Kevin Schneider

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NORTHERN PLAINS - On Wednesday, a low-pressure system from the northwest will slide along the jet stream into the Northern Plains and Midwest. This system will move into some warmer air, so models are favoring more rainfall as opposed to snowfall.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/12--15 west to central-1765842581293.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Currently, from recent clipper systems, there is a decent snowpack on the ground across these states.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web1-1765971825715.png">With this next system moving in and bringing rain, this could lead to a bit of slush out there as the rain melts away the snowfall. The system moves through fast and over the Midwest and into the northeast by Thursday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-17 04-44-08-1765971872923.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Winter weather alerts have been issued for portions of North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota for late Wednesday through Thursday for blizzard conditions possible and snowfall totals up to 2".<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web5-1765971911177.png">Precipitation totals look to be fairly minimal because of the speed at which this system moves through.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web5-1765972029193.png">For some, temperatures will be impacted by this front. For instance, look at Bismarck, North Dakota, a high of 42 on Wednesday and 30 degrees cooler by Thursday with a high of 10.<h1>SEVERE</h1>On the tail end of our front, ingredients could come together to lead to severe storms on Thursday. Since this system has LOADS of wind energy, organizing storms will not be hard. The question is getting to the storms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-17 083316-1765985615795.png">Mostly likely outcome: a mess of rain with an embedded line of stronger storms capable of putting down damaging straight-line winds. Right now, the Storm Prediction Center has highlighted Tennessee and Kentucky with the greatest chance. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-17 083557-1765985764161.png">For more details on this, be sure to join us on WeatherNation live! We stream 24/7.

Messy System Moving into the Midwest

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

Taban Sharifi

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NORTHWEST - A state of emergency was declared for Washington State on Wednesday, December 10th, following days of heavy rain that led to historic river flooding.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2000219235759362464" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2000219235759362464"></div>Thankfully, river levels have been dropping since Friday for many areas. The entire Skagit River Valley (in the 100-year flood plain) was given the "GO" order to evacuate early Thursday morning. The Skagit River in Mt Vernon crested at a new record high of 37.73 feet, but thankfully began to drop on Friday afternoon. The river is now in minor flood stage, but with additional rain this week, it could reach major flood stage again by Tuesday night.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web1-1765971289665.png"><h1>Additional Rain/Severe Weather</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/pic6-1765985395878.png">Multiple rounds of heavy rain are expected, but there will be a few differences compared to the last event. The bad news? River levels are already high, and soils are saturated, so flooding will develop quickly. The good news is the heavy rain is not expected to be as consistent as last week's event, and snow levels will drop late Tuesday into Wednesday. That means as the early-week moisture surge comes in, more precipitation will fall as snow and stick, leading to less runoff. Regardless, heavy rain and flooding are likely to present big issues, including the potential for flash flooding. A Flood Watch has been issued for parts of Washington through Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web6-1765971349694.png">Several severe weather outlooks have been issued, the main threat being damaging winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web4-1765971596801.png">Winter weather alerts have been issued for the snow side of this weather story.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web5-1765971405527.png">Portions of the Cascades and Olympic Range in Washington is also under Blizzard Warnings through Wednesday morning. This is the 3rd Blizzard Warning to be issued for the Cascade Mountains in the last 10 years.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-16 162400-1765927456412.png">Totals will continue to accumulate over the next several days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web8-1765971627424.png">Additional rounds of heavy rain and snow are expected into the week. We won't have a lot of new snow until late tonight when temperatures begin to drop.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-17 04-40-52-1765971680030.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Through Christmas, the Climate Prediction Center has a higher confidence that conditions will stay wetter than normal.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web9-1765971714397.png">For more details, be sure to join us live at :50 past the hour for your Western Regional forecast.

Patrick Crawford

Blizzard Warning for the Cascades & Flooding Rain Across the NW

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It's been a cold start to the week for millions! Areas around the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley took the most recent Arctic outbreak on the chin, with temperatures plummeting below zero in some instances. On Monday, as winds flipped out of the south, we began to thaw out and most of us are feeling either seasonable or above average by Wednesday. However......The Arctic air isn't getting shoved too far away. This week, we unlock another block of the cold stuff and slide it southward. The good news? It looks like it's not quite as brutal as the last shot.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web 1-1765981294700.png">A system will emerge out of the Rockies again, moving into much warmer temperatures by Wednesday. How much rain/snow/mud will that system drop? Relate Article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/rainy-system-to-move-over-snow">Sloppy System Moves into the Midwest</a>More importantly, the temperatures swinging on the other side of it will send another chill down the spine of the Heartland. Wednesday night will be the rudest, while Thursday night will likely be the coldest, but should see the winds subsiding. Bismarck, the usual poster child for nasty cold, will only top out in the single digits Thursday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web 2-1765981555057.png">Like a trampoline, temperatures rebound the following day for most.

Tracey Anthony

Next Blast of Arctic Air Arrives Late Week

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Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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Unseasonably warm temperatures are continuing to dominate much of the western United States as an area of high pressure is keeping the jet stream north, which is helping to lock in the warm air! We saw yet another day of record highs across the West! The record warmth will continue through this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web1-1765970971370.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-16 200236-1765940582593.png">The warm temperatures are sticking around, bringing a spring-like feel to cities across the southwest. Denver and Albuquerque normally see highs in the 40s, but will be digging into the 60s! Los Angeles has an average high of 66 ° and will see high temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web1-1765970887573.png">Here's a look at who can break records this week:<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web2-1765970860606.png">As we look at the temperature trend for December 20th - 24th, a large portion of the country has a high confidence level that temperatures will be well above average. A lot of folks will be seeing an above-average Christmas Eve and Christmas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web5-1765970926057.png">Make sure to tune into WeatherNation :50 past the hour, every hour for your Western regional forecast.

Adrian Hernandez

Record Warmth Out West Continues

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GtdF4xLBGXc" start="0"></iframe></div>As 2025 comes to an end, many people are expected to travel for the holiday season. AAA expects an increase in travelers compared to last year, 2024. The forecast calls for 119.7 million travelers, which is a 2.2% increase from 2024.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-10 151722-1765405796099.png">Traveling by car is the favorite for the holidays. AAA notes gas prices, on average, are also down in comparison to 2024.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-10 151733-1765406300348.png">Air travel is also up since 2024 by 2.3%. AAA expects 8.03 million people to be traveling to their destinations for the holidays via airplane. This will be the first time air travel for the year end holiday will exceed 8 million.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-10 151738-1765406099314.png">All other travel has also gone up by 9% since last year. This includes cruises, bus travel, and travel by train.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-10 151743-1765406410699.png">The top 10 destinations domestically are as follows:<ol><li>Orlando, FL</li><li>Fort Lauderdale, FL</li><li>Miami, FL</li><li>Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA</li><li>Honolulu, HI</li><li>Tampa, FL</li><li>New York City, NY</li><li>Maui, HI</li><li>Dallas/Fort Worth, TX</li><li>Las Vegas, NV</li></ol>For those major destinations, below are the busiest travel times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-10 151754-1765406540451.png">More more information on the AAA travel forecast, including details on best and worst travel times: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/aaa-year-end-holiday-travel-forecast/">Year-End Holiday Travel Expected to Set New Record</a>.

Rob Bradley

End of Year Travel Expected to Break Records

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Rounds of arctic air have been funneling in from the north, and those bitterly cold temperatures remain this week. There are widespread cold alerts (above) from the Midwest all the way down to the Gulf Coast! Millions are waking up and feeling the chill Monday morning. Feels like temperatures have dropped anywhere from -15° to -25°. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-15 043840-1765798727558.png">High pressure will slide in over the next day or two, bringing back some thawing temperatures. We'll start to feel better by this afternoon, with temperatures threatening some record highs by Tuesday! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-14 115901-1765738749952.png">Tell that to folks waking up in the southeast, though! The wind chill has falling into the single digits here!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-14 034530-1765709162977.png">The thaw here will take a day or two, with temperatures closer to average by the middle of the week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/FKDSSSS-1765759545765.png">

Arctic Blast Settles into the Southeast

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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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So far this winter season, the major cities along Interstate 95 haven't seen much snow! Some areas of New York and West Virginia have picked up over a FOOT of snow from this weekend's system.As we head into the work week, the National Weather Service has left lingering lake effect snow warnings in place for the snowbelt regions of the northeast for additional snowfall through Monday. In fact, another system drops through the Great Lakes early Monday to add to some snowfall totals in these regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-14 182316-1765761932562.png">Snowfall totals through Monday look to be locally heavy, but widespread the heaviest of the snowfall has already happened. Be cautious on the roads as it may take a minute to plow all of the secondary and tertiary streets in your region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-14 182322-1765761980192.png">Here's a look at the timing of the quick moving clipper before our next system comes zooming in later into the week. The next one appears to be warmer, so be prepared for slushy conditions where the snow has not melted later this week.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/12-14 east-1765762018892.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Be sure to join us on WeatherNation at :10 past the hour for your eastern regional forecast, where we discuss temperature swings throughout the last full week of work and school before the holidays!

Breaking Out the Shovels in the Northeast

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A storm system sliding through the Upper Midwest and Central Plains will bring the risk for severe weather this afternoon and evening.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Central Time this evening.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111133" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/outlook-1.jpg" alt="" width="1868" height="1067" />

A marginal risk for severe storms extends from the Western Great Lakes to the Central Plains. A slight risk includes the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, most of Wisconsin and Southeast Minnesota. A second areas mapped out by the Storm Prediction Center highlights areas from Northwest Arkansas to the Kansas-Nebraska border.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-111127 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/central-wind-hail.jpg" alt="" width="1913" height="1074" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-111129 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/tor.jpg" alt="" width="1893" height="1055" />

&nbsp;

Strong wind gusts and large hail are the biggest concerns for today (Wednesday). The risk for tornadoes is low in the Central Plains. A cold front will drop slowly southward throughout the day. It will be the focus for thunderstorm development. Two lows - one near the Canadian Border and the other in Kansas - will enhance storm strength and help to produce severe storms.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111125" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/n.png" alt="" width="1568" height="912" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111123" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/5p.png" alt="" width="1631" height="921" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111124" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/10p.png" alt="" width="1648" height="893" />

Check back with WeatherNation throughout the day for the latest updates on-air and online if you are in the severe weather risk areas.

Want to understand more about the Storm Prediction Center risk categories? Watch to learn more about what a marginal, slight, enhanced, moderate, and high risk means when the SPC issues these threats around the country.

https://youtu.be/_lunoaofhN0

&nbsp;

For WeatherNation: <a href="http://bit.ly/2HhiTgF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Mace Michaels</a>

Upper Midwest and Plains Severe Weather Risk

Messy System Moving into the Midwest

NORTHERN PLAINS - On Wednesday, a low-pressur

Blizzard Warning for the Cascades & Flooding Rain Across the NW

NORTHWEST - A state of emergency was declared

Next Blast of Arctic Air Arrives Late Week

It's been a cold start to the week for millio

Record Warmth Out West Continues

Unseasonably warm temperatures are continuing

End of Year Travel Expected to Break Records

As 2025 comes to an end, many people are expe

Arctic Blast Settles into the Southeast

Rounds of arctic air have been funneling in f

Breaking Out the Shovels in the Northeast

So far this winter season, the major cities a