Caitlin Connell

IMG_4277png-1701210172007.png

The Storm Prediction Center issued a HIGH risk for severe weather on Monday. The high 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.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><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/Screenshot 2024-05-07 045413-1715079361413.png">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, they will most likely become more common across the Plains once daybreak hits. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1787718715590463870" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1787718715590463870"></div>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/Screenshot 2024-05-07 045818-1715079511055.png">Please continue to stay weather-aware as the severe threat doesn't disappear, it pushes to the east.

Tornadoes Tear Through the Plains Monday

marshallpng-1715078216017.png

<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<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>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Lucy Bergemann

Untitleddesign4png-1682539884658.png

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/severe-weather-outbreak-likely-monday">Severe Weather Outbreak Monday</a>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, and into Columbus, OH and 2" or greater hail from the shores of Lake Erie through the southern Ohio River Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/sigtuesdayjpg-1715018593213.jpeg">On Wednesday, our storm threat remains at an ENHANCED risk but covers a wider swath of the country. From the Midwest and I-70 corridor of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, western Kentucky, eastern Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and northeast Texas there is an elevated threat of tornadoes, hail, and damaging winds. However, storms will be possible from NYC through Texas, the Great Lakes to I-10. A few storms will be the focus for the first half of the day with additional storm development in the afternoon and evening along a cold front.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-06 19-03-33-1715043840348.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The storm threat continues to push east on Thursday with a large portion of the southern I-95 corridor highlighted for the risk of severe weather. We will see storms start early, leftover from Wednesday, and continue throughout the day before our front responsible for the severe weather pushes offshore.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/se thursday-1715002721648.jpg">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

Screenshot20240507040649png-1715076422015.png

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

AlanaCameronjpeg-1679518648021.jpeg

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">

Temps Soar into the 90s Along the Gulf

ezgif7875cb2908fgif-1715027328419.gif

WeatherNation Meteorologists

headshotspng-1676305264677.png

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/2024/05/05-07_rnw_winter alerst-1715042825385.png">Colder air at the highest elevations will produce snowfall in the Rockies of Colorado and the ranges of Wyoming. Steady rain winds down into Tuesday with snowfall continuing in the mountains into Tuesday morning. An additional push of energy brings back rain chances for Montana on Tuesday afternoon and evening while keeping much of the Intermountain West active.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/05-06_rne 12z-1715042891950.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some locations may receive 8-16 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 2" through the middle of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/05-07_rnw_fcst precip-1715042906416.png">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/alerts-1715010285791.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

0507_rnw_fcstprecippng-1715042912552.png

In case you aren't sick of the severe weather chances in Texas, we have more on the horizon. A trailing cold front taps into rich, moist and hot Gulf air helping to produce a few storms on Thursday afternoon and evening across East Texas. The Storm Prediction Center [SPC] has highlighted the region from Dallas south along I-35 and I-45 into San Antonio and Houston for the risk of severe storms on Thursday. All modes of severe weather are possible, including tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/moisture-1715036010505.jpg">Showers and storms start Thursday afternoon and evening as the cold front swings into the region. This particular model favors more of Mississippi and Louisiana for the storm threat along with heavy rainfall, but as the forecast and ingredients come together ahead of Thursday we will get a clearer picture of where storms develop late-week. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/2024-05-06 16-52-01-1715036168649.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Severe weather tends to favor the Great Plains in May, but heat and humidity can contribute to severe weather all the way to the Gulf Coast. We know the last few weeks have been active for severe weather, but please do not let your guard down this week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/05/may tornadoes-1715036010502.jpg">

Thursday: Severe Weather to Impact Big Cities in Texas

spcthuscjpg-1715035894422.jpeg

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

spcapriltorsjpg-1714921243111.jpeg

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

txrainpng-1714904125494.png

We're still keeping our eye on the Eastern Pacific which continues to be very active!

<img class="alignnone wp-image-96521 size-large" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/09/904a-728x408.jpg" alt="The Latest on the Eastern Pacific" width="728" height="408" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-96524 size-large" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/09/905-728x408.jpg" alt="The Latest on the Eastern Pacific" width="728" height="408" />

Hurricane Norman is continuing on its west track until Thursday night where it will start to curve northwest. Currently, sustained winds are at 85 mph, and Norman will stay a category 1 hurricane until about Thursday night. Although Norman is not looking to make direct impact with the Hawaiian islands, it could still bring some rain and rough seas to Hawaii.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-96525 size-large" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/09/904b-1-728x408.jpg" alt="The Latest on the Eastern Pacific" width="728" height="408" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-96523 size-large" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/09/904c-728x408.jpg" alt="The Latest on the Eastern Pacific" width="728" height="408" />

Olivia has now been upgraded to a category 2 hurricane. Sustained winds are around 105 mph, and Olivia is looking to strengthen more by tonight. It will continue on its west track over the next five days and could possibly have some impacts on Hawaii, but it still is a little too early to say. <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/">WeatherNation</a> will continue to update you on the Eastern Pacific throughout the rest of the week!