WeatherNation Meteorologists

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The Aspen Acres fire burning in Southern Colorado, near Pueblo, is almost over 87,000 acres with little containment. Evacuations remain in place as the fire is still expected to grow due to strong winds. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2071956924137136402" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2071956924137136402?s=20"></div>Numerous additional wildfires continue to burn across Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, that have scorched tens of thousands of acres over the past week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 035637-1783331811935.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2072523156376752267" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2072523156376752267"></div><h1>Fire Outlooks</h1>The fire weather outlooks are minimal as we head into the week, but there is a chance for some dry thunderstorms across the front range of the Rockies.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 035701-1783331833005.png">This is especially important as we move past the 4th of July, as it's possible to continue these fire conditions after this weekend, especially as warmer temperatures build.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043144-1782556311355.png">Residents are encouraged to stay informed, follow local evacuation orders, and do their part to help prevent the start and spread of wildfires this summer.

Adrian Hernandez

Massive Fires Burn in the Four Corners

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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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Dangerous storms ripped through the northeast on Independence Day, causing delays at America 250 festivities with severe wind reports gusting up to 87 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034136-1783330910512.png">Strong thunderstorms continue to impact the eastern U.S. as ridge-riding thunderstorms continue to influence the eastern U.S. The ridge of high pressure that caused this holiday heat wave is shifting off into the Atlantic, and thunderstorms are able to sneak through for the next few afternoons.On Monday, the Storm Prediction Center has kept the risk for severe weather going across the eastern U.S. with a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe thunderstorms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034213-1783330946117.png">The timing on these storms tend to have them forming in the early afternoon, when daytime heating is at it's peak. Following the frontal boundary, afternoon storm chances are expected to stay in the forecast for today and tomorrow.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-06 03-42-38-1783330980145.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With rounds of rainfall, the flooding potential will increase. The NYC area has upgraded its risk to MODERATE (level 3 out of 4) for flash flooding on Monday. Highly populated areas like Long Island, and most of NYC will be under that moderate risk for Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034441-1783331100499.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034513-1783331125156.png">For more details on the threats and timing of these storms, tune in to WeatherNation :10 past the hour for your Eastern Regional Forecast.

Eastern U.S. Severe Threat Increasing Flood Risk

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Kevin Schneider

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A ridge of high pressure is building in out west, bringing the return of warm temperatures. Temperatures soaring past 115 could lead to heat illness toward the middle of the week.Temperatures even in the Phoenix area will stay above average for much of the week, peaking on Tuesday and Wednesday. An Extreme Heat Warning covers the area and extends into far southern California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034655-1783331232469.png">Forecast highs will be running upwards of 10 degrees above average, but no records are at jeopardy this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034721-1783331257530.png">Long-term models suggest this might be something to get used to, however. This ridge looks to loiter around the area, and could get stronger by next weekend. The Climate Prediction Center is highlighting much of the west with above average temperartures into the middle of July.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 034749-1783331280754.png">This all comes on the heels of a warmer than normal June, which featured 18 days above average before a brief break heading into this month.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-05 092234-1783264966540.png">Heat safety will be a key concern going forward. Be sure to stay hydrated and keep looking in the back seat before locking the car.

Warm Weather Returns Out West

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NORTHERN PLAINS - Severe weather is in the forecast across the Northern Plains as we head into the work week. A mid-level trough is expected to move into the area, which will bring us unsettled weather and thunderstorms over the next few days.Stronger thunderstorms are of interest on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, there's a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather across North Dakota, South Dakota, and northern Minnesota.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 032856-1783330158403.png">Tuesday's severe weather risk looks a bit more widespread across the Plains, with organized clusters of thunderstorms possible later in the day on Tuesday. There is a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather across South Dakota and Minnesota.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 032948-1783330203637.png"><h2>Timing</h2>On Monday, strong storms are expected to form in the later hours of the evening. This pattern is likely to repeat a little further south on Tuesday and Wednesday. Same timing, just further south. Make sure we have multiple ways to get alerts as some of these storms could track into those night time hours.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-06 03-30-27-1783330249360.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>A few locations could get hit a couple times by thunderstorms this week which means that some areas may see some locally heavier rainfall totals. Keep an eye on flood alerts in your area, with repeated rounds of storms you may be at risk for flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 033751-1783330691699.png">Severe weather is expected to stay in the forecast into the middle of the work week. Another MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather has been issued for the Central and High Plains for Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-06 033817-1783330744248.png">For more on this active forecast, be sure to join us on WeatherNation!

Stormy Pattern Ahead for the Northern Plains

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SOUTHEAST - It's been muggy and stormy in the southeast and as we wrap up the holiday-long weekend, that trend will continue. Forecast highs and heat index values through Monday will likely reach the triple digits all across the southeast. Cities like Charleston, SC, will be feeling like 110 through Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-05 144142-1783284197832.png">This heat and humidity will also help to drive diurnal thunderstorms (storms that are driven by daytime heating). There is a marginal risk across the southeast for severe weather through Monday morning but as we head into the day on Monday thunderstorms will continue to pop through the southeastern U.S.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/07-05 rse bams-1783284239258.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Muggy and Stormy in the South

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Early in the season, we watch closer to the coasts here at home for development in the Hurricane Season. Until the waves coming off the coast of Africa start to fly and quit losing the battle to Saharan Dust, old fronts are the leading source of development.Currently, a frontal boundary moving through the southeastern U.S. has prompted a marginal risk for severe weather across portions of the Southeast. Main threat will be damaging winds. Earlier this week, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring an area of potential tropical interest. That area is no longer expected to form into a tropical system. For now, the only name we have crossed off for the Atlantic season is Arthur.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 063531-1782563982336.jpg">In the Eastern Pacific, on the other hand, Tropical Storm Douglas formed on Wednesday. This system is set to strengthen a little bit before weakening over open waters, with no impacts to land.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/douglassssss-1782952012931.png">

Jackie Brown

Slow-Moving Front No Longer Expected to Develop Tropically, Monitoring Eastern Pacific

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As Summer settles in across the Central U.S., MCSs, also known as Mesoscale Convective Systems, become more prevalent. These large clusters of thunderstorms can organize and persist for hours, travel hundreds of miles, and produce all modes of severe weather. The weather pattern over the next few days will favor repeated rounds of these storm complexes across the Plains &amp; Midwest.Strong and severe thunderstorms remain possible in the Mid South over the next few days as storms ride a ridge of high pressure. This will target the same areas through the end of the week to see severe weather. <h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/what-is-an-mcs">WHAT IS AN MCS: READ MORE HERE</a></h4><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/BARON 5-1782612588554.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For the overnight, a few storms could still be severe across parts of the Ohio Valley before being steering into the Carolinas for Sunday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 133648-1782589019330.png">These storms will dump rain on the same areas, increasing the risk of flooding in some of the same spots that already flooded earlier this week. For more on the flooding risk, read this <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-weather-returns-this-weekend">related article</a> on the flood potential.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/1-1782612765591.png">

Jesse Kelley

'MCS' Season Brings Severe and Flooding Threats Across the Southeast

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Smoke Continues to Plague United States

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Fires in the west are continuing to burn causing air quality concerns for the Northwest.

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Air quality alerts are in effect for Washington, Oregon, and Idaho through Wednesday. Some side of effects of the smoke include burning eyes, runny nose, and even aggravation of heart and lung diseases. Make sure to keep an eye on children, elderly, and people with respiratory illnesses. Also, make sure to limit outdoor activities over the next 48 hours. Conditions are expected to improve Wednesday night.

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These fires are not only affecting the west, though. A westerly wind is spreading the smoke towards the eastern half of the United States. Luckily, rain from the Dakotas to Texas has helped clear out much of the thick smoke. That rain will continue to spread east for the next 48 hours. This will help clear out some of the smoke from Minnesota to New York.

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For WeatherNation -Meteorologist <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/shelly-lindblade/">Shelly Lindblade</a>

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