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

JesseKelleyjpeg-1679519197409.jpeg

The last week of April was pretty stormy for the South. As we turn the page into the first full week of May, severe weather is back in the cards for parts of the Southern Plains and Deep South.A frontal boundary pushing through the Deep South prompted the ENHANCED (level 3 out of 5) risk for severe storms through tonight. The higher end of the risk includes Mississippi and Alabama as supercells capable of producing large hail and tornadoes remain possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778121855534.png">All types of severe weather are in the forecast, including damaging hail, winds, and tornadoes. The SPC has a 10% probability of tornadoes across portions of Mississippi and Alabama. Unfortunately, it looks like there may have been some strong tornadoes in Mississippi with a couple of long track supercells.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778121959816.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778122003293.png">This includes a significant hail and tornado threat, where tornadoes could grow stronger than EF2 in strength and hail sizes large than 2" in diameter.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778122138576.png">Storms will continue into the evening across the Deep South as we run into a lot of humidity and wind shear supercells and storms forming and organizing along the front will continue for these areas.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/BARON 5-1778122224226.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The severe outlooks keep on coming. With another MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather in the Southeast on Thursday. Areas around here desperately need the rainfall, but hope it comes without severe thunderstorms, capable of damaging winds and large hail.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 154137-1778104290583.png">Along with the severe weather chances, heavy rain is likely across the Deep South. The forecast is calling for 2-4" of rain by Friday morning, and some flooding could be possible with the repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. We are slowly trying to put a dent in the drought for the South, as it will take more consistent rains over the next few months to make some significant changes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 154201-1778104295078.png">If severe weather were to materialize, it would be a little different than what we've seen so far early in the severe season. Outside of Mississippi and Tennessee, the southeast hasn't seen a single tornado in the month of April.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 094505-1777984113458.jpg">

Severe Thunderstorm Threat in the Deep South

Screenshot20260506110305png-1778086989362.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

<h3>WHAT TO EXPECT:</h3>With an active pattern in store for the south, more rainfall is expected heading into the mid-to-late week. There's no secret that there's plenty of rich moisture down here. It'll only serve to make those rain and thunderstorm chances greater.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-06 05-07-41-1778065680169.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Through Thursday Morning</h1>The Weather Prediction Center has issued an upgrade to their excessive rainfall outlook through tomorrow morning with a MODERATE, level 3 out of 4 risk for flash flooding. Flash flooding was occurring across Central Alabama in cities in Selma and Montgomery.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778121627382.png">Rainfall totals from now through the morning may reach upwards of 2-4" with isolated totals up to 4-7" in some southern locations across Mississippi and Alabama.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/1-1778121708712.png">Flood watches have been issued for portions of Alabama and Georgia through Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 160719-1778105243882.png">On Thursday, this front will linger towards the Gulf Coast, presenting a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 4) risk for flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 160521-1778105147655.png">By the time we hit the weekend, we can see totals toppling over 3-4" across the South.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 160538-1778105152908.png">Considering how dry things have been across the south, all of this rainfall is going to be to our benefit. We have to be careful, however, of how fast we pick up some of these totals.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 052213-1778066576284.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation, as we track all this rainfall into the end of the work week!

Flood Threat Down South Expected to Help Drought Conditions

1-1778121708712.png

WEST - Denver just received 5.8" of snowfall from May 5-6 and is now in store for well-above-average temperatures heading into early next week. In fact, the forecast high a week later is in the upper 80s for the Mile High City!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 164523-1778107597662.png">So, what’s causing this rapid warming trend? An upper-level ridge. As the ridge moves onshore, temperatures will begin to climb heading into the weekend. Dozens of records are expected to fall starting on Mother’s Day and continuing into next week. Each city represented by a pink dot is a location that could break or tie record highs.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 164255-1778107740580.png">Temperatures on Sunday for cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix are expected to soar into the triple digits which is around 15 degrees above average for this time of year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 164307-1778107915078.png">The heat continues into the long-range forecast as well, with the Climate Prediction Center showing high confidence that the Southwest will remain above average through the middle of May.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 164321-1778107817316.png">For more details on just how hot your Southwestern city could get, be sure to join us at :50 past the hour for more in your western regional forecast.

Heating Up in The Southwest

ezgif5f6a48abeae450c1gif-1778108101486.gif

Kevin Schneider

A021DDE71AA34C50BB5468289EA6B1D7jpeg-1699372868991.jpeg

Parts of Colorado and Wyoming received up to two feet of snowfall since yesterday, with Estes Park receiving some of the highest amounts at 28" so far.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 160827-1778105324524.png">The Denver International Airport accumulated 5.8" of snowfall, which was the 12th highest 2-day May snow total.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 160832-1778105401858.png">Our Meteorologist Rob Bradley had some fun in the Denver area during this snow day, before we start to warm back up through the end of the week.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2052093538314436924" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2052093538314436924"></div>Watch the roads tonight, as freeze warnings have been issued for the I-25 corridor. Roads that are wet could be frozen in the morning which could cause difficult travel for the morning drive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 161118-1778105490776.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 161123-1778105495430.png">For Denver, only 33.1 inches of snow have accumulated so far this season. On average, year-to-date snowfall totals should be around 50 inches. This is much-needed moisture for the Mile High City.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-05 033530-1777973743777.png">Follow along for more information this week, @WeatherNation!

CO May Snowstorm Could Lead to Icy Thursday Roads

ezgif89dcfdb2757cc661gif-1778077551600.gif

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, waters here tend to warm faster than in the Atlantic; thus, the season starts about two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pacific. If a storm were to form and reach tropical storm status, it would be named Amanda. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080308-1777731407202.png">Ocean heat content has been rapidly increasing in the Eastern Pacific this Spring, which is not surprising. You might've heard about the potential for a "super" El Niño this summer. Well, the warm water created in the Eastern/Central Pacific by El Niño can lead to supercharged hurricane seasons in those regions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080401-1777731353504.png">Global circulations influenced by El Niño tend to create less disruptive wind shear in the Eastern Pacific as well. Weak upper-level winds combined with warm waters tend to lead to many tropical systems. At the same time, wind shear tends to increase in the Caribbean during these events, leading to a tougher environment for tropical systems to form and survive.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 080343-1777731377186.png">Last season was quite active in the Eastern Pacific, with 20 named storms and 5 major hurricanes. The Mexican National Meteorological Service issued an early outlook for the 2026 season in April, calling for another active year with roughly 20 named storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 081157-1777731386253.png">We're going to get you ready for hurricane season at the beginning of June. Be sure to tune in for updated forecasts, information, and tips to prepare!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-02 083105-1777732279156.png">

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Screenshot20260329060538png-1778073936375.png

Adrian Hernandez

Adriannewnewjpeg-1774471713694.jpeg

WHAT TO EXPECTThe Northeast is forecast to get a lot of rain going into the midweek. This will likely leave very few spots WITHOUT seeing rain into the next few days.<h1>TIMING:</h1>Rain will move along the frontal boundary as this frontal boundary and its associated low-pressure system move through. Areas of rain will stick around with this system through Thursday morning. On Thursday afternoon and evening, a low-pressure system will lift from the south, bringing more rounds of rain. There can be some localized heavy rain as these systems move through.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/2026-05-06 04-51-37-1778064718750.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>By Saturday, almost all of the Northeast and Ohio Valley is expected to see rain in some form or fashion. Higher totals could potentially up to 2" across Kentucky, Virginia, and even the New England area! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 045312-1778064809757.png">While not under a severe weather threat, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a warning for thunderstorm activity across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 045426-1778064878376.png">With this active pattern in store, cloud cover and cooler air will likely drop temperatures on Thursday, but pick back up on Saturday and Sunday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-06 045716-1778065049312.png">Make sure to stay tuned to WeatherNation at :10 past the hour for your Northeast regional breakdown!

Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

20260505042154ezgifcomvideotogifconvertergif-1777976614499.gif

Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their rainiest April on record, and the active pattern looks to continue to start the month of May. Several cold fronts are expected to slide into the middle of the country this week after a brief warm-up. Temperatures continue to drop as the front moves to the east.<h2>Severe Outlooks</h2>Through the overnight hours, the Storm Prediction Center has portions of the Midwest under a SLIGHT risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe weather, with one of the primary threats being large hail.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174044-1777938061872.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-04 174109-1777938112736.png"><h2>Timing &amp; Rainfall</h2>Some of these strong storms may persist overnight as the front continues to work its way south and east.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/05-04 overnight svbr'-1777938136094.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy downpours will be possible, and models are hinting at 2"+ rain accumulations in localized areas. This could increase an isolated flooding threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot 2026-05-03 191744-1777857585954.png">Get the latest forecast for the Central region anytime with the WeatherNation app, or at :30 past the hour in our broadcast.

Jackie Brown

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Screenshot20260504174049png-1777938054348.png

WeatherNation's Top 5 videos of the week showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly weather of the week.

5) Jaw dropping video of a man narrowly misses a lightning strike in Conway, SC kicks it all off. Thankfully, the man was okay. This video is a good reminder that if you hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike. [<a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/man-describes-his-close-encounter-with-a-lightning-strike/">Related article: Man Describes Close Encounter with Lightning Strike</a>]

&nbsp;

https://youtu.be/gHSaTTonRaA

&nbsp;

4) A picturesque tornado caught on camera in Eastern Colorado, gave one community quite the show! Watch as a twister goes through a full lifespan, from a churning tornado... to gone in just minutes. Thankfully, there was no damage reported from this tornado near Joes, Colorado.

3) The Central Plains spawned several mesmerizing storms this past week, including a photogenic supercell that moved through Topeka, Kansas. The video shows development of a severe thunderstorm, as it grows into what looks like a spaceship by the end of the video!

2) The next video was definitely not a sight you want to see before boarding your plane! A lightning bolt created a striking display on an airport runway in Jacksonville, FL, lighting up the night sky. Delays, anyone?

1) And finally, with every storm, a beautiful ending. Mammatus clouds glow under the late day sun, making quite the sight in Denver, Colorado. A time-lapsed video shows how sinking air near a thunderstorm, forms these pouch-like structures.

&nbsp;

Do you think you can top these Top 5?  Be sure to send us your best weather videos!  Share your best weather video with us on social media.  Find @WeatherNation on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/weathernation/">Instagram</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation">Twitter </a> for a chance to be featured in our weekly top 5.  (<a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/terms/">Read WeatherNation Terms of Service</a>)

&nbsp;

For WeatherNation,  <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/meredith-garofalo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo</a>

WATCH: Top 5 Videos of the Week

Severe Thunderstorm Threat in the Deep South

The last week of April was pretty stormy for

Flood Threat Down South Expected to Help Drought Conditions

WHAT TO EXPECT:With an active pattern in stor

Heating Up in The Southwest

WEST - Denver just received 5.8" of snowfall

CO May Snowstorm Could Lead to Icy Thursday Roads

Parts of Colorado and Wyoming received up to

The Countdown to Hurricane Season

Ready for hurricane season? As a reminder, w

Northeast in for Some Heavy Rain

WHAT TO EXPECTThe Northeast is forecast to ge

Severe Threat Continues Through Tuesday

Portions of the Midwest just wrapped up their