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<h1 style="text-align: center"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/">Click here to WATCH LIVE with WeatherNation!</a> Coverage starts at 6:30 pm ET</h1>Welcome home, astronauts! Friday, April 10th the Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego where the U.S. Navy assisted in the recovery of the crew. Weather thankfully allowed for an efficient recovery, even if seas were a bit choppy.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/WEB 1-1775822977156.png">The descent of the Orion spacecraft was impressive, entering the atmosphere at around 24,000 mph before slowing down and deploying multiple parachutes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-10 123205-1775845963897.png">NEW RECORD - At 1:56 PM ET on Monday, April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew broke the record for the farthest distance anyone has traveled from Earth. The previous record was 248,655 miles during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. At 7:07 PM ET, they reached their maximum distance of 252,756 miles from Earth. Later that day, the crew experienced a 40-minute communications blackout with mission control in Houston as they passed over the far side of the Moon before reestablishing contact.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2041225429772882179" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2041225429772882179"></div>LIFTOFF - At 6:35 PM ET on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, NASA launched astronauts on an historic mission to the Moon. This marks the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, dating back to the Apollo era.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2039477801787769177" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2039477801787769177"></div>NASA’s Space Launch System sent four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, aboard the Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the Moon and back. This 10-day mission will demonstrate life support systems and help lay the foundation for future deep space exploration.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091928-1774711352235.png">Artemis II Flight History</h2><ul><li>Day 1: focused on launch and entering Earth orbit.</li><li>Days 2-4: outbound transit toward the Moon.</li><li>Days 5-6: Orion will fly by the Moon, entering its sphere of influence, where the Moon becomes the dominant gravitational force.</li><li>Days 7-10: return trip to Earth, followed by re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where the U.S. Navy will recover the capsule.</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 180532-1775088336863.png"><h2>What is the Future of the Artemis Program?</h2>In simple terms, Artemis is the first step in a broader effort to send humans to Mars. Before that, NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustained presence while testing humanity’s ability to live and work beyond Earth’s orbit. Artemis II, specifically, will send astronauts around the Moon and back.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091131a-1774710738504.jpg">This will be the first mission since 1972 to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, and potentially farther from Earth than any human has traveled before. NASA currently plans a series of Artemis missions, with Artemis IV expected to land astronauts on the Moon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 180027-1775088036041.png">Artemis II marks a major step forward in human space exploration, pushing us farther than we’ve gone in decades, and bringing us one step closer to returning to the Moon… and eventually, reaching Mars.

Rob Bradley

Artemis II Splashes Down After Journey Around the Moon

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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>

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The peak of spring severe weather season is fast approaching and the outlooks are here to prove it! The Storm Prediction Center has outlooks for severe storms each day through next Wednesday! This weekend will see an increase in energy as upper-level energy moves through northern Mexico into the Southern Plains. Another trough arrives early next week to keep the severe weather risk going.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-10 100804-1775837299426.png"><h1>Outlooks</h1>Saturday's risk is focused near the upper-level low in SW Texas. This region will have a better chance for wind and hail damage, the primary threats for Saturday afternoon and evening.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 043003-1775903493269.png">A few tornadoes are possible as well, with the primary risk near the low in the Texas Big Bend region, but also in eastern Nebraska near Lincoln and Omaha.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 043007-1775903512759.png">Sunday's risk is just to the east of Saturday's but has been extended well north into Wisconsin. Sunday's threat is more of a conditional risk, where certain criteria will need to be met for thunderstorm development. But if storms do develop, they will have potential to reach into severe weather criteria. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 043057-1775903522431.png">While hail will be the primary concern on Sunday, a few tornadoes are possible in the Great Plains. An isolated tornado is also possible east of the Twin Cities from eastern Minnesota into NW Wisconsin.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 043053-1775903532323.png"><h1>Forecast</h1><h2>South Side</h2>Storms on the south side of the risk look particularly nasty late Saturday afternoon into the overnight and early Sunday morning, especially in the Big Bend region. Some of these strong storms may still produce damage after midnight, with heavy rain already int some areas by early Sunday. After a brief break in the morning, another round of isolated to scattered thunderstorms looks to develop in the afternoon. Coverage and intensity of storms is still a question, with confidence likely improving Saturday, stay tuned for updates!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-11 04-34-55-1775903742189.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>North Side</h2>A few intense storms look likely in Nebraska and Kansas on Saturday, primarily during peak daytime heating in the afternoon into the early evening. Storms are possible again Sunday afternoon, but confidence is still low on how widespread storm development will be.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-11 04-33-53-1775903755104.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rainfall &amp; Flood Threat</h1>Heavy downpours are expected with these thunderstorms. Rainfall totals could surpass 3-5" in some areas that see multiple thunderstorms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 043616-1775903842893.png">Rainfall rates will be high enough to lead to flash flood development, especially from Saturday night into Sunday from Oklahoma City down to the Rio Grande in Texas.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-11 04-37-01-1775903850928.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Severe Storms Target the Plains & Midwest This Weekend

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It is April after all. After a week straight with severe weather outlooks, the risks look to continue through the first half of the work week as a large trough emerges from the Rockies to send jet stream energy into the Great Plains and Midwest. Outlooks have already been issued for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (top of page), covering a lot of the same area each day.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 044054-1775904070924.png">While timing and specific hazards still need to be nailed down, there will be plenty of energy for storms to tap into. Warmth and humidity will be plentiful.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 044121-1775904093530.png">In addition to severe storm hazards (wind, hail, and tornadoes), heavy rainfall rates are expected to lead to flash flood potential. It doesn't appear to be a high-end flooding threat, but as the forecast draws closer, we will keep you updated!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-11 044143-1775904116346.png">

Brittany Lockley

Severe Storm Threat Continues To Start the Week

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Spring is in full swing which means it's time to start looking ahead to this year's upcoming hurricane season in the Atlantic! Each year, Colorado State University's Tropical Weather Department releases multiple forecasts for the Atlantic Hurricane Season, including one of the earliest issued among major forecasters.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-09 065207-1775740414924.png"> CSU just released their first forecast for 2026, which is calling for a near normal to slightly below average season with 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes. The average season in the Atlantic is just slightly higher than this initial prediction, meaning several impactful storms are still possible. As a reminder, even below average seasons can have major impacts depending on where storms form which is impossible to predict months ahead of time.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-09 065246-1775740421912.png">You've probably heard rumblings about the burgeoning El Ni­­ños, and possible Super Ni­­ño, shaping up in the tropical Pacific. The expectation for an El Ni­­ño event during the peak of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane season is a big factor in CSU's below average forecast, along with near normal sea surface temperatures, which have been much above average in recent seasons.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-09 065226-1775739587003.png">The confidence in an El Nino developing this summer is quite high, but the remaining question is how strong will the event be? Weak El Ni­­ños typically have a lower impact on the tropics in the Atlantic while strong El Ni­­ños have a more consistent impact. This year's El Ni­­ño is trending toward the strong side, but it's still too early to say for certain.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2042226020179161097" src="https://x.com/NWSCPC/status/2042226020179161097"></div>Why do El Ni­­ños typically reduce hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin? The warmer water in the equatorial pacific often leads to a more energetic sub-tropical jet, leading to stronger winds in the upper-atmosphere over the Caribbean. Surface winds in the Caribbean most often comes from the east, known as the trade winds. When these winds lay under strong winds from the opposite (or even the same direction), it leads to strong wind shear which tears hurricanes apart.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-09 063418-1775740706915.png">Even with a slightly below average season, two major hurricanes are expected with many other named storms. Any named storm that hits land can have major to extreme impacts, so stay prepared and stay tuned. WeatherNation will always keep you updated on the latest in the tropics!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-09 065301-1775741404492.png">

CSU Releases First Hurricane Forecast for 2026

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A series of storms is lining up to impact the West Coast, bringing days of wet and unsettled weather to parts of California and the Pacific Northwest. This active pattern will deliver multiple rounds of rain along the coast, increasing the risk of ponding on roads and localized flooding, especially in areas that see repeated downpours. Gusty winds will also accompany the system at times, adding to the overall impact.&nbsp; As of now, isolated severe storms are expected in the Bay.In the higher elevations, snowfall is expected. 1-2 feet of snowfall will be possible for the Sierra Nevada mountains. Winter weather alert are already in place for this weekend.<h2>Sierra Nevada</h2>A severe threat has been issued northern California including the Bay region of San Francisco. Wind will be the largest threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775873613922.png">Winter Storm Advisories and Warnings have been issued for portions of the Sierra Nevada and higher terrains in Southern California through Sunday for a couple of feet of snowfall in the higher elevations, mostly above 4500 feet. Higher elevations will see a different side of this system, with colder air allowing snow to fall across the mountains. Snow levels are expected to drop enough for accumulating snow in the Sierra Nevada, where totals could become significant. This could create hazardous travel conditions in mountain passes, with slick roads and reduced visibility due to falling snow and wind.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775873715677.png">A stronger cold front moves in for the weekend and it will drag down some cooler air to support heavy snow chances in the Sierra. Travel could be a little dicey on Interstate 80. Southern California will also get in on the precipitation too on Sunday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1775874003457.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Totals may surpass a foot in the high country and at the peaks of the mountains, but the Donner Pass will be a slick one to travel over this weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775874038300.png">The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into early next week, meaning the West Coast won’t see much of a break from the active weather anytime soon. As these systems push inland, they may also help trigger additional weather impacts farther east, extending the reach of this stormy stretch beyond the coastline.&nbsp;<h2>Four Corners Moisture</h2>Here's a closer look at the incoming rain, thunderstorms, and snow for Colorado and New Mexico. A few showers and storms may sneak into portions of Utah and Arizona, but the majority of the moisture looks to happen in Colorado and New Mexico. This moisture picks up over the next few afternoons which is great news for the drought!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775874074152.png">Drought conditions have begun to intensify to extreme and exceptional levels out west due to a lack of moisture, especially across the northern Four Corners. Any moisture to make it this way will be beneficial to the area.Totals don't look particularly impressive, but any moisture here is critical given the ongoing drought.More on your Western Regional Forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

West Pattern: Severe Storms + New Winter Alerts for California

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Tracey Anthony

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2042580858641748114" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2042580858641748114"></div>Large hail for Kansas last night! Thursday was day one of a multi-day stretch of severe weather across the plains. Storm potential will continue to ramp up as we roll into the weekend and next week. As for today, the threat has been highlighted from the High Plains of New Mexico, east towards the Missouri-Arkansas border. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/WEB 2-1775826827038.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/svrtonight-1775849161793.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>As this area braces for more storms, the threat of flooding will also become likely as the ground becomes saturated.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-10 132624-1775849204067.png">The threat of severe storms expands into the weekend, reaching people from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-10 132705-1775849245312.png">

Patrick Crawford

Severe Weather Reloads Today

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A spring storm system is building across the central United States, setting the stage for several days of dangerous weather from the Plains to the Midwest. On the colder side of the low, light snow is falling across the Dakotas. On the warmer side along a stalled boundary, severe weather continues to be likely into Friday!<h1>SEVERE</h1>Severe outlooks are issued for tonight and Friday. The stalled frontal boundary will interact with the warm temperatures across the plains and high moisture from the Gulf leading to the severe weather threat. There is a SLIGHT risk (level 2 out of 5) for portions of Kansas on Thursday afternoon with the risk of significant hail up to 2 inches in diameter and isolated tornadoes. Thursday's storms did have a history of producing large hail up to hen eggs and golf balls.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775787164558.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775787205379.png"><h1>RAINFALL</h1>The biggest threat will likely focus on portions of Kansas, Missouri, and surrounding states, where repeated downpours could lead to flooding issues. Rainfall totals are expected to reach a few inches in some areas, with locally higher amounts possible where storms repeatedly pass over the same locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1775787241751.png">&nbsp;For the rest of Thursday, the focus for severe weather will be along the stalled boundary in Kansas and Missouri. Friday, the cold front slides southward a little bit to put Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma at play for severe weather. The threats will be similar to Thursday!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/New Baron Video 3-1775787342988.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay tuned to WN for more details.

Jesse Kelley

Severe Storm Threat Builds Across Plains With Flooding Concerns

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MUST WATCH - What a wild week of weather from destructive flooding to a heroic puppy rescue. Meteorologist <a class="profileLink" href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/meredith-garofalo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=253225601379608&amp;extragetparams=%7B%22__tn__%22%3A%22%2CdK-R-R%22%2C%22eid%22%3A%22ARD71NBzeD9Xdp7T5PNWLSs1VrIq2kWoUraqyZttwiDAM39f451iTUmuLlaiqOdxNKCN9DnnH0cZPRlY%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1">Meredith Garofalo</a> has our Top 5 videos of the past week.

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WN Top 5 Videos of the Week

Artemis II Splashes Down After Journey Around the Moon

Click here to WATCH LIVE with WeatherNation!C

Severe Storms Target the Plains & Midwest This Weekend

The peak of spring severe weather season is f

Severe Storm Threat Continues To Start the Week

It is April after all. After a week straight

CSU Releases First Hurricane Forecast for 2026

Spring is in full swing which means it's time

West Pattern: Severe Storms + New Winter Alerts for California

A series of storms is lining up to impact the

Severe Weather Reloads Today

Large hail for Kansas last night! Thursday wa

Severe Storm Threat Builds Across Plains With Flooding Concerns

A spring storm system is building across the