricane strength.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/web2-1771930716453.png">For the latest updates on this system, tune into WeatherNation!

Northeast Hit By Historic Snowstorm

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Brittany Lockley

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A developing storm system is expected to bring the potential for severe weather across portions of the Southeast Saturday, with the Storm Prediction Center outlining a Marginal Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms from eastern Mississippi through much of Alabama and into Georgia. The setup features a stalled frontal boundary draped across the region, acting as a focus for thunderstorm development.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771703180074.png">Warm, moisture-rich air is in place across southern Alabama and Georgia, with dew points climbing into the upper 60s. As daytime heating increases, this unstable air mass will provide additional fuel for storms to intensify. At the same time, stronger winds higher in the atmosphere will support storm organization, meaning a few thunderstorms could evolve into more structured clusters or rotating cells. When wind shear and instability overlap like this, the threat for damaging wind gusts increases, and a brief tornado cannot be ruled out.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771703292205.png">The greatest concern today centers on southeast Alabama into southwest and south-central Georgia, where storms may tap into the most favorable combination of moisture, lift, and wind energy. Later this afternoon and into the evening, attention may shift toward far southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as the frontal boundary settles southward and additional storms develop along it.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/New Baron Video 3-1771703403439.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>While widespread severe weather is not expected, any storm that becomes strong could quickly produce hazardous conditions, including wind gusts strong enough to down trees or power lines, pockets of hail, frequent lightning and torrential downpours leading to localized flooding. Because storms may develop in clusters, some communities could experience repeated rounds of heavy rain in a short amount of time.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771703442587.png">Stay weather-aware throughout Saturday, especially during the peak heating hours of the afternoon. Having multiple ways to receive weather alerts and knowing where to seek shelter if warnings are issued will be important, as conditions could change rapidly where storms strengthen. Cooler and more stable air is expected to filter in behind the front later tonight, gradually bringing an end to the severe threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771703480460.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation for more details.

Patrick Crawford

Strong Storms Target the Southeast

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Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

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Snow has become more widespread across Upstate New York and into New England today. As trough of low pressure moves through the region into Saturday, more cold air will wrap into the system allowing for more wintry precipitation. Totals are now reaching up to near a foot in parts of Upstate New York.<h1>TIMING</h1><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/New Baron Video 3-1771643528021.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The heaviest accumulations will continue into the early morning hours of Saturday, before tapering off by late morning. However, the low pressure system will continue to become wrapped up in itself and limit its movement. That means light snow along the surface trough will linger in the Great Lakes and New England through the day on Saturday.Once this system clears, a coastal low will deepen just off the southeast coast. As it traces north along the northeast coastline, it could bring major snow, wind and coastal impacts into early next week. Stay with WeatherNation for more details on this potential Nor'Easter.<h1>TOTALS</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771643590393.png">An additional 3-6" of snow will be likely across Northern New England by Saturday. Dangerous driving conditions will stick around through Saturday, so avoid the roads if you can.<h1>TEMPERATURES</h1>Highs will remain in the 30s through the event and as the next coastal low moves in. This will mean another potential for wintry mix Sunday and early next weeek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 102148-1771608128058.png">

Jesse Kelley

New England Snow & Ice Into Saturday

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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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CALIFORNIA - After almost a week of relentless rain and snow, skies in California are finally clearing into the weekend. Despite the system exiting the region, impacts will linger for some time, especially in the mountains, where feet of snow await clearing. As of Friday morning, I-80 and the Donner Pass are back open after hundreds of cars became stranded from the intense snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 075311-1771512817264.png">Snow totals surpassed 100" in a few localized areas, with 4-6 feet widespread across the Sierra. Even the mountains in Southern California saw 2-4 feet of snow on the peaks!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 171911-1771633173461.png">Those numbers, despite being incredibly high, did not bring California's snowpack back to average, but they did see a massive jump from 54% at the start of the week to 75% as of Friday evening!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 172229-1771633386958.png">Unfortunately, the heavy snow led to multiple deaths. A large avalanche killed 8 people on a backcountry ski tour, while another man failed to return to his vehicle after parking at a ski resort.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2024232039315296461" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2024232039315296461"></div><h1>Lingering Cold</h1>Cold air will linger behind the low into Saturday morning, and cold alerts remain in place for portions of the Bay Area, coastal valleys, and higher elevation locations. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 172405-1771633456926.png"><h1>Next Round</h1>Another series of storm systems is expected to move in around the ridge of high pressure in the Four Corners this weekend. This will focus the next round of heavy rain and snow farther north, with impacts expected in Northern California into Central Oregon. Warming temperatures will mean some areas that received intense snow could see nothing but rain next week. This could lead to flooding issues, especially with runoff in the mountains.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 093723-1771605465112.png">The heaviest rain is expected from the Northern Sierra near Lake Tahoe up to the coastal mountains in California and Oregon. Flash flooding is a concern on Monday and Tuesday in these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 172554-1771633563461.png">

Major Storm System Winds Down in California

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[<a href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/video-new-experimental-radar-could-lead-to-earlier-severe-weather-warnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NOAA</a>] NOAA researchers recently unveiled “<a href="http://bit.ly/2EDRCnu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the radar of the future</a>” – a new $38 million prototype that could improve warnings, protect lives and property, and reduce the economic impact of severe and hazardous weather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xso-P0UAE88

&nbsp;

<a class=" ext-link-after" href="https://www.eol.ucar.edu/content/how-do-radars-work">Weather radars</a> consist of a transmitter that bounces radio waves off clouds and storm systems, and a receiver that detects precipitation and winds. Unlike today’s weather radars that use a dish antenna that tilts and rotates to collect data, the new experimental radar called the <a href="https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/atd/">Advanced Technology Demonstrator</a> (ATD) has a flat panel with a grid of thousands of small antennas that transmit radio waves and receive reflections back from the atmosphere. This <a href="https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/mpar/">phased array </a>allows the radar to be steered electronically with no moving parts, collecting and updating information more rapidly.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-98737 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/10/mpar-sk2.png" alt="New Advanced Technology Radar Installed at National Severe Storms Laboratory" width="600" height="334" />

[Phased Array radar has a unique antenna that collects the same information as a conventional radar in about one-sixth the time. Users can direct radar beams to scan different targets as needed. Researchers believe phased array could extend warning lead times from 10 minutes to 18-22 minutes.]
The ATD also features <a href="https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/tools/radar/dualpol/">dual polarization technology</a> that helps forecasters know the type of precipitation that is occurring, such as rain, snow or ice. It’s the first radar combining both phased array and dual polarization technologies.
Researchers say the new radar should be ready to collect experimental weather data for the first time during severe weather season in spring 2019.
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-98736" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/10/dualpol5_both.gif" alt="" width="350" height="200" />

[Difference between conventional and polarmetric radar]
Funded by NOAA and the Federal Aviation Administration, the ATD is the newest in a long line of radar innovations developed and being tested at <a href="https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/">NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory</a> in Norman, Oklahoma.
Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels

New Experimental Radar Could Lead to Earlier Severe Weather Warnings

Spring & Summer Like Temperatures For the Southwest

This week brings some nice days to the southe

Heavy Rain & Snow Across The West

Inches of rain and feet of snow fell across t

Elevated Fire Danger Across Southern Plains

Last week, multiple fires broke out across th

Northeast Hit By Historic Snowstorm

MAJOR SYSTEM RECAP:The Northeast hasn't seen

Strong Storms Target the Southeast

A developing storm system is expected to brin

New England Snow & Ice Into Saturday

Snow has become more widespread across Upstat

Major Storm System Winds Down in California

CALIFORNIA - After almost a week of relentles