Caitlin Connell

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The town of Barnsdall, OK took a direct hit from a confirmed tornado in the evening hours. Sights like this are truly heartbreaking, and unfortunately, daylight brought more images of destruction in Barnsdall, which is roughly 40 miles north of Tulsa.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787822187518292269" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1787822187518292269"></div>A tornado emergency was issued as the storm was moving through the town, which is the highest level of tornado warning that the National Weather Service can issue. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787675654689104015" src="https://twitter.com/NWStornado/status/1787675654689104015"></div>Our field crews were some of the first on the scene in the town to help people escape from their collapsed homes. Sadly we are hearing of fatalities as a result of this storm. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787707820143419707" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1787707820143419707"></div>The Storm Prediction Center issued a HIGH risk for severe weather on Monday. The risk is the highest threat level the severe weather outlook goes up to (level 5 out of 5). The last time a storm threat of this magnitude was issued was on March 31, 2023. It covered much of the I-35 corridor including Oklahoma City and Guthrie. Later in the evening, it was expanded east to include the Tulsa metro.Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/monday-severe-weather-threat-hits-the-plains-again">Severe Storms Push East through Thursday</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot20240506161335png-1715033619658.png">Storms had incredible structure over the Plains on Monday night, fueled by large amounts of energy, spin in the atmosphere and ample moisture.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787650470951231545" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1787650470951231545"></div>The severe storm reports from Monday primarily came out of Kansas and Oklahoma. It lined up very well with where the high risk was issued between the two states. Most of the reports were from large to giant hailstones and strong, damaging winds showing up in the yellow and blue dots below. A few tornadoes touched down in the Plains, indicated by the reports in the red dots.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/svr high-1715094628616.jpg">Hailstones the size of SOFTBALLS fell in Moonlight, Kansas on Monday. We didn't stop there though, even Canton, OK, and Riley, KS had to deal with baseball-sized hail from some of the supercells that formed in the second half of the day.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/hail reports-1715094628614.jpg"> Please continue to stay weather-aware as the severe threat doesn't disappear, it pushes to the east.

Lucy Bergemann

Massive Tornado Hits Oklahoma Monday Night

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As storm energy and moisture from the Gulf pushes in from the Central U.S., the severe threat moves eastward. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued severe weather outlooks through Thursday, indicating confidence in the environment to produce severe storms. During this stretch, severe weather threats are possible: damaging wind, large hail, and a few tornadoes are likely.Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/tornadoes-tore-through-the-plains-monday">Tornadoes Tore Through the Plains Monday</a><h2>Tuesday</h2>Throughout Tuesday, the severe weather threat stretches from Arkansas through the Midwest and into parts of the East Coast - an ENHANCED risk (level 3 out of 5) includes Columbus, Fort Wayne, and Louisville. New storms develop later in the day as temperatures build, keeping the threat of strong storms around throughout the afternoon and evening hours. The afternoon storm cells will be more individual meaning damaging hail and tornadoes are possible.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-07 04-24-18-1715077481453.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With the enhanced risk, there are significant storm threats: EF 2 or stronger tornadoes from Fort Wayne, IN, to Columbus, OH, and into Louisville, KY. Significant hail also poses a threat where 2"+ hail from the shores of Lake Erie through the southern Ohio River Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot20240507040649png-1715076422015.png"><h2>Wednesday</h2>On Wednesday, our storm threat remains at an ENHANCED risk but covers a wider swath of the country. From the Midwest and toward the Central Gulf states, there is an elevated threat of tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds. The "significate severe threat includes St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville, and Paducah for EF-2 or stronger tornadoes along with much of the Midwest, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and NE Texas for 2" hail - park your car under cover if you can!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/sig wed-1715090560723.jpg">The morning of Wednesday will be relatively calm and quiet, which can be deceiving because storms fire off in the afternoon and linger well into the evening. Unfortunately, we will see strong storms overnight, especially through West Virginia, east Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee. The primary threat overnight Wednesday into Thursday will be damaging winds and embedded tornadoes, so make sure you can get your weather alerts in a fashion that can wake you up.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-07 07-57-13-1715090379250.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Thursday</h2>On Thursday our sagging cold front taps into rich, moist, and hot Gulf air helping to produce a few storms on Thursday afternoon and evening from the East Coast to East Texas. The Storm Prediction Center [SPC] has highlighted the region from with a SLIGHT risk as all modes of severe weather are possible, including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. We will see storms start early, leftover from Wednesday along the SE Coast, and continue throughout the day before our front responsible for the severe weather pushes offshore. Meanwhile, showers and storms start Thursday afternoon and evening along I-10 in Texas and Louisiana as the cold front swings into the region continuing into Friday. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-07 07-57-57-1715090672963.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>We know this is another week of severe weather chances, but please don't let severe weather fatigue get the best of you. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest information on this topic.

Severe Storms Push East through Thursday

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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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It feels like summer with temperatures rising across the Gulf Coast this week thanks to a strong ridge of high pressure that is parked across the region. Temperatures will be warm enough to tie or break records through Friday, with Wednesday our warmest day ahead. Widespread 90s are expected with records as old as the 1980s at risk of falling. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/highs-1715027092249.jpg">The warmth impacts Texas and the central Gulf on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs warmest south of I-10, but even Little Rock climbs close to 90°. The humidity will make it feel even warmer for Houston, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. Temperatures cool by Thursday for north and central Texas as a cold front slides through. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/3 day temps sc-1715027092253.jpg">Our peak heat in the eastern Gulf will be Thursday but highs will be threatened on Wednesday and Friday too. Along the Atlantic coast on Friday nearly every major city has the potential to tie or break records. We're looking at widespread highs in the 80s and 90s, about 10° above average! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/3 day temps se-1715027092252.jpg">

Record Highs in Jeopardy Along the Gulf Coast

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, 26.4" of snowfall was observed on May 4th, making it the snowiest day of the 2023-24 winter season! In Lassen N.P over 30" of snow fell with a fresh 26" at Palisades Tahoe ski resort. The late-season snowfall was responsible for tough travel on I-80 on the Donner Pass over the weekend.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787160675728679277" src="https://twitter.com/UCB_CSSL/status/1787160675728679277"></div>Additional snowfall will continue for the western United States over the next couple of days. Widespread winter weather alerts have been issued for the Rockies, Tetons, Wasatch, Uintas, and Cascades. We expect most of our snowfall to be in the higher elevations of the mountains but there have been some reports in lower elevations such as Salt Lake City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/winter alerts-1715083844457.jpg">Colder air at the highest elevations will produce snowfall in the Rockies of Colorado and the ranges of Wyoming. As low-pressure regresses (moves back to the west), we see the snowfall rate will be much higher late Tuesday and to Wednesday morning. This push of energy keeps rain chances for Montana on Tuesday afternoon and evening.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/forecast-1715083965991.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some locations may receive 8-20 inches of snow across the highest mountain peaks! Snow levels will fall to 3,000-4,000 feet most commonly, but may fall as low as 2,500' elevation. Heavy rain in Montana and Wyoming could top 3"+ through the middle of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/snow accumulation-1715084117930.jpg">If it feels like snow is falling late into the season, you may be surprised to know that the season's last snow for many West Coast communities lingers into May and for the highest elevations, even into June!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/est avg snowfall-1714510694011.jpg">As this weather system moves across the West, it will whip up a lot of wind! The wind gusts may reach up to 55-80 miles per hour across many states, and especially at higher elevations where gusts could top 80 mph. Secure your property before the wind hits!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/WIND-1715084177638.jpg">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the western forecast this week, or get your Western regional forecast at 50 past every hour!

Late Season Snowfall Continues Out West

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Preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) suggests that April 2024 was the second-highest tornado count on record. This surpasses the average number of April tornadoes which stands at 182 touchdowns across the country for the month. The year 2011 holds the record of 757 tornadoes in April alone, and I am not the only one who is thankful we didn't see nearly that many.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/April Tor Comp-1714921143566.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>While many of these tornadic storms across the Great Plains may have been photogenic, they are responsible for excessive damage strewn across states like Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas.On average, Mississippi, Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas see the most tornadoes in April. Last month hit Nebraska and Iowa hard, which is not the norm this time of year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-02-25 110543-1714921317847.jpg">May is known to bring the most tornadoes we see each year. Considering how active April was, it will be interesting to see how the upcoming month turns out. Monday already has a moderate risk (level 4 out of 5) issued for parts of Oklahoma and Kansas. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-outbreak-likely-monday">Click here</a> for more info on Monday's likely outbreak.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1714921861310.jpg">Keep your eye on the sky and don't let severe weather fatigue get the best of you. We can't stress enough to continue to take weather alerts seriously and try your best to prepare ahead of time.

April Brought 300 Tornadoes, Second-Most On Record

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After multiple spots in southeast Texas received one to two FEET of rain in just 24 hours in the last week, many instances of extreme flooding are ongoing. Roads are washed out, rivers and creeks are running high with water still standing over roads in some spots, and major flooding is expected to continue along rivers over the next few days. This video was taken about 20 miles north of Houston, in Humble, TX. Please remember, turn around, don't drown.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1786848270972489808" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1786848270972489808"></div>More heavy rain and flooding are expected to close out the weekend in southeast Texas. A moderate risk (level 3 out of 4) is issued for Houston and Lufkin.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/05-05_through tonight wpc-1714938620711.png">This level 3 out of 4 on the flood risk scale indicates that numerous flash floods are likely, with some significant flash flooding possible. This area corresponds with the already-flooded part of the state with standing water and rivers still in a major flood stage (see top of page).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/mod flood-1714904806947.png">The heavy rainfall threat will continue across Texas due to the oversaturation of soils. Any additional amount of rainfall could lead to flooding fairly quickly.Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/tornado-hits-west-texas-more-possible-today">Tornado Hits West Texas, More Storms this Weekend</a><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/ggg-1714959438637.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>If you live in southeast Texas, be careful and seek higher ground if a flash flood warning is issued, especially if water starts rising. Rain totals by the end of the weekend will be anywhere from 1-3" overall, but pockets of 4-5" are possible where multiple rounds of storms come through. Flooding will be expected in areas of southeast Texas already hard-hit by flooding earlier this week. Never drive through flooded roads!

Flood Threat Winding Down for the Lone Star State

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Despite seeing strong storms on Saturday, what seems like a never-ending severe weather threat is ongoing in the Lone Star State. Reports of a few touchdowns of tornadoes came out of places like Kermit and Fort Stockton, TX Saturday.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1786866266076041461" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1786866266076041461"></div>The hail that some of these severe storms brought was nothing to mess around with. Kermit and Randalls Corner had to deal with softball-sized hail throughout Saturday afternoon and evening.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/Screenshot 2024-05-05 045825-1714906764420.png">The severe weather threat will be limited overnight in south Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. An isolated severe storm will be possible overnight with isolated damaging winds or a brief tornado possible. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/TEXAS FLOODDD -1714958979845.png">Related articles: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/flood-threat-continues-in-the-plains">Texas: More Rain in Flooded Areas </a>and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/monday-severe-weather-threat-hits-the-plains-again">Multi-Day Severe Outbreak Possible Monday - Wednesday</a><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/ggg-1714959175188.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Jackie Brown

Tornado Hits West Texas, Isolated Storms Tonight

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Kit grew up in the Piedmont of North Carolina outside of Charlotte, spending most of his childhood in Belmont, an old mill town on the Catawba River now grown into a bustling suburb. He had a passion for mathematics and science through grade school, having ambitions to become an architect, engineer, theoretical/astrophysicist, or geologist, but eventually choosing to pursue Meteorology. He went to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to obtain his degree, taking all electives on atmospheric sensing, tropical, and mesoscale meteorology for a full, in-depth understanding of the atmosphere (though he maintains on every hike, he should have taken more geology classes!) He interned at WCNC in Charlotte, learning the craft of presenting off-script and how to tell a weather story. After Graduation, he worked in the Quad Cities at WHBF-TV and KLJB-TV, the CBS/Fox affiliates. From there, he moved to Grand Island, Nebraska at KSNB-TV, the NBC affiliate for Central Nebraska. The active winters and severe seasons kept him busy, experiencing a wide range of wild weather. He remembers the most impactful event in March of 2019, when a massive snowmelt, heavy rain, and blizzard all struck the state in 36 hours. Kit later moved to the Denver area taking a job as a Producer with WeatherNation. He was brought on as a full-time on-air meteorologist in June of 2022 and can now be seen with the rest of the team on WeatherNation! You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @KitCwx.

Kit Thomas

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It is officially rainy season in Florida and the Sunshine State could use moisture; drought conditions on the Gulf Coast of Florida are in the extreme category following a dry winter. Now, an upper-level low-pressure system will dig into the South, pulling in Gulf Moisture and touching off daily thunderstorms across Florida. Winds move counter-clockwise around an area of low pressure, meaning with the low situated around Alabama/Mississippi, northerly and easterly winds will be seen in the upper levels across Georgia and Florida, pulling in Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico moisture.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/05/fl drought-1684519833600.jpg">The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has highlighted the risk of heavy rainfall on Florida's East Coast Monday through Wednesday of the upcoming week as temperatures warm into the 80s and 90s and daily thunderstorms develop along the sea breeze, having support from the upper-level low mentioned above. Early indications are for rainfall totals in the 3-5" range in central and southern Florida. Despite the ongoing drought, this rainfall could potentially overwhelm soils and lead to flash flooding, especially in urban communities.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/05/wpc fl-1684519863522.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/05/Screenshot 2023-05-21 114512-1684691126129.png">The exact placement of the upper level low and subsequent concentration of moisture will wiggle as we get closer to the forecast period, so stay with WeatherNation for the latest in the extended forecast. Your Eastern Regional Forecast can always be found :10 past the hour.

Rainy Season is Back in Florida

Massive Tornado Hits Oklahoma Monday Night

The town of Barnsdall, OK took a direct hit f

Severe Storms Push East through Thursday

As storm energy and moisture from the Gulf pu

Record Highs in Jeopardy Along the Gulf Coast

It feels like summer with temperatures rising

Late Season Snowfall Continues Out West

According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra S

April Brought 300 Tornadoes, Second-Most On Record

Preliminary data from the Storm Prediction Ce

Flood Threat Winding Down for the Lone Star State

After multiple spots in southeast Texas recei

Tornado Hits West Texas, Isolated Storms Tonight

Despite seeing strong storms on Saturday, wha