Tracey Anthony

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PLAINS - Multiple active fires broke out on Tuesday across the Plains of Kansas and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Fire danger continues through the end of the week with red flag warnings and fire weather watches in place until then.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 1-1771598109859.png">The fires that began on Tuesday have burned a large amount of real estate, estimates show over 310,000 acres of wildfires burned since Tuesday afternoon causing low visibility and evacuation orders issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 165212-1771458739592.png">In the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, the Ranger Road Fire has burned nearly 300,000 acres since Tuesday with little to no containment.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 2-1771598242357.png">As our front has been moving through, a critical fire weather outlook risk is in place. Wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible. Fire weather outlooks continue into through Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771557468980.png">Some winds were clocked close to triple digits. The winds prompted a blowing dust advisory to be issued on Tuesday afternoon, and a 30+-vehicle pileup resulted from brownout conditions along I-25 in southern Colorado.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 9-1771425927888.png">

Patrick Crawford

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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CALIFORNIA - After almost a week of relentless rain and snow, skies in California are finally clearing into the weekend. Despite the system exiting the region, impacts will linger for some time, especially in the mountains where feet of snow wait to be cleared. As of Friday morning, I-80 and the Donner Pass are back open after hundreds of cars became stranded from the intense snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 075311-1771512817264.png">Snow totals surpassed 7 ft. for a few areas, with 4-6 feet across many locations in the Sierra. Even the mountains in Southern California saw 2-4 feet of snow on the peaks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 092932-1771605166528.png">Those numbers, despite being incredibly high, did not bring California's snow pack back to the average, but numbers did see a massive jump from 54% to start the week to 72% as of Thursday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 093002-1771605324693.png">Unfortunately the heavy snow led to multiple deaths. A large avalanche killed 8 people on a back country ski tour, while another man failed to return to his vehicle after parking at a ski resort.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2024232039315296461" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2024232039315296461"></div><h1>Lingering Cold</h1>Cold air will linger behind the low into Saturday morning, where a round of frost and even a freeze is possible in the Central Valley of California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 093030-1771605310811.png"><h1>Next Round</h1>Another series of storms systems is expected to move in around the ridge of high pressure in the Four Corners this weekend. This will focus the next round of heavy and rain and snow farther north, with impacts expected in Northern California into Central Oregon. Warming temperatures will mean some areas that received intense snow could see nothing but rain next week. This could lead to flooding issues, especially with runoff in the mountains.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 093723-1771605465112.png">The heaviest rain is expected from the Northern Sierra near Lake Tahoe up to the coastal mountains in California and Oregon. Flash flooding is a concern on Monday and Tuesday in these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 093736-1771605471846.png">

Major Storm System Winds Down in California

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A pair of storms dropped feet of snow across the Midwest this week, snarling travel at times, including Thursday evening where traffic in Nebraska and Iowa slowed to a halt. This second system is expected to slowly move through the Great Lakes into the weekend, with light to moderate snow on the way. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 090547-1771603742862.png">The first system brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to areas of North Dakota and Minnesota, with over two feet of snow on the west side of Lake Superior. The trailing system tracked along I-80 on Thursday, bringing heavy snow from Nebraska to Central Iowa before it began shifting north. Parts of central and eastern Iowa measured over 15" of snow Thursday night into early Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 090711-1771603752118.png">Winter alerts remain in effect on Friday, but are set to expire through the evening and overnight as heavy snow turns to lighter snow.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-20 09-08-16-1771603801509.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snow will continue to wrap around the low on Friday, bringing moderate snowfall to portions of Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Light snow lingers Saturday as the low nearly stalls, inching its way across Lake Huron before it eventually brings light snow to the Northeastern US.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 090721-1771603761646.png">Additional snow and ice totals are enough to cause some significant impacts, especially between Green Bay and Houghton. This is where 6-12" of snow is still possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-20 090726-1771603772506.png">Tune in at :30 past each hour for the latest Central Regional forecast, or access our regional forecasts on demand, anytime, with the WeatherNation app.

Heavy Snow Slams Parts of the Midwest, Lingers This Weekend

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More record highs fell across parts of the Southeast with temperatures well above average in the 70s and 80s. With the high pressure ridge sticking around the Southeast, the above average warmth continues into the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771558130599.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771558107283.png">More record high temperatures will be possible through Saturday as the heat builds east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771558163052.png">Before a cold front knocks temperatures down this weekend, the above average warmth continues, but it will change very quickly. A handful of cities in Florida will go from Record Warm potential to Record low potential for their daytime max temperature. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-20 09-13-07-1771596992617.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Southern Plains anomalous warmth will help to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we wrap up the month and head into March. The chance for thunderstorms in a more spring-like pattern will continue along with it!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185013-1771465823044.png">

Fake Spring Hits the Southeast

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in place across the Four Corners, with additional snowfall expected in the region. Some parts of Utah and Colorado have already seen over a foot of snowfall in the last few days! An additional amount of snowfall is on the way for the Four Corners through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 202603-1771558194020.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 203032-1771558246278.png">An additional 6-12" will be possible in favored mountain areas of northern Arizona, Utah, and western Colorado.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-20 09-29-32-1771597795085.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

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While the Midwest has finally seen a break from a cold and snowy pattern, warmer air and increasing moisture could lead to numerous severe storms on Thursday. A Pacific low is now strengthening in the lee of the Rockies and will continue moving east, bringing lift and wind shear to the region. At the surface, moisture from the Gulf is pulled north into mild winter temperatures.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771557082211.png"> A few tornadoes have been confirmed across parts of the Illinois and the tornado threat will continue overnight into Ohio and Indiana. Please have several ways to receive weather alerts with storms in the forecast tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771557195055.png">As we move further into the overnight, the severe threat will gradually end from west to east. Some heavier downpours could be possible within the stronger storms. An additional inch or two of rain could be possible.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/New Baron Video 3-1771557333757.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>.

Jesse Kelley

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

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Kevin Schneider

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Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi this weekend. Leaving behind strong damaging winds and tornadoes. Two reports have been confirmed out of Mississippi from Sunday, both rating EF-1.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160500-1771196706661.png">Strong and severe storms have developed across the south and will continue through tonight. The threat continues across portions of Florida and Georgia. Damaging winds and tornadoes will be the primary concern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160628-1771196792439.png">Be sure to join us on WeatherNation as we track this system's development!

Taban Sharifi

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

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Patrick Crawford has always been a huge weather buff! He grew up in Plano, Texas, and it was there that he experienced what Mother Nature was capable of doing. He would always turn on the television to see what local meteorologists were saying about the weather. That's when he realized he wanted to be a meteorologist.

Patrick graduated from Northern Illinois University (’04) with a degree in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Geography. Broadcast Meteorology has been great to him and he has been able to work in television markets all across the country. Some of his stops have included New Orleans, Green Bay and even Yuma, Arizona. He is so excited to be part of the WeatherNation team.

He has been awarded the prestigious CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) weather seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Feel free to catch up with Patrick Crawford on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistPC/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeteorologistPC">Twitter</a> pages.

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A trough coming out of southwest Canada will bring an increasing risk of heavy snow to Montana on Friday and Saturday. This potential winter storm could create some major travel impacts for these areas. Here is the latest forecast.
<h1>Winter Weather Alerts</h1>
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Winter storm watches are in place for numerous counties in Montana for Friday and Saturday. These areas will see a significant amount of snow leading to very hazardous and dangerous driving conditions. 6-12" will be likely in lower elevations, but higher elevations could see over 18" through Saturday afternoon.
<h1>Forecast</h1>
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<img class="alignnone wp-image-119114 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/03/@kccmitch-permisiion-6.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-119113 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2020/03/@kccmitch-permisiion-5.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

Snow showers will begin early Friday morning and could last through Saturday afternoon.  This consistent snow could lead to some very high snow totals for the State.  The snow will be heavy at times leading to a big reduction in visibility.
<h1>Snowfall Potential</h1>
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The latest snowfall forecast is showing a solid 6-12" for Montana, but the higher mountain tops could see over 18".

Keep checking with WeatherNation for more updates on the winter storm event.

Winter Storm Heading to Montana Friday and Saturday

Winter Weather Alerts

Forecast

Snowfall Potential

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

PLAINS - Multiple active fires broke out on T

Major Storm System Winds Down in California

CALIFORNIA - After almost a week of relentles

Heavy Snow Slams Parts of the Midwest, Lingers This Weekend

A pair of storms dropped feet of snow across

Fake Spring Hits the Southeast

More record highs fell across parts of the So

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

While the Midwest has finally seen a break fr

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mis