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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Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the Midwest and Great Plains on Friday as a powerful storm system moved into the region. The same storm system was producing snow in Colorado while tornado warnings were being issued hundreds of miles to the east. Unfortunately, tornadoes hit some residential areas causing damage to homes in several states and injuring at least one person in Iowa. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported thus far. We'll post summaries of the tornadoes, including their ratings, as that information comes in over the next few days. Head to the bottom of the page for radar loops from Friday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051753-1776512252193.png">Over one hundred tornado warnings were issued with 25 reports of tornadoes either being spotted or causing damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051244-1776512264052.png">Many more severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings were issued on Friday, with many warnings confirmed by reports (below).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051758-1776512271813.png">Hail topped 3 inches in diameter (bigger than baseballs) in both the Midwest and Plains on Friday, with many significant hail reports (over 2 inches).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051925-1776512279734.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051918-1776514705456.png">Hurricane force wind gusts also verified on Friday, with at least 5 reported over hurricane strength in the Midwest. Squall lines formed late in the day to produce large bowing segments.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051932-1776512279733.png">Radar Review</h1>Radar imagery from Friday was impressive, with many discrete supercells forming before the storms became more linear late in the evening. Many warnings were issued for storms, including confirmed tornado warnings (pink instead of red).<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-04-23-1776516944009.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-12-44-1776516960303.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-13-20-1776516972432.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Patrick Crawford

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

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As anticipated, severe weather was widespread from the Midwest through the Great Plains on Friday, including over 20 reports of tornadoes. The storms also produced widespread reports of very large hail and destructive winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776480963803.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776480984502.png">The cold front that generated the severe storms in the Midwest and Southern Plains on Friday will keep moving east into the Ohio Valley on Saturday. The front will interact with more unstable and showers and storms could quickly turn severe. All modes of severe weather will be in the forecast, but the damaging winds and hail will be the primary weather threats. Isolated tornadoes are possible for the areas below.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 043631-1776508603955.png"><h1>Timing</h1>While rain looks to continue through the morning, afternoon heating should provide enough energy for storms to surge into severe strength once again. Scattered severe storms look possible, with a general downtrend in intensity of storms through the late evening into the overnight. Rain and snow (yes, snow) will shift farther east on Sunday with the front, keeping precipitation in the forecast for quite a few east coast residents. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 04-37-14-1776508746880.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rain totals could surpass an inch or two, especially form western PA into NY. Isolated flooding is possible. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 043845-1776508737883.png">Get the latest forecast for the East with the WeatherNation app anytime - or tune into our broadcast at :10 past the hour!

Severe Storms Shift East on Saturday

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Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

Jesse Kelley

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After a quiet weekend, the next upper level low pressure moves in from Alaska. With the close proximity of the low just hanging off the coast, rain and snow chance will be increasing for Southern Oregon and Northern California!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1776454572613.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy rain will be possible for Northern California especially Monday and Tuesday where a few inches will possible. As colder air drops for the Sierra, some snow chances will be possible too. Again this is good news as drought has returned to the state following the historic heatwave in March. As the low moves eastward midweek, more moisture should increase across the Rocky Mountain states. Models are starting to hint at some big snowfall for the Sierra. This will be such welcomed news after the decreasing snowpack the last 2 months.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 2-1776528506242.jpg">In the next week and half, the pattern should stay stormy which means more potential for snow and rain chances for California and the rest of the West. Temperatures will be slightly cooler than normal!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776454908334.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776454930131.png">

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

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Kevin Schneider

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High pressure has been dominant on the East Coast this week, felling numerous records from Monday through Friday. After another slew of records were broken yesterday, several more could fall on Saturday before temperatures plummet into Sunday and Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776481393761.png">Saturday will be a warm afternoon in the South and Mid Atlantic region. The record warmth is fueling severe storms but the cold front will put that to bed again early next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 2-1776528681777.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 063738-1776515871313.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 063743-1776515877742.png"><h3>Fire Danger</h3>With this kind of warmth, fire concerns increase. Hot, dry conditions can quickly dry out soils and vegetation, creating more fuel for fires. Again on Saturday, there is an elevated threat of fire danger from Maryland down to the Gulf Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776481632957.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776481651724.png">

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

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COLORADO - An estimated 70+ car pileup happened on Colorado's I-70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel earlier on Tuesday, April 14th. Light snow was being reported throughout the day. I-70 was closed well into Tuesday evening, but has since been reopened.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044230476697674132" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044230476697674132"></div>A frontal boundary is moving across the Northern Rockies. As a result, widespread winter weather alerts are in place for higher elevations across the Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 3-1776437893436.jpg">This system is expected to reach Utah by tonight and much of Colorado by Friday. This next round of snow for Colorado looks to bring snow levels lower, down to the I-25 corridor.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/FORECAST-1776437807033.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals will vary by elevation, but mountainous areas could pick up a foot of snow.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 2-1776437841942.jpg">The air will feel much cooler over the next few days. Numerous areas are under frost and freeze alerts.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368815559.png">In true Colorado fashion, Denver's nighttime lows will drop into the 20s and 30s after a mild start on Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368844993.png">More details on this forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

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UPPER MIDWEST and GREAT LAKES - Three straight days of destructive severe storms moved through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Wednesday, NWS Kansas City confirmed two EF-0 and EF-1 tornadoes that hit the city of Clinton, MO. Check out the video below of the tornado knocking over a fuel tanks.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/VO_041626_RNC_CLINTON, MO_AWESOME CLOSE UP SHOT OF THE TORNADO VORTICE &amp; KNOCKS OVER LARGE CYLINDERS_FB_MS_E041626-1776367783604.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 073701-1776346632507.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044202476317093912" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044202476317093912"></div><h2>Overnight</h2>Storms are expected to continue to weaken as we have lost daytime heating. Some rough storms still remain possible across Arkansas and Tennessee that could produce some damaging winds and hail. An isolated severe storm or two is also possible for New England.<h1>Timing</h1><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1776392246151.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms in the same areas, this may lead to an isolated to scattered flooding risk across the Great Lakes region. Be prepared for flooding, especially if you still have some snow on the ground; frozen ground can take longer to absorb flood waters compared to unfrozen ground. Flood alerts continue into Friday with the next round of severe storms in the forecast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368095919.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368119393.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044599476434907195" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044599476434907195"></div>

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

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SW PLAINS - Portions of Texas and Oklahoma are at risk of severe thunderstorms through Thursday morning. The threat for severe storms is expected to slow into the overnight hours but is still non-zero. Wind reports earlier on Wednesday gusted up to 84 mph in Elk City, Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195038-1776304346569.png">In addition to this significant hail risk, there is also a risk of tornadoes with these supercells.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195124-1776304385162.png">The risk for flooding is fairly minimal in these areas, but models do have a few localized, heavier downpours through the next couple of days in these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 132632-1776281196660.png">

Alana Cameron

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

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The Rhea fire has been burning across western Oklahoma since Friday, April 12th. With strong winds and low humidity levels, this fire has rapidly grown to over 240,000 acres.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-90247" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/04/rhea-fire-2-728x408.jpg" alt="" width="728" height="408" />

https://twitter.com/LauraMockWX/status/986035218623627264

Many people homes, crops, and livestock have been destroyed as this massive wildfire continues to grow with only 3% containment.

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A State of Emergency remains in effect for 52 counties in Oklahoma due to wildfires and critical fire weather.

Sadly, there have been reports of fatalities and injuries due to this fire. On Saturday, a woman was found dead in her car and others have suffered from heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.

<img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-90248" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/04/rhea-fire-1-728x408.jpg" alt="" width="728" height="408" />

Read more about the extreme fire weather conditions for Tuesday <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/dangerous-fire-conditions-southwest/">here.</a>

For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Kate Mantych.

Rhea Fire Still Rages Across Western Oklahoma

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the M

Severe Storms Shift East on Saturday

As anticipated, severe weather was widespread

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

After a quiet weekend, the next upper level l

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

High pressure has been dominant on the East C

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

COLORADO - An estimated 70+ car pileup happen

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

UPPER MIDWEST and GREAT LAKES - Three straigh

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

SW PLAINS - Portions of Texas and Oklahoma ar