<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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<p>A TORNADO WATCH has been issued for parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma until 7 PM CT this evening. Near record warmth, plentiful moisture, and high wind shear will lead to numerous if not widespread severe storms during the afternoon and evening. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a MODERATE (level 4 out of 5) risk across Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Tornadoes will be a concern, particularly for the region in red. In addition to the risk for numerous tornadoes, several strong tornadoes are possible (brown region below) that may be long lived, or on the ground for an extended period. EF-2 strength tornadoes have winds higher than 110 mph.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/tor threat-1679676276461.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/sig tor-1679676281932.jpg">Damaging winds could also be widespread across the region, including the chance for hurricane force gusts (region below). Secure loose belongings and tie down property that could be damaged or could become a projectile. In addition to the significant wind and tornado threat, the SPC has highlighted the risk for significant hail, 2" in diameter or greater, which can cause serious damage through southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana and Mississippi.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/sig wind-1679676270321.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/sig hail-1679665090121.jpg">The stronger storms are expected afternoon through the overnight as the cold front becomes the main trigger for severe storms across the Ozarks and Deep South. Storms become much more widespread into the afternoon with all modes of severe weather likely and dangerous. Please have multiple ways to get alerts. Storms that initialize in east Texas will become the focus for long-track supercell thunderstorms in northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and Mississippi tonight.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 10-43-13-1679676375251.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Check back with WeatherNation for the latest.</p>

Significant Severe Storm Risk Targets the Deep South Friday

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<div>Lucy is originally from the Boston area but has spent the last four years forecasting and living in Colorado! She stayed in the northeast for her education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Oswego with a B.S. in Meteorology. Just a few days after graduation, she made the cross country move to Colorado Springs, CO to begin her career at KKTV, the CBS affiliate. Lucy has covered historic blizzards, tornadoes, windstorms, the largest wildfires in Colorado state history and dust storms ... they truly "get it all" in Colorado! Lucy is excited to forecast on a national level and continue her passion of explaining the science behind the weather!</div>
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Lucy Bergemann

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<p>Another low pressure system moving through the central U.S. will encounter cold air in our atmosphere and become a snow maker for the Upper Great Lakes this weekend. Once again we will be watching for difficult travel, low visibility and wet heavy snow that could cause isolated power outages. Winter alerts are in effect on Saturday for northern Michigan and eastern Wisconsin where there is increased confidence in the snow potential.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/GL winter alerts-1679686415242.jpg">This low pressure system is relatively warm with the severe weather and storm threat just to the south in central IL, IN and OH Friday night. This means we will see a wet, heavy snowfall and the risk of ice and sleet during the first part of the overnight before cold air meets the moisture and transfers more of the precipitation into snow. Snow will wrap around the area of low pressure through the day on Saturday, keeping Michigan and eastern Wisconsin unsettled, windy and cold.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 13-32-05-1679686381114.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The Global Forecast Model, or GFS for short, favors the snow axis from southern Wisconsin through Milwaukee and into northern Michigan with the heaviest pockets of snow through Cadillac, Traverse City and Alpena. The Baron model is coming in line with the same axis of snow, but is less with the amount of snow and skews a bit further to the west with the heaviest snowfall, favoring more of Madison, WI and Quad Cities of Iowa for the heaviest snow. The exact axis of heaviest snowfall depends on the track of the low and where the low intensifies most, therefore leading to the higher snowfall pockets.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/gfs-1679665355464.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/BAMS -1679665344424.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the snow forecast for the upper Great Lakes this weekend.</p>

Winter Storm System to Hit the Upper Great Lakes this Weekend

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<p>This weekend will feature cool, windy and unsettled wet conditions for the Northeast as an area of low pressure in our upper atmospehre combines with a surface front &amp; low to produce widespread showers and storms. We have the potential for even a few severe storms around the area of low pressure in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia on Saturday (shown above). Our primary threat will be for damaging winds but a waterspout on lake Erie cannot be ruled out either. Temperatures will be in the 50s and low 60s, so not our traditional severe weather environment, but given the history of this system, abundance of moisture and support in upper levels we expect a few stronger storms through the Lower Great Lakes. </p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 13-10-19 - Copy-1679685861458.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Showers and storms move in overnight along the warm front, but that is not what produces the severe weather. The occluded front (purple) and area of low pressure provide the biggest risk for damaging winds with storms that develop midday and early afternoon through western PA, WV and OH. Most of us will deal with heavy rain and the subsequent flood threat however. As the frontal boundary pushes into the northeast, it meets colder air and elevation, producing snowfall for the mountains of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine along with the Adirondacks in New York midday Saturday. Steady snow will continue through these areas on the backside of the low pressure system throughout the day on Saturday before tapering early Sunday morning. In terms of rain and snow, most areas will see less than 1" in rainfall, and snowfall totals will be generally light, less than 3". Still, areas of difficult travel and low visibility are anticipated. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/ne rain and snow this weekend-1679685987948.jpg"></p><p>Looking deeper into the forecast we have another round of winter precipitation for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has highlighted the potential for heavy snow through the Adirondacks, northern New England and western Massachusetts. There is still a bit of flexibility in the forecast, especially when it comes to temperature profiles and if we see mostly a wet heavy snow or sleet &amp; freezing rain. Typically, we see our last snow of the season in early April for the northeast, so we are on track with this next potential weather maker. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the northeast winter forecast!  </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/ne extended outlook-1679685507032.jpg"></p>

Severe Storms and Snow in the Northeast this Weekend

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<p>In addition to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-storm-chances-return-to-the-plains-south-late-week">severe storms</a>, heavy rain is expected from the Ozarks through the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/strong-storms-flooding-target-the-midwest">Ohio Valley</a>. Bands of heavy rain are possible along a frontal boundary that will combine with plentiful moisture. Flood watches are in effect into Saturday from Oklahoma through Pennsylvania. Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches can be expected with locally higher amounts of up to 4 to 5 inches possible. Soaking rain is expected to extend from Oklahoma through the mid-south and into the midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, and even through Pennsylvania.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/rain reports-1679676536621.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/flood alerts-1679676544963.jpg"></p><p>Storms had already produced rain totals of 1-3" Thursday into Friday across parts of the region, including Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma. Storms are expected to continue along a frontal boundary with heavy soaking rainfall. Storms will "train" over the same areas, meaning repeated rounds of rain over the same areas, overwhelming the soils.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 06-18-15-1679660326931.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/#page=ero">Weather Prediction Center</a> has issued an excessive rainfall outlook for much of the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys Friday due to the incoming heavy rainfall. A <strong>moderate</strong> risk (level 3 out of 4) for heavy rainfall has been issued. This means flooding is likely in the area as streams, creeks and low-lying areas fill up with water. Driving conditions can change quickly, so make sure to be weather aware and always turn around if you come across a flooded roadway.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/03-24 WPC Fri-1679660276540.JPG">If you feel like it has been a rainy year through the central and southern Plains, it certainly has been in Little Rock - the city is now at its 3rd rainiest in history.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/little rock-1679579671136.JPG">Tune in to Weather Nation throughout the hour for all your top weather headlines.</p>

Widespread Flood Threat in the Ohio & Mississippi River Valleys

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<p>CALIFORNIA - We have had an extremely winter season, and now that we are into Spring, there is no sign of things slowing down in the near future. Snowpack continues to rise in the Sierra, and inching closer to the snowiest year in history of 1952-53. We are about 10 feet shy of the snow totals of that winter. The winter systems have been creating snow, but also strong thunderstorms. A tornado touched down in the Los Angeles suburbs on Wednesday afternoon as another atmospheric river and low-pressure system came to a close. This was in Montebello California, an eastern suburb of the city of L.A.. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles rated this storm as an EF-1! This was the strongest tornado in California since 1983!</p><h2>Freezing Conditions</h2><p>We are looking at a quieter weekend ahead, but much cooler too. In fact, temperatures will drop into the 20s and 30s for the central Valley overnight, prompting frost and freeze alerts. The cold air could be harmful for plants that are already into the growing season.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/cali frost and freeze-1679678089591.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/3 day lows-1679678101770.jpg"></p><h2>Next Wave</h2><p>Looking ahead to next week we have another round of wet weather on the way for California. Yet another area of low pressure moves ashore bringing Pacific moisture to waterlogged California. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has highlighted the threat for heavy rainfall along the coast and snowfall in the mountains for Monday into Tuesday. There is confidence in yet another meaningful snow event for the Sierra, which will creep up closer to the snowiest season on record. The incoming storm looks to be skewed a bit further north, impacting the northern Sierra and Cascades with the heaviest of the snowfall.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/cali extendced-1679606634539.JPG"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/gfs snow-1679583829476.JPG">The extended pattern into the beginning of April remains active in the western U.S. with above average rain and snow conditions expected. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the snow amounts and timing for the Western U.S., the Western regional forecast is at :50 past the hour!</p>

Snowpack in California Creeping Closer to Top Spot - More Snow next Week

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<p>With the jet stream focused over the Midwest, the weather looks active through the end of the week with severe storms and flooding. This comes after hail and damaging winds on Thursday through Missouri and Illinois. Today, the threat is centered around the mid-South will all modes of severe weather possible. Storms are likely to be more widespread Friday compared to Thursday, please have multiple ways to get alerts. The ENHANCED risk on Friday is centered through Tennessee and the central Mississippi Valley. For more on the Friday severe weather threat in the south, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/significant-severe-storm-risk-targets-the-deep-south-friday"><strong><em>click here</em></strong></a>.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/enhanced north-1679665761172.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/tor today-1679665771229.jpg">As the surface low and cold front moves across the region, an intense line of storms could form and move through late Friday with all modes of severe weather possible. Even if a storm does not reach severe criteria, heavy rain will still be a factor along with damaging winds.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 07-47-18-1679665797754.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>With multiple rounds of heavy rain expected, there is growing concern for flash flooding toward the end of the week, especially Friday. As soils become more saturated, expect flash flooding to become likely around the Ohio River by late Friday. The Baron forecast model (below) already depicts a widespread 1-4 inches of rainfall with isolated higher totals. This additional rain, combined with already saturated soils, is what's prompting the elevated flood threat.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/0324FriSatRainJPG-1679660245895.jpeg"></p><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the Severe and Rain forecast streaming 24/7.</p>

Strong Storms & Flooding Target the Midwest

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<p>A ridge of high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico is building warmth and moisture into the Southeast - a far cry from the freezing temps we saw earlier this week. We will see moisture and warm temps combo for the risk of severe weather by Saturday and stormy weather continuing into Sunday. </p><h2>Heat</h2><p>Records did occur on Thursday across the South with highs in the 80s and 90s. Everywhere there is a pink dot is an opportunity to tie or break records through the weekend and into early next week. Most of the records will be in Florida, but a few of our coastal cities will get a crack at well above average temperatures this week too. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/1-1679628159931.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/se dots-1679604609498.JPG">Highs will soar into the 80s with even some low 90s, potentially setting records each day this weekend. The heat will fuel strong storms though, and we have the risk of severe weather through the south on Friday. Be prepared for some rain showers along the Gulf Coast to finish out the week. Temperatures on Friday could be upwards of 10-15 degrees above average!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/se 3 day-1679604616308.JPG"></p><h2>Severe Weather</h2><p>Severe storms hold off until Saturday when the severe weather threat stretches from the Florida Gulf Coast into the Southeast, to include Montgomery, Columbus and Macon. All modes of severe weather are possible but we will be watching closely for damaging winds and waterspouts. Flooding will also be a threat. We will see widespread showers and fog during the morning hours but it is in the afternoon and evening when individual supercell storms develop through Alabama and Georgia that we will have to watch for the tornadic potential. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/saturday severe-1679667205188.jpg"></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-24 08-11-42-1679667304874.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Another front on Sunday across the Gulf Coast will touch off more showers and storms on Sunday through the Deep South. The timing for Sunday looks to be a bit later in the day, with storms developing in the afternoon and evening, continuing overnight. There is a bit more uncertainty in the forecast for Sunday, but plan on a stormy weekend in the South. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/03/spc sunday-1679667475270.jpg"></p><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the temperature swings and severe concerns, streaming 24/7!</p>

Record Heat to Finish Out the Week in the Southeast Before Weekend Turns Stormy

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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A new independent report commissioned by the Puerto Rican government has concluded that over 2900 people died directly and indirectly from Hurricane Maria, a figure that raised the official death toll from just 64.

<a href="https://publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/projects/PRstudy/Acertainment%20of%20the%20Estimated%20Excess%20Mortality%20from%20Hurricane%20Maria%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf">The report</a>, conducted by The George Washington University for the Puerto Rico government, found that approximately 2,975 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico last September. The figure is a carefully calculated estimate that attempted to find out "the estimate of excess mortality due to the hurricane" - meaning direct and indirect deaths from the storm.

Because the number is an estimate based on a variety of calculations, the report states that there's a 95 percent confidence interval that between 2,658 and 3,290 people died from the storm.

The 2,975 number - which is now considered the storm's official death toll - now formally places Maria as the second-deadliest hurricane in U.S. history, only behind the 1900 Galveston hurricane, and ahead of 2005's Hurricane Katrina. The total number of deaths has been a source for debate since the storm's immediate aftermath, due to "inadequate preparedness and personnel training for crisis and emergency risk communication, combined with numerous barriers to accurate, timely information and factors that increased rumor generation, ultimately decreased the perceived transparency and credibility of the Government of Puerto Rico", according to the report.

<img class="alignleft wp-image-96142 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/08/deadliest-u.s.-hurricanes.png" alt="New Report: Hurricane Maria Caused Nearly 3,000 Deaths in Puerto Rico" width="1920" height="1080" />

Puerto Rico's governor, Ricardo Rossello, is also creating a new commission to improve Puerto Rico's disaster response and emergency preparedness in response to the report.

https://twitter.com/MaribelFontan/status/1034527006019465217

There have been varying figures about how many people died in the storm, which made landfall on the southeast side of the island last September 20th as a high-end Category 4 hurricane. Figures have ranged from a few dozen (the official figure, prior to this report, was just 64) to as many as 3,000, as this current report estimates.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on Maria and the tropics this season.

For WeatherNation: Meteorologist <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/chris-bianchi/">Chris Bianchi</a>