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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>It has been a busy week as severe weather ripped through the Great Plains, causing several tornadoes in Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio. That system has ended but another is right on its heels, in similar areas, stretching from the Midwest into Texas. Tonight, multiple tornado warnings were issued in the Midwest, including for St. Louis, MO.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1781092373797151114" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1781092373797151114"></div><p>The severe potential continues this evening in the Midwest, around Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The primary threat will be straight-line winds and large hail, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Storms will be clustered along the north side of our storm system while more individual storm cells are possible for Mississippi and northern Alabama.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/FORECAST-1713495555786.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>As all of this energy and moisture move along the cold front into the Southeast on Friday. A <strong>marginal threat</strong> (level 1 out of 5) of severe weather is sprawled across the southeast from central Alabama into the Carolinas with damaging winds the main threat.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-18 11-29-37-1713461759926.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Stay with WeatherNation for all of your severe weather needs.</p>

Patrick Crawford

More Severe Weather From the Plains to Southeast

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<p>If you have been enjoying the Spring warmth in the central U.S., unfortunately, we have bad news for you headed into the weekend. Our latest push of upper-level energy will draw in slightly cooler air for the northern and central Plains following a surface cold front and linger into the weekend. The cooler air also impacts the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/wet-weekend-in-the-lone-star-state"><strong><em><u>southern Plains</u></em></strong></a>, with showers and storms too.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/lows-1713446929451.jpg">The cold air will be most notable during the morning hours in the High Plains when lows drop into the mid and lower 30s across the board. This will only be about 10° below average for many, but given the recent warmth, it will feel colder. There are <strong>FREEZE WARNINGS</strong> and <strong>FROST ADVISORIES</strong> in effect from Wisconsin into Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska to account for the cold temps overnight.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/frost alerts-1713471179897.jpg">Typically the last freeze of the season is mid-April for areas in the central Plains, Texas Panhandle, and Appalachia. Don't be surprised if there are a few more cold nights ahead in the Plains before we hit our summer stride.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/last freeze-1713364391394.jpg">High temperatures will be cool too, especially on Friday and Saturday when we only manage the 40s and 50s, which again isn't brutally cold for this time of year, but a change of pace from what we've had lately.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/sat highs-1713446874588.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/fri-1713446874586.jpg"></p>

Freezing Conditions Tonight in the Central U.S.

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<p>Summer-like temperatures are expected across the Southeast as a high-pressure system dominates in the Gulf of Mexico. The Tennessee Valley to Florida could break record-high temperatures Thursday with highs about 10-15° average for most cities. On Thursday, San Angelo in Texas had its first 100-degree day of the year. It was the fourth-earliest 100-degree day, when the average first occurrence of 100 degrees typically happens around June 1.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-18 07-16-45-1713446276119.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>If you're looking to enjoy the warmth by heading to the coast, be aware of the medium and high rip current risk, especially on the Atlantic-facing beaches and for the Florida Panhandle, from Destin through PCB and the Big Bend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/tips-1713471428100.jpg">A cool-down arrives Friday and Saturday for Mississippi and North Alabama, and further into Georgia, Alabama, and Florida by the second half of the weekend as a cold front producing showers and storms moves in. Florida will see temps drop back towards average Sunday into Monday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/highs-1713471428097.jpg"></p>

Record Heat Along the Gulf Coast Today

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<p>We're looking at a wet end of the week for the Lone Star State with 3-4" possible. Parts of West Texas suffering from extreme and severe drought conditions could use the rain. Rain can offset the dry conditions and help alleviate the fire concerns that crop up any time the wind does.</p><p>Related Article - <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/looking-ahead-thursdays-severe-threat"><strong><em><u>Severe Potential on Thursday in Texas, Southern Plains</u></em></strong></a></p><p>An upper-level trough will enter the picture late Friday into Saturday. At the surface, a stationary boundary will be in place to help focus that energy into showers and thunderstorms. The wet weather will develop late Friday and last throughout Saturday - so have some indoor backup weekend plans ready.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-18 11-38-17-1713462125923.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>A few showers form on Friday during the day but the heaviest rain develops overnight into Saturday along the Red River Valley. We will see the steady rain continue along and north of I-20 throughout the day on Saturday before our frontal boundary gets shoved east and brings rainfall into the Deep South on Sunday and Monday. We expect most of these storms to be sub-severe so we aren't worried about large hail or damaging winds, thankfully.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/2024-04-18 18-53-37-1713488062535.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>All of the heavy rain will lead to a threat of flash flooding on both Friday and Saturday. The Weather Prediction Center [WPC] has issued a slight risk (level 2 out of 4) for the heavy rainfall threat across much of Texas on Saturday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/deep south rain-1713446857197.jpg">Cloud cover and rain will aid our temperatures in staying cool - highs in Dallas will be about 15° below normal, with a similar fate for Little Rock and Houston.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/south temps-1713446857195.jpg"></p>

Wet and Cool Weekend in the Deep South

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s noisemakers are set to return in a <em>big</em> way this year as not one, but <em>two</em> sets of periodical cicadas will emerge in the Midwest and Southeast. It is the first time these two specific broods have surfaced <em>together</em> since 1803! This is the first time since 2015 that a 13 year cycle brood emerges at the same year as a 17 year brood.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5jJPrP5rfE" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>The southern brood emerges every 13 years and is known as the <strong>Brood XIX, </strong>the largest brood in the U.S.. The Northern Illinois brood has a period of 17 years, making these two broods overlap uncommon. They will only overlap in central Illinois, where is expected to be the noisest!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Closer look at Illinois locations overlap.mp4_snapshot_00.01.232-1713196589008.jpg"></p><blockquote><p>Katie Dana, a researcher with the Illinois Natural History Survey who studies the cicadas says, “We have broods emerging across the U.S. almost every year, but we don’t often have broods emerging at the same time. Just like how birds have different songs, cicadas have different songs...we have over 3,000 different species of cicadas so we have so many different songs.”</p></blockquote><p>Periodical Cicadas are large, loud insects with bright red eyes. They live underground for years. Once the cicadas take to the skies, they will be in the air for about 3-4 weeks, mating before laying eggs and reburying themselves for another 13 or 17 years.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Slow zoom east coast brood locations.mp4_snapshot_00.06.391-1713196589005.jpg">Depending on where you live, the double brood emergence could start as soon as April but will happen whenever the ground temperatures reach 64°. According to Katie, “It’s those warm soils that push them out of the ground, but they’re also looking for some moisture. If you have really dry soil, it’s going to make it hard for them to dig out.” Given that we've had some of our warmest winters on record in the Midwest we are looking at the opportunity for earlier emergence of the broods.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Warmest Winter on Record.mp4_snapshot_00.05.538-1713196589007.jpg">If you’re less than thrilled about these beaty-eyed bugs, focus on the positives. They provide extra nutrition for birds and animals and spark a reset for oak trees allowing them to produce more acorns a few years after they emerge. If that’s not enough to get you through... the next time these two broods will be out at the same time won't be for another 221 years, which will give you plenty of time to learn to appreciate the cicada screams.</p>

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

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<p>National Park Week starts April 20th and runs through April 28th, and is a week to celebrate the over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm"><strong><em><u>400 National Parks</u></em></strong></a>! Entrance fees will be waived on Saturday, April 20th for all parks. Throughout the week, parks will host events to highlight the unique nature of the parks, how you can volunteer, and the innovation happening across the country. National Park Week also encompasses Earth Day, on Monday, April 22nd. </p><p>At WeatherNation we spoke to some of the most popular, and lesser-known, national parks across the U.S. and highlighted them in our "Get Out and Explore" series. </p><h2>Death Valley National Park (California)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4d1AmHZQRw8?si=-FBI8TOpXtvw7zoz" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lake Clark National Park and Preserve (Alaska)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U3IM3w8M1Yc?si=i22NXFs0uVL_TX3y" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Lava Beds National Park (N. California)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6c0aGmAgC38?si=BPzHjKS7iBSK5K3X" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Black Canyon of the Gunnison N.P. (Colorado)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/getko7k6xv8?si=FBWTTOSZJH-3EkeR" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Badlands National Park (South Dakota)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbXfbFmDko0?si=V71zMdVtyCkH_o9K" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site (New Hampshire)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xlEEJRl0d_w?si=yPubZ3-sANBW6iiQ" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)</h2><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTg1gYAD1o8?si=nn75R3h1z054AFxh" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p>

National Park Week: Get Out and Explore

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p>Severe storms moved across the Midwest Tuesday afternoon, leading to several reports of hail and tornadoes. The Storm Prediction reported seventeen tornadoes that ripped through 4 states, including Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. Many people were affected by the numerous destructive tornadoes and damage. WeatherNation’s Field Meteorologist, Brett Adair, was on scene for a tornado outside of Salem, IA, and observed this damage nearby in New London.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(14, 16, 26)">&nbsp;</span></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1780370587728376126" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1780370587728376126"></div><p>The National Weather Service has issued a preliminary rating for this tornado in New London, Iowa of EF-2. Maximum observed winds reached 130 mph with this storm damaging the region. Here's a look at the additional tornadoes that were observed across the Plains from Tuesday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-17 190447-1713402308810.png">As the cold front moves east, so does the severe weather threat. Throughout the day on Wednesday across Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania severe weather was reported. We had hail measuring up to 1.50" in diameter in Ohio, and winds gusting over 60 mph too.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-17_lsrs-1713401931942.png"></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1780755624394985795" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1780755624394985795"></div><p>Our next severe weather threat for these areas could move back in by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/looking-ahead-thursdays-severe-threat"><strong>Thursday and Friday.</strong></a></p>

Ef-2 Tornadoes Touch Down in Kansas, Iowa

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<strong>Smoke Continues to Plague United States</strong>

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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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