WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p>For many people, winter means a visit from Canada Geese, and here at WeatherNation, we have a whole flock of questions about these seasonal guests, as many people are reporting a seeming increase in the number of geese in places they don't typically see in the winter months. We spoke with Dr. David Koons, a professor and Chair of Colorado State University's Wetland and Waterfowl Conservation program, to learn more about why these birds are appearing in different locations.</p><p></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QZV9QSWC9SI" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Mostly recognized as Canadian Geese, Dr. Koons says that were the misconceptions start. The species is technically Canada Geese.</p><p>While millions of birds migrate each winter, it's the larger-bodied birds that we can more easily see migrating that catch our attention. Canada Geese are larger birds, and store more fat, allowing them to only have to do a shorter migration and stay further north than the smaller-bodied birds that typically move towards more tropical climates.</p><p>"Snowpack over their food is a bigger push for them than temperature," said Dr. Koons. Though long stretches of cold days can freeze over water sources and force the birds to move, he added. Depending on their needs, the geese may move further north or south to follow some warmer temperatures.</p><p>Dr. Koons mentioned that scientists have noticed a trend of larger-bodied birds not migrating as far south as they used to because they don't need to. The frost line is moving further north, and birds don't have to trek as far south to find the resources needed to survive. Koons gave Louisiana as an example. "You're not seeing as many mallards as your grandparents did 50 years ago."</p><p>While Canada Geese aren't known for being very popular, they play an important role in recycling nutrients in an ecosystem, such as nitrogen. Dr. Koons says if you get enough Canada Geese together, it's like having a larger species like a cow or elk doing the same process of nutrient recycling, but in different ecosystems. He also added that since the geese are seasonal migrators, they benefit multiple different ecosystems throughout the year.</p>

Rob Bradley

What the FLOCK Is Up With All the Geese?

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>Most of the lower 48 has been missing out on a lot of Winter. Areas along the West Coast and Great Lakes have had an active Winter, but other than them, many along or east of the Rockies have been quiet so far. Not Alaska.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 100656-1767805655200.png"></p><p>Heavy snowfall towards the end of 2025 was enough to sink boats around Juneau. By the end of the month, the airport in Juneau had measured more snow than any December prior, and it wasn't even close! Over 80 inches of snow fell throughout the month, with multiple daily records sprinkled in.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 100846-1767805743282.png"></p><p>We spoke with the National Weather Service office in Juneau, Alaska to learn more about this historic snowfall.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zhaLChRQkac" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Since 2026 has rolled around, it has only kept snowing. Areas from Anchorage to Haines have picked up close to 20 more inches of snow has fallen. Not to mention it's been coming in with limited visibility with some blizzard conditions. Another system moving in threatens to bring warmer temperatures along with additional precipitation.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 101334-1767806446476.png">Residents have been asked to clear any clogged storm drain nearby, with officials giving the okay to dump "clean" snow into nearby bodies of water. The weight of the snow has caved in roofs in addition to sinking boats in local harbors.</p><p>WHY ARE WARM TEMPERATURES BAD</p><p>You would think a nice thawing out would help ease problems in Alaska but it could actually cause more harm. If temperatures warm enough to end the week, rain falling ontop of snow will help rapidly melt the pack. Then, everything is running off, not just the rain. This could lead to significant flooding in the area.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 102411-1767806672935.png">The extended forecast isn't offering much of a break beyong this weekend, either. Rain and snow will continue to threaten the area well into next week it appears.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07 10-26-27-1767806874418.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p>

Brian Hartman

Record Snowfall Sinking Boats in Alaska

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<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PH84aZY4bmc" start="0"></iframe></div><p>Every year, AEM (Advanced Environmental Monitoring) survey's millions of lightning strikes across the U.S. Meteorologist Taban Sharifi spoke with AEM lightning scientist Dr. Elizabeth DiGangi about the trends and facts in this year's annual report. </p><h2 style="text-align: start"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://aem.eco/aem-releases-2025-u-s-lightning-report-oklahoma-dethrones-florida-as-americas-lightning-concentration-capital/"><strong>Key Findings from AEM First Look</strong></a></h2><h5><em>Courtesy: AEM</em></h5><ul><li><p><strong>Top State &amp; County by Flash Density:</strong> Oklahoma claimed the top position with 73 flashes per square mile, Kay County, Oklahoma, led the nation with 123.4 flashes per square mile. Florida is frequently the dominating state in this category, however the lack of landfalling tropical systems during 2025's hurricane season likely lessened that number. Louisiana and Kansas rounded out the top four.</p></li><li><p><strong>Peak Lightning Day:</strong> June 15 saw the most of any day of the year with 929,016 flashes.</p></li><li><p><strong>Tourist and Travel Impacts: </strong>Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta reported 10,000 lightning flashes. ATL, along with several other of the busiest airports in the county saw peak lightning numbers during the summer and the peak travel season. Millennium Park in downtown Chicago recorded more than 11,000 lightning flashes. Three SEC stadiums made up the greatest lightning exposure, Tiger Stadium, Kyle Field, and the Cotton Bowl. </p></li><li><p><strong>Active Great Plains: </strong>2025 signaled a shift to more frequent lightning in the heart of the country. While Oklahoma saw the highest flash density, Texas reported the most overall flashes at 13 million. That's 1.3 million more than average for the Lone Star State. About half of the top ten lightning states in 2025 were in the Great Plains. This is due in part to major severe weather outbreaks on the billion dollar disaster scale. </p></li></ul>

Alana Cameron

Oklahoma Dethrones Florida as U.S. Lightning Capital - AEM

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Adrian Hernandez

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<p>While known for its fair weather, sunny skies, and beaches, even Hawaii isn't exempt from Mother Nature turning the tides. A <strong>Kona Low,</strong> which is a system of low pressure that flips the traditional wind pattern over Hawaii, has caused widespread rain and even heavy mountain snow over the last few days.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2007942616822988877" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2007942616822988877"></div><h1>Kona Low?</h1><p>Similar to a sub-tropical storm in the Gulf or Atlantic, Kona Low's are responsible for bringing heavy rain to Hawaii on an annual basis. They usually occur in the winter months, and often pose a flood/winter storm threat to the island.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/02/46-1676675771349.JPG"></p><h1>Flood Threat</h1><p>With an excess of rainfall in the forecast, widespread flood watches have been issued for essentially all of the Hawaiian islands. This is due to the elevated runoff, making low-lying areas at more of a risk for flooding. These outlooks will extend through Monday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767614455215.png"></p><p>If we're looking at numbers, the majority of the rainfall will likely stay on Hawaii's Big Island. Some of these totals can breach the 3" mark by the time we hit Wednesday. The other islands (Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai), can expect anywhere from 1-2" by this point as well.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767615335188.png"></p><h1>Snow &amp; Wind</h1><p>Taking all that moisture into the high elevations, you're bound to get some snow. In some cases, maybe too much of it. The two massive shield volcanoes (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), are under the threat for heavy snow and heavy icing. Any summit roadways likely to feel this threat the most.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/we1-1767710204707.png"></p><p>Gusty winds are also expected to kick up as this low pushes through. Honolulu potentially seeing gusts up to 35 mph by Tuesday! The National Weather Service (NWS) has even issued high wind warnings for the big island summits. Gusts up to 75 mph are expected!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/01-05 hawaii wnids-1767646121360.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Trouble on the Water</h1><p>Wave heights will also be a concern for the traditional beach-goer. Some heights showing upwards of 13ft in Honolulu! Likely won't deter many surfers though. The NWS has issued widespread high surf advisories as a result.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-05 05-23-49-1767615844821.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/web10-1767615897385.png"></p>

Tracey Anthony

Kona Low Brings Hazardous Weather to Hawaii

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<p>As 2025 wrapped up, we took a look back at the weather stories that mattered most in the year.</p><h1><strong>JANUARY</strong></h1><p>January was a dramatic start to 20-25. From the West Coast to the East Coast -- records were broken. We started the year with destructive wildfires in California and transitioned to the highest snowfall totals ever recorded for some cities across the Gulf Coast. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Meteorologist Taban Sharifi looks back on the first month of the year in our Top Weather Events of 2025.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZhCDrfucevU" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>FEBRUARY</strong></h1><p>February 2025 brought significant atmospheric rivers to the west and severe weather that stretched from Alabama to New York, changing the lives of millions.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Meteorologist Tracey Anthony takes a look back at February's headlines. Meteorologist Patrick Crawford has a look at these Top Weather Events of 2025.&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gDPn1enLwDU" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>MARCH</strong></h1><p><span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">From devastating wildfires to record-breaking floods and widespread severe storms, including one of the most violent </span><span style="color: inherit">Mar</span>ch<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)"> tornado outbreaks in U.S. history, the Spring of 2025 started more lion than lamb. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Meteorologist Tracey Anthony details the Top Weather Events of 2025.</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1jDoUNdsQsE" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>APRIL</strong></h1><p>Tornadoes and flooding brought a one-two punch in April. Meteorologist Adrian Hernandez takes a look back at our Top Weather Events of 2025.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2jrVc9pVRbw" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>MAY</strong></h1><p>Record-setting rainfall and destructive severe weather outbreaks dominated headlines in May. Meteorologist Jackie Brown tells us why in our Top Weather Events of 2025.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_kRQ9kP-Alg" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>JUNE</strong></h1><p>This summer, the U.S. saw its first EF-5 tornado in more than a decade. Meteorologist Dave Holder highlights June as we continue our look at the Top Weather Events of 2025. &nbsp;</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WZYPfSprBeo" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>JULY</strong></h1><p>The Fourth of July holiday weekend turned deadly and destructive. Meteorologist Rob Bradley looks back on the impacts of July’s tropical moisture in our Top Weather Events of 2025. &nbsp;</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n3zverrLAdk" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>AUGUST</strong></h1><p><br>August was the start of a long period of coastal erosion for the Eastern Seaboard. Meteorologist Jesse Kelley chronicles July’s once-in-a-generation flooding in our Top Weather Events of August 2025.&nbsp;</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vA89EW49pkE" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>SEPTEMBER</strong></h1><p>Relentless tropical rains from the Eastern Pacific and dueling hurricanes in the Atlantic. Meteorologist Patrick Crawford shows us the impacts of September in our Top Weather Events of 2025. &nbsp;</p><p></p><h1><strong>OCTOBER</strong></h1><p>Tropical impacts hit their peak in October. Meteorologist Alana Cameron highlights Category Five Hurricane Melissa’s devastating hit to Jamaica in our Top Weather Events of 2025.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2M04A7WEpiI" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>NOVEMBER</strong></h1><p>An early start to winter left thousands stranded in a Thanksgiving storm. Meteorologist Kevin Schneider has the details as we look back on November in our Top Weather Events of 2025.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wuodtzDlAAc" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>DECEMBER</strong></h1><p>Historic river flooding inundated Washington and California, while constant clippers roamed the Northern U.S. Meteorologist Brittany Lockley rounds out the final month of the year in our Top Weather Events of 2025.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/80oB37u25nQ" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><h1><strong>Other Natural Phenomena</strong></h1><p>It wasn’t just the weather making headlines this year. Meteorologist Alana Cameron talks about the other forces of nature that caught our attention in 2025.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xPIOEoUUDv4" start="0"></iframe></div>

Top Weather Events of 2025

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<h1><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noradsanta.org/en/">CLICK HERE TO TRACK SANTA WITH NORAD!</a></h1><p><span>The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, monitors and defends North American airspace 24-7, 365. But on December 24th, they take on another mission… tracking Santa and his reindeer all across the globe. We spoke to Brigadier General Jason Rueschoff about NORAD's 70th year tracking Santa. He gives us details on Santa's trip around the world, and how Santa and the gang get you your presents in an efficient and timely manner. Watch along with WeatherNation as we track Santa's journey around the world on Christmas Eve!</span><span style="color: windowtext">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aSzimmT4a1c" start="0"></iframe></div><h2>Fun Facts About Santa's Mission:</h2><p>Santa's sleigh is approximately 75 candy canes in length or 150 lollipops. The weight at takeoff is 75,000 gumdrops and Santa is estimated to be 260 pounds at takeoff - we're not sure how much he weighs by the time he lands after all those cookies! Santa's sleigh can travel faster than starlight at maximum speed and is powered by 9 reindeer!</p><h2><strong>How Did NORAD Get Their Start Tracking Santa?</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">For 70 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa’s flight.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/12/santa_and_shoup-1703177296101.jpg"></p><p style="text-align: start"><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">(Image: Colonel Harry Shoup, NORAD's First Santa Tracker September 29, 1917 - March 14, 2009)</span></em></p><p style="text-align: start">The tradition began in 1955 after a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck &amp; Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.</p><p style="text-align: start">In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.</p><h1>"We have the watch."</h1><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noradsanta.org/en/noradhq#PressRoom"><em>Courtesy: NORAD</em></a></p><p>The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization which defends the homeland through aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.</p><p>Aerospace control includes ensuring air sovereignty and air defense of the airspace of Canada and the United States. The renewal of the NORAD Agreement in May 2006 added a maritime warning mission, which entails a shared awareness and understanding of the activities conducted in U.S. and Canadian maritime approaches, maritime areas and internal waterways.</p><p>Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, NORAD's mission has evolved over the years to meet the changing threat. Through outstanding bi-national cooperation, NORAD has proven itself effective in its roles of watching, warning, and responding. The events of September 11, 2001 demonstrated NORAD's continued relevance to North American security. Today, NORAD provides civil authorities with a potent military response capability to counter domestic airspace threats should all other methods fail.</p><p>The men and women of NORAD are constantly watching the skies and waterways of the United States and Canada to keep us safe.</p><p><img src="https://www.noradsanta.org/en/assets/images/noradHq/ContentPhotos/mission3.jpg" alt=""></p><h1><strong>How NORAD tracks Santa and protect North America</strong></h1><h2>Radar</h2><p>It all starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system has 49 installations strung across Canada's North and Alaska. NORAD makes a point of checking the radar closely for indications of Santa Claus leaving the North Pole every holiday season. The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing air warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America.</p><h2>Satellites</h2><p>These satellites are located in a geo-synchronous orbit (that's a cool phrase meaning that the satellite is always fixed over the same spot on the Earth) at 22,300 miles above the Earth. The satellites have infrared sensors, meaning they can see heat. When a rocket or missile is launched, a tremendous amount of heat is produced - enough for the satellites to see them. Rudolph's nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch. The satellites detect Rudolph's bright red nose with no problem.</p><h2><img src="https://www.noradsanta.org/en/assets/images/noradHq/ContentPhotos/Canadian-CF-18.jpg" alt="">Jet Fighters</h2><p>The last system we use is the NORAD jet fighter. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots, flying the CF-18, take off out of Newfoundland and welcome Santa to North America. Then at numerous locations in Canada other CF-18 fighter pilots escort Santa. While in the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15s, F16s or F-22s get the thrill of flying with Santa and the famous Reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. Even though Santa flies faster than any jet fighter (Santa actually slows down for us to escort him), all of these systems together provide NORAD with a very good continuous picture of his whereabouts.</p><h4 style="text-align: start">Do your planes ever intercept Santa?</h4><p style="text-align: start">Over the past 65 years, our fighter jets (F-16s, F-15s, F-22s, F-35s, and CF-18s) have intercepted Santa many, many times. When the jets intercept Santa, they tip their wings to say, "Hello Santa! NORAD is tracking you again this year!" Santa always waves. He loves to see the pilots!</p><h4 style="text-align: start">Does NORAD have any pictures of Santa taken from your planes?</h4><p style="text-align: start">Our fighter pilots love to take photos of Santa. We also have NORAD Santa Cams in space which take video of Santa as he flies round the world. These videos appear almost every hour on December 24th at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.noradsanta.org"><u>www.noradsanta.org</u></a>.</p><h4 style="text-align: start">Does NORAD have any statistics on Santa's sleigh?</h4><p style="text-align: start">NORAD can confirm that Santa's sleigh is a versatile, all weather, multi-purpose, vertical short-take-off and landing vehicle. It is capable of traveling vast distances without refueling and is deployed, as far as we know, only on December 24th (and sometimes briefly for a test flight about a month before Christmas).</p>

Track Santa with NORAD: 70 Years of Holiday Magic

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<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-deploys-new-generation-of-ai-driven-global-weather-models"><em>FROM NOAA:</em></a></p><p><strong>A collage of weather systems, including thunderstorms, rain, heat waves, and fair weather. <span>(Image credit above: iStock)</span></strong></p><p>NOAA has launched a groundbreaking new suite of operational, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven global weather prediction models, marking a significant advancement in forecast speed, efficiency, and accuracy. The models will provide forecasters with faster delivery of more accurate guidance, while using a fraction of computational resources.</p><p>“NOAA’s strategic application of AI is a significant leap forward in American weather model innovation,” said&nbsp;Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “These AI models reflect a new paradigm for NOAA in providing improved accuracy for large-scale weather and tropical tracks, and faster delivery of forecast products to meteorologists and the public at a lower cost through drastically reduced computational expenses.”&nbsp;</p><p>The new suite of AI weather models includes three distinct applications:</p><ul><li><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/aigfs/prod/"><strong><u>AIGFS (Artificial Intelligence Global Forecast System)</u></strong></a>: A weather forecast model that implements AI to deliver improved weather forecasts more quickly and efficiently (using up to 99.7% less computing resources) than its traditional counterpart.</p></li><li><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/aigefs/prod/"><strong><u>AIGEFS (Artificial Intelligence Global Ensemble Forecast System)</u></strong></a>: An AI-based ensemble system that provides a range of probable forecast outcomes to meteorologists and decision-makers. Early results show improved performance over the traditional GEFS, extending forecast skill by an additional 18 to 24 hours.</p></li><li><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nomads.ncep.noaa.gov/pub/data/nccf/com/hgefs/prod/"><strong><u>HGEFS (Hybrid-GEFS)</u></strong></a>: A pioneering, hybrid "grand ensemble" that combines the new AI-based AIGEFS (above) with NOAA’s flagship ensemble model, the Global Ensemble Forecast System. Initial testing shows that this model, a first-of-its kind approach for an operational weather center, consistently outperforms both the AI-only and physics-only ensemble systems.&nbsp;</p></li></ul><h4><strong>More about the new AI operational models</strong></h4><p><strong>AIGFS</strong>&nbsp;— a new AI-based system that uses a variety of data sources to generate weather forecasts comparable to those produced by traditional weather prediction systems, such as GFS.</p><ul><li><p>Performance: shows improved forecast skill over the traditional GFS for many large-scale features. Notably, it demonstrates a significant reduction in tropical cyclone track errors at longer lead times.</p></li><li><p>Efficiency: AIGFS’s most transformative feature. A single 16-day forecast uses only 0.3% of the computing resources of the operational GFS and finishes in approximately 40 minutes. This reduced latency means forecasters get critical data more quickly than they do from the traditional GFS.</p></li><li><p>Area for future improvement: Though track forecasts are better, v1.0 shows a degradation in tropical cyclone intensity forecasts, which future versions will address.</p><p><em><img src="https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-12/AIGFS_precip_300.png" alt="A map graphic of the AIGFS forecast from December 10, 2025, showing heavy precipitation from an atmospheric river hitting the U.S. Pacific Northwest." title="A map graphic of the AIGFS forecast from December 10, 2025, showing heavy precipitation from an atmospheric river hitting the U.S. Pacific Northwest. (Image credit: NOAA National Weather Service)"></em></p><p><strong><span>This AIGFS forecast in the form of a map, for December 10, 2025, shows the heavy precipitation from an atmospheric river hitting the U.S. Pacific Northwest. AI weather models like this one will protect life and property by improving forecast accuracy and timeliness for events such as the catastrophic flooding that impacted the Northwest.</span> <span>(Image credit: NOAA National Weather Service)</span></strong></p></li></ul><p><strong>AIGEFS</strong>&nbsp;— an AI-based 31-member ensemble, similar to the GEFS, that provides a range of possibilities for weather forecasters and decision-makers rather than a single forecast model solution.</p><ul><li><p>Performance: forecast skill is comparable to the operational GEFS.</p></li><li><p>Efficiency: requires only 9% of the computing resources of the operational GEFS.</p></li><li><p>Area for future improvement: developers continue to improve the ensemble’s ability to create a range of forecast outcomes.&nbsp;</p></li></ul><p><strong>HGEFS</strong>&nbsp;— the most innovative application in the new suite. The HGEFS is a 62-member "grand ensemble" created by combining the 31 members of the physical GEFS with the 31 members of the AI-based AIGEFS.</p><ul><li><p>Performance: by combining two different modeling systems (one physics-based, one AI-based), the HGEFS creates a larger, more robust ensemble that more effectively represents forecast uncertainty. As a result, the HGEFS consistently outperforms both the GEFS and the AIGEFS across most major verification metrics.</p></li><li><p>A NOAA first: to our knowledge, NOAA is the first organization in the world to implement such a hybrid physical-AI ensemble system.</p></li><li><p>Area for future improvement: NOAA continues its work to improve HGEFS’s hurricane intensity forecasts.</p></li></ul><h4><strong>A NOAA and industry-wide effort</strong></h4><p>This initial model suite is an outgrowth of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.epic.noaa.gov/ai/eagle-overview/"><u>Project EAGLE</u></a>,&nbsp;a joint initiative between NOAA's National Weather Service, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research labs, the Environmental Modeling Center in NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and the Earth Prediction Innovation Center.</p><p>“Using Project EAGLE and the Earth Prediction Innovation Center, NOAA scientists continue to work with members of academia and private industry on more advancements in forecasting technology,” added Jacobs.</p><p>The team leveraged Google DeepMind's GraphCast model as an initial foundation and fine-tuned the model using NOAA's own Global Data Assimilation System analyses. This additional training with NOAA data improved the Google model's performance, particularly when using GFS-based initial conditions.</p>

Administrator

NOAA Deploys New Generation Of AI-Driven Global Weather Models

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<h1><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/2025-atlantic-hurricane-season-marked-by-striking-contrasts">COURTESY: NOAA</a></h1><p>The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=atl"><u>2025 Atlantic hurricane season</u></a>, which officially ended on November 30, was notable for its striking contrast — wavering between periods of relative calm and bursts of intense activity, generating very powerful storms. Overall, the season fell within the predicted ranges for named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes issued in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/prediction-remains-on-track-for-above-normal-atlantic-hurricane-season"><u>NOAA’s seasonal outlooks</u></a>.</p><p style="text-align: start">"For the first time in a decade, not a single hurricane struck the U.S. this season, and that was a much needed break,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Still, a tropical storm caused damage and casualties in the Carolinas, distant hurricanes created rough ocean waters that caused property damage along the East Coast, and neighboring countries experienced direct hits from hurricanes."</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IhS5UIupb2I" start="0"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: start">“The 2025 season was the first year NOAA’s National Hurricane Center incorporated Artificial Intelligence model guidance into their forecasts,” added Jacobs. “The NHC performed exceedingly well when it came to forecasting rapid intensification for some of the more impactful storms and provided critical decision support for our Caribbean partners.”</p><p style="text-align: start">The Atlantic basin produced 13 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which five became hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater), including four major hurricanes with winds reaching 111 mph or greater. An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/Background.html"><u>average season</u></a> has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140651-1764191236763.png"></p><p style="text-align: start">“Throughout the hurricane season, and all year long, the National Weather Service works around the clock to meet our mission of saving lives, protecting property and enhancing the national economy,” said Ken Graham, director, NOAA's National Weather Service. “I'm grateful to this talented team for their steadfast dedication to the safety of the American public.”</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZNYtjpRm0JE" start="0"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: start">While the climatological peak of the hurricane season was quiet with no tropical activity, the season generated three Category 5 hurricanes, the second-most on record in a single season.&nbsp;“Fortunately, short-term weather patterns largely steered tropical systems away from the United States,” Graham added.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140535-1764191145942.png">Tropical cyclone names are selected each year by the World Meteorological Organization (online at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wmo.int/).(Image">https://wmo.int/)</a></p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Atlantic Basin: Key Storms and Statistics</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Tropical Storm Andrea</strong> formed on June 23, kicking off the season.&nbsp;<strong>Tropical storms Barry and Chantal</strong> then developed in rapid succession, before activity took a pause. The remnants of Barry added to the catastrophic flooding events in southern Texas on the Fourth of July.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140753-1764191281552.png">Chantal was the only storm to make landfall in the U.S., bringing excessive rainfall and flooding to North Carolina.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 140859-1764191350109.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Erin</strong> was the first Category 5 storm of the season and brought storm surge and tropical storm conditions to the North Carolina Outer Banks and rough surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Erin underwent rapid intensification, and is tied for the fifth-fastest 24-hour increase in maximum sustained winds on record, from 75 mph to 160 mph. Erin also tied for the third-fastest 24-hour pressure drop in the Atlantic basin on record, dropping 83 millibars from 998 mb to 915 mb.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Humberto</strong> became the second Category 5 hurricane, and soon after,&nbsp; <strong>Hurricane Imelda</strong> developed and became the final storm of September.&nbsp;Humberto was helpful in pulling Imelda out into the Atlantic and away from the U.S. coast. Still, despite the fact that they were thousands of miles away, they still brought coastal erosion to the Outer Banks for North Carolina.</p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141013-1764191422252.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141148-1764191520342.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><strong>Hurricane Melissa</strong> developed into the third Category 5 hurricane of the season, and became one of the strongest Atlantic basin hurricane landfalls on record when it made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on October 28, bringing extensive damage to Jamaica, Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba. Melissa was the fourth storm to undergo rapid intensification this year, with a 115-mph wind increase and a 90 millibar decrease in central pressure in a 72-hour period ending at 11 a.m. EDT on October 28.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start">Four days before Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica, the NHC projected a path over western Jamaica, a forecast that ended up with a track difference of only about 13 miles. “NHC’s intensity forecasts for Melissa outperformed every model at nearly every lead time and provided almost three days of advance notice that Melissa would make landfall in Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 hurricane,” said Michael Brennan, Ph.D., director, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “This lead time was remarkable because it was the first time NHC forecasted a hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity from such a low initial intensity when the forecast was first issued.”</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-26 141250-1764191579687.png"></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xyG0HraZqRI" start="0"></iframe></div><hr><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">Hurricane season activity was near-normal for both the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=epac"><u>Eastern Pacific basin</u></a> and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=cpac"><u>Central Pacific basin</u></a> and fell within predicted ranges, respectively.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start">The Eastern Pacific basin hurricane season produced 18 named storms, with nine becoming hurricanes and three intensifying to major hurricane status. Two named storms formed in the Central Pacific basin, with one, Iona, becoming a major hurricane well south of Hawaii. Eastern Pacific storms Henriette and Kiko were also hurricanes in the Central Pacific that passed northeast of Hawaii with little impact to the state.</p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Season Scorecard: NOAA’s Research and Response</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">This season,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/aircraft-operations/about/hurricane-hunters"><u>NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft</u></a> flew 417 mission hours to collect atmospheric data that is critical to hurricane forecasting and research, passing through the eye of a hurricane 53 times and deploying more than 1,300 scientific instruments.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/"><u>NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory</u></a> hurricane researchers participated in&nbsp;52 Hurricane Hunter missions, processing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/real-time-doppler-radar/"><u>Tail Doppler Radar</u></a> scans and more than 1,100&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.omao.noaa.gov/aircraft-operations/dropsondes-minisondes-advancing-atmospheric-research"><u>dropsonde</u></a>&nbsp;profiles that were used to inform real-time decisions and improve forecasts. For the first time, an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/mini-ocean-robot-collects-data-in-category-5-hurricane/#:~:text=NOAA%20has%20teamed%20up%20with,27%2D29%2C%202025"><u>uncrewed surface vehicle</u></a> captured and transmitted data from inside a Category 5 hurricane (Humberto) — a groundbreaking step in the mission to improve weather forecasting capabilities using new technologies.</p><p style="text-align: start">NOAA's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/"><u>National Ocean Service</u></a> captured thousands of aerial images in the wake of hurricanes&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/aug25/ngs-hurricane-erin.html"><u>Erin</u></a> and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/melissa/index.html#9/18.18/-77.39"><u>Melissa</u></a>.&nbsp;After Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey supported the U.S. Department of State with its humanitarian response and recovery efforts, using&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://omao.noaa.gov/aircraft-operations"><u>NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations aircraft and crews</u></a>. NOAA aircraft captured high-resolution imagery across approximately 1,573 square miles (4,075 square kilometers), logging over 55 flight hours and collecting nearly 15,000 image frames.</p><h2 style="text-align: start"><strong>Storm-by-Storm Analysis&nbsp;</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">NOAA’s National Hurricane Center will produce a Tropical Cyclone Report to comprehensively document each named storm from the 2025 season. The reports will be published as they are completed through early next year and will be available on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2025&amp;basin=atl"><u>Tropical Cyclone Report site</u></a>.</p>

Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes Near Normal

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<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">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></span></p>

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<p>An early intrusion of arctic air moved through much of the Eastern United States to start the week, bringing the first snow of the season to many and helping several ski resorts open their doors this week! While the Great Lakes were dealing with heavy lake effect snow, a burst of snow around a small low pressure system moved from the Midwest into Tennessee and the Carolinas, surprising some residents in the Mid-South.<br></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1988418970186379679" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1988418970186379679"></div><p><br>Snow totals were able to top 6 inches on many of the higher peaks and ridges through the Appalachians, including in North Carolina. A trace of snow was even reported in the Piedmont of North Carolina and in northern Georgia!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-12 133729-1762979865164.png"><br>The Northeast reported totals of over 12 inches as well with the early week system, which aids the ski resorts that have already been making snow for over a week or two thanks to colder temperatures the last few weeks. Despite the two week head start on snow making, a resort in North Carolina became the first in the East to open its slopes to riders on Tuesday, beating New England resorts like Killington (VT) and Sunday River (ME) by one day! Those resorts opened Wednesday, the 12th, for the first time this season. <br><br>We spoke to the Vice President at Sugar Mountain in Avery County, near Banner Elk, about the early start to the season.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntY0Do7E3h4" start="0"></iframe></div><p><br>For the latest forecast for the East, tune in at :10 past the hour or get the forecast on demand anytime with the WeatherNation app.</p>

Jesse Kelley

Cold Weather Helps Several East Coast Ski Resorts Open Early

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<p><strong>OREGON</strong> - Oregon's Coastal Management Program needs your help in researching King Tides and how they shape the state's coastlines. We spoke with them in November to learn more about their project and how residents can help them better understand what's happening across the state's coastlines.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/king-tides-return-to-start-the-month"><strong>Learn more on what King Tides are.</strong></a></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y7BQVBOF-dg" start="0"></iframe></div><p>To learn more about their mission you can <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/53b554eaecdf40e6a7a3bed75e30a01c"><strong>visit their website</strong></a> and learn more about how you can <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/53b554eaecdf40e6a7a3bed75e30a01c/page/Participate"><strong>submit to their photo contest</strong></a>. It's important to remember to always stay safe when around King Tides, and to never turn your back to the ocean as sneaker waves can drag people out to sea.</p><h2><strong>NEXT ROUND OF KING TIDES:</strong></h2><p>There are two more rounds of King Tides expected through the winter of 2025/26:</p><p>December 4th - 6th, 2025</p><p>January 1st - 4th 2026</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 054718-1762088653776-1762811767433.png"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(40, 42, 58)">King tides are most pronounced when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit, which is known as perigee. This is happening at the same time as the full moon for both November and December, creating what's known as a supermoon. During these supermoon events, the moon will be about 14,000 miles closer to the Earth than normal!</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 060337-1762088634156-1762811794605.png"></p>

Oregon Studying King Tides: How You Can Help

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<p><strong>HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL</strong> - As temperatures begin to dip as part of an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Arctic%20Blast%20To%20Bring%20Freezing%20Air%20to%20Millions%20of%20Americans"><strong>arctic blast set to impact millions</strong></a> across the eastern tier of the country, one Florida county is opening warming shelters ahead of the cold weather.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1987939977561571410" src="https://x.com/CityofTampa/status/1987939977561571410"></div><p>At least six warming shelters across Hillsborough County will be open on Monday, November 10th, and Tuesday, November 11th to help house those weather the chilly temps. Felicia Crosby-Rucker, the director of Homeless and Community Services for the county said they're looking for more community and faith-based partners to open more shelters.</p><p><strong>FULL INTERVIEW:</strong> </p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x9nahTmQmAg" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p><strong>THE FORECAST:</strong></p><p>Temperatures in Tampa are expected to dip to near freezing on Monday evening, with wind chills below 40 degrees. The wind chill threshold is what activates the warming shelters opening in the Tampa area. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/FL Tue Am Lows-1762806505871.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/FL Cold Weather Advisory-1762806505868.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Potential Record Lows-1762806505873.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Tampa 7 Day-1762806505872.png"><span style="color: rgb(40, 42, 58)">This early blast of winter is a reminder that the transition from autumn to winter can happen abruptly when large-scale atmospheric patterns align. People should prepare by checking heating systems, protecting exposed pipes, and dressing in multiple insulating layers to guard against hypothermia and frostbite. The cold pattern may linger for several days before a gradual moderation occurs as the upper-level flow begins to flatten and the jet stream retreats northward.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p>

Jackie Brown

Warming Shelters Open in Florida as Arctic Blast Takes Hold

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<h3><strong>Melissa made landfall on Tuesday, October 28th, around 1:00 PM ET near New Hope, Jamaica, as a Category 5 hurricane, the 3rd strongest Hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin, with a central pressure dropping to 892 mb. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 185 mph.</strong></h3><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1984077869409325158" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1984077869409325158"></div><h3><strong>Hurricane Melissa made its second landfall in eastern Cuba early Wednesday near the city of Chivirico as a Category 3 storm before moving past Bermuda Thursday night.</strong></h3><ul><li><p>Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding caused major damage in Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.</p></li><li><p>Wind damage is widespread and catastrophic across western Jamaica.</p></li><li><p>Melissa became a post-tropical cyclone on Friday and moved into the north Atlantic.</p></li></ul><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1983196616640299223" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1983196616640299223"></div><h1>How Can You Help?</h1><p>There are many reputable organizations that are offering relief to Jamaicans impacted by Melissa. We recommend doing your own research about any organization you plan to donate to, but here are a few that have a history of helping. Cash donations are recommended instead of donating items like food and clothing.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-01 053852-1761997309915.png"></p><p>Tune into WeatherNation for the top weather headlines for more on the tropics.</p>

How to Help Those Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

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<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y7BQVBOF-dg" start="0"></iframe></div><p>Coastal areas will be dealing with intrusions of ocean water, known as coastal flooding, during the week ahead with the return of king tides!</p><h2>What is a "king tide?"</h2><p>When the gravitational pull of the sun and moon are both higher than normal, high and low tides become more pronounced, leading to flooding during high tide and potentially low water issues during the low tides.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 051621-1762088418982.png">This happens most often from the fall through the spring as the sun's gravitational pull on the earth is the strongest. Despite winter conditions in North America, the sun is actually closest to the earth in early January.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 051520-1762088418986.png"><br><br>King tides are most pronounced when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit, which is known as perigee. This is happening at the same time as the full moon for both November and December, creating what's known as a supermoon. During these supermoon events, the moon will be about 14,000 miles closer to the Earth than normal!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 060337-1762088634156.png"><br><br>December will also feature a round of king tides with another supermoon!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/Screenshot 2025-11-02 054718-1762088653776.png"></p>

Patrick Crawford

King Tides Return to U.S. Coastline

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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.

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<p>Severe storms will continue for areas of the Gulf Coast of Texas during the overnight hours of Sunday morning. The main threat will be large hail with any storms that turn severe.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/PIC 2-1762045016608.jpg"></p><p>The main risk with the severe storms overnight will be large hail.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/PIC 3-1762045029468.jpg"></p><p>The timing of the storms will be for the early morning hours Sunday. Once we reach sunrise on Sunday the severe risk will be gone.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/FORECAST-1762045111508.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Temperatures will nice and comfortable Sunday before creeping back up into the 80s next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/11/1-1762051422243.png"></p>

Severe Storm Threat for Texas Coast Early Sunday Morning

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<p>They aren't out to suck your blood, and they're definitely not rodents, but bats still get a bad wrap and are associated with the spookiest season of all. To learn more about bats, their impacts on the world around us, and how they survive the winter, we spoke with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://naturalist.nwf.org/">David Mizejewski</a>, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zu3Gp7SVawg" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Bats aren't just great at pest control, but they're pollination and seed dispersion machines. The various species are overflowing with incredible benefits, literally. Bat scat or guano provides nutrients that other cave-dwelling creatures rely on. While not every species are cave-dwelling, their perks benefit us all, and their slow reproduction rate makes it hard for them to increase their numbers after devastating events.</p><h2>How you can help:</h2><p>You can learn more about building a bat house to provide a safe home for your local bats on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Habitat-Essentials/Build-a-Bat-House?_ga=2.268011276.382143484.1761602237-914943635.1759956578"><strong><u>National Wildlife Federation's website</u></strong></a>. You can also learn more fun facts about bats via <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://blog.nwf.org/2025/10/october-is-bat-appreciation-month/"><strong><u>their blog</u></strong></a>.</p>

Batty for Bats: October is Bat Appreciation Month

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Brittany Lockley

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<p><span style="color: inherit">After the last system brought heavy rainfall and flash flooding, this next system will bring more snow to the region as colder air filters in behind it. Snow chances will increase across parts of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas through Saturday, with roads likely turning slick during the day and into the evening hours.</span></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/GLsnow2-1768015586398.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Temperature Drop</h1><p>After the first low moved through on Thursday, temperatures began to drop dramatically. The second storm system following closely behind will reinforce the cold air and help generate additional snowfall this weekend. While many Midwest locations are expected to see generally light accumulations, some areas could pick up a few inches by early Saturday, especially where snow bands linger longer. Farther east and north toward the Great Lakes, snowfall totals may be higher as lake-enhanced snow develops, boosting accumulations in parts of Wisconsin and Michigan.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 144350-1767995044269.png"></p><p>Wind chill values will also become quite cold, dropping some of these temperatures to well below zero. Strong winds could worsen conditions, particularly near the Great Lakes, where blowing snow may significantly reduce visibility at times. Gusty winds may also lead to drifting snow and isolated whiteout conditions, especially in lake-effect-prone areas. Travel impacts are likely to be greatest overnight into Saturday morning, and drivers are urged to use caution as conditions change rapidly.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 144535-1767995141102.png"></p><p>The heaviest snow is expected around the Great Lakes in northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin, where lake effect snow bands will be possible. There could be over 6 inches of snow in these areas by the end of the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 144641-1767995208131.png"></p><p><span style="color: inherit">Make sure to stay alert to updated winter weather alerts and forecasts, as small shifts in storm tracks or temperatures could lead to changes in snowfall totals and timing across the Midwest through the weekend. </span>For the latest in the Central Region, tune in live at :30 past the hour or get it on demand anytime with the WeatherNation app.</p>

Dave Holder

Rounds of Snow Returning to the Midwest

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<p>Tonight and Saturday we are keeping a close eye on severe weather possible in the Deep South. A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of Louisiana and Mississippi into Saturday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768014966811.png"></p><p></p><p></p><h1>Outlooks &amp; Timing</h1><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768015008970.png">This evening's outlook covers areas from east Texas through Alabama, with a level 2 (slight) risk from Huntsville, TX to Montgomery, AL, meaning storms are expected to be slightly more widespread, stronger, and could last longer. All modes of severe weather (wind, hail, and tornadoes) will be possible. The tornado potential is at a level 2 from Louisiana through central Alabama</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 161526-1768000532300.png"></p><p>Warm and moist air is expected to keep the atmosphere unstable, and daytime heating has helped increase the instability enough to lead to scattered severe storms. Those storms could intensify later this evening, with some persisting into the overnight. Be sure to review your tornado safety plan and have multiple ways to get severe weather alerts that can wake you up!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1768015105435.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p></p><p>Severe storms will remain possible through Saturday afternoon, including the continued threat for tornadoes. The tornado threat for Saturday stretches from New Orleans through Atlanta.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 115920-1767985174324.png"></p><h1>Rain &amp; Flooding</h1><p>Rainfall rates are increasing significantly this evening across the south, with 1-2" per hour possible, possibly more. The radar has already estimated between 4-7" of rain in Mississippi today.  This means some areas could receive 4-6 inches in a short period of time, leading to a flash flooding potential. A Flood Watch remains in place for portions of the South through Saturday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 162020-1768000830162.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768015210459.png"></p><p>The WPC has issued a level 3 outlook for excessive rainfall (flash flooding) for today, with areas from Louisiana through east Tennessee most likely to see flooding develop. If you live in a flood-prone location, review your flooding plan to seek higher ground if flood waters threaten.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768015259888.png"></p><p>Catch updates during our top weather headlines (:00, :20, :40 past the hour) or get the latest regional update for the East and Central U.S. at :10 and :30 past the hour.</p>

Tornado Threat Elevated Across the South Through Saturday

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<p>The Northeastern U.S. has been one of the more active regions of the country so far this winter in terms of ice and snow, with plenty piling up around the Great Lakes and into New England. A warmer system is tracking through the Northeast as we end the week, followed by a colder weekend system that is expected to bring back ice and snow.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 073813-1767969556610.png"></p><p>Saturday will see quickly changing temperatures, with sub-freezing air down to I-80 in the morning hours. With warmer air overhead, this could lead to freezing rain mixing with snow Saturday before colder air and more widespread snow return on Sunday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1768015439189.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p></p><p>Saturday, colder air returns to the I-90 corridor, allowing higher elevations to see a mix of ice and sleet, while lower elevations experience rain. Heading into Sunday, much cooler air develops in northwesterly flow, allowing for light snow to fall, though it looks to mostly impact areas closer to the Great Lakes versus the I-95 corridor.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768015495201.png"></p><p><br>Freezing rain and sleet forecasts are potentially significant for some areas into Saturday, with Upstate New York and New England expected to deal with slick conditions and accumulations of ice.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768015533204.png"></p><p></p><p>Snow will mostly be on the lighter side for most areas with pockets of moderate rainfall (1-2" on the high end). Flash flooding is not expected, but some nuisance flooding (ponding on roadways) is possible. The mountains in New York and New England will see potential for heavier snow, upwards of 6-10 inches. Flash flooding is not expected, but some nuisance flooding (ponding on roadways) is possible.</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 145203-1767995530089.png">Temperatures will be quite warm with the first two waves of low pressure, before the cold front arrives Sunday into Monday.<br><br>Get the latest in the Northeast in the East Regional Forecast anytime with the WeatherNation app - or tune in live at :10 past the hour!</p>

Another Round of Ice and Snow for the Northeast This Weekend

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<p>This first full week of January has brought many record highs across the country, with plenty more falling on Friday. But... not so fast. There is a big cooldown in the forecast, and it will hit fast over the weekend!</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web 4-1767968499810.png"></p><p>Incredibly, even before the noon hour on Friday, numerous major cities had already felt record warmth for the day! </p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 160607-1767999974103.png"></p><p>As this latest system and its associated cold fronts push east, many will see temperature drops substantially. However, some of us will still be feeling the springtime warmth to start the weekend! </p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 160741-1768000068113.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-09 161109-1768000278819.png"></p><p>Some cities are in for a little temperature whiplash this weekend! Daytime highs are expected to plunge 20-30 degrees as this system rolls across the east on Saturday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web 7-1767968785017.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/web 8-1767968795739.png"></p>

Temperature Whiplash for the Weekend

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<p>It has been one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires burned through local communities in Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025. The lasting impacts are still being felt across the region, both on the ground and in the atmosphere. The fires took 31 lives and burned down 18,000 buildings and homes.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p>The fires ignited during a period of extreme fire weather, fueled by prolonged drought, critically low humidity, and strong offshore winds. The Palisades&nbsp;fire initially started with an open flame in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Firefighters were able to contain&nbsp;the flames above ground, but the fire continued to burn underground. At the time of ignition, relative humidity values dropped into the single digits, while wind gusts frequently exceeded 40 to 60 mph, creating ideal conditions for the rapid spread of the fire. The National Weather Service even issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation for these fires. These factors allowed flames to move miles in just hours, overwhelming containment efforts during the initial stages. The Palisades fire grew to 23,707 acres.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 041825-1767784832298.png">The Eaton Fire ignited in Altadena shortly after the Palisades Fire. In this fire, close to 10,000 homes were destroyed and 19 lives were lost, as the fire ravaged 14,021 acres by the time of its containment on January 31, 2024.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07 04-18-40-1767784809714.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Rainfall deficits leading up to the fires played a major role in their intensity. Many areas had received less than 50 percent of their average precipitation over the previous 6 to 12 months, resulting in exceptionally dry vegetation. Live fuel moisture levels were near record lows for late season, and energy release components, an index used to measure potential fire intensity, were well above climatological averages. <span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 040748-1767784265056.png"></p><p>Once the fires were established, towering smoke plumes injected particulates high into the atmosphere, degrading air quality across hundreds of miles and prompting repeated air quality alerts as fine particulate concentrations surged well above health-based thresholds.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2025-12_2025-01-09_g18_abi_meso_geocolor-fires-1767898580832.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>In the aftermath, the weather continued to complicate recovery. The first significant rain events following the fires produced short bursts of heavy rainfall, falling on soils unable to absorb water efficiently. Rainfall rates of just a half inch per hour were enough to trigger runoff, mudslides, and debris flows within burn scars. Damaging roads and infrastructure months after the flames were extinguished. Emergency managers were forced to pivot from wildfire response to managing the floods, highlighting the compound risks associated with extreme weather.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 091018-1767802242571.png">A year later, both fires are on California's most destructive fires list. Weather and climate data show early signs of ecological recovery, but also ongoing vulnerability. Native grasses and shrubs have begun to return, aided by winter&nbsp;rainfall.&nbsp;The Palisades and Eaton fires now serve as a stark example of how weather extremes, heat, wind, drought, and heavy rainfall are reshaping wildfire behavior. <span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p>

One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

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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!

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<p>It's been a slow start to the ski season for a lot of our resorts out west, so any snow in the forecast should bring a little hope to the skiers and boarders out there. <strong>Winter weather alerts </strong>have been issued across the Four Corners through Friday. Totals will vary based on elevation.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174402-1767833193610.png"></p><p>Across Arizona and New Mexico, we've been getting rainfall, and that will continue overnight. In the meantime, snow will start to pile up in Colorado, Utah, and the higher elevations of the southern Four Corners.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/01-07 rsw rsc-1767833203813.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Through Friday, some of our ski resorts could max out around a foot. For the Colorado Rockies and resorts of Utah, we'll be fortunate enough if we see around 9" to one foot for resorts like Vail and Steamboat Springs.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174409-1767833222196.png"></p><h2>Denver Area</h2><p>Models are starting to get better correlated on what the outcome for Thursday's snowfall is. Temperatures look to be a bit cooler, cool enough to support upwards of 1-5" of snow in the Denver area.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 154256-1767825841035.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174716-1767833250369.png"></p><h2>Salt Lake City</h2><p>SLC has seen barely any snow this season. So far, we've only had 0.1" of snow downtown. The forecast from the National Weather Service has a forecast of 1-2" in the city.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 154348-1767825872371.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174723-1767833255996.png"></p><p>Whether you're hopeful or skeptical of this forecast, be sure to join us on WeatherNation live for the latest breakdown of these forecasts!</p>

Snow Returns to Ski Country

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<p><strong>NORTHEAST </strong>- We've had a series of clipper systems move from the Northern Plains over the Great Lakes and past the Northeast over a lot of the Christmas holidays. Now that we're back for the first full week of work and school, we have more of the same. Through tonight, <strong>winter weather advisories</strong> have been issued for portions of northern New England for a bit of sleet, ice, and a couple of quick inches of snowfall. This will likely lead to slick spots on the road tonight and tomorrow morning.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web1-1767781875352.png"></p><p>Here's a look at our forecast totals from now through Wednesday. Higher elevations may see more than a couple of inches, but otherwise, totals will be fairly minimal.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web2-1767781901208.png"></p><p>Timing things out through Wednesday morning, we currently have a wintry mix pushing through the northeast along a frontal boundary and that will continue through Wednesday morning in these areas.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07 03-33-24-1767782032503.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Next System To Watch</h2><p>After we receive a little bit of snowfall, another warmer system is set to move into the northeast as we head into the latter half of the work week. With warmer temperatures in store, this will likely bring in more rain than snowfall. That could lead to some slushy conditions, especially if you have snowfall on the ground in your area. Rain starts to push in Thursday through Saturday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07 03-32-08-1767782070128.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>For more of these details be sure to join us LIVE on WeatherNation!</p>

Wintry Weather to Rain Chances In The Northeast

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2007919969460183293" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2007919969460183293"></div><p>One last push of the trough responsible for the heavy rain in California will kick off the week. This comes after several systems created major flooding and mudslides over the holidays. The threat of additional flash flooding (including with mudslides and debris flows) and heavy mountain snow will continues on Monday.</p><h1>Flooding Threat</h1><p>Flash flood potential is expected to continue through today with the WPC's excessive rainfall outlook at a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 4) risk.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-05 134424-1767645873195.png"></p><h1>Timing / Forecast</h1><p>There is still some lingering rain in northern California happening today through tonight. The surface low will parallel the coast through tomorrow and may bring some minor rain back into southern California.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/01-05_rsw california-1767645945817.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Snow &amp; Wind</h1><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2007829374213693448" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2007829374213693448"></div><p><strong>Winter Storm Warnings</strong> remain in effect for the Sierra Nevada as well as the Trinity-Shasta mountains through tonight.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-05 134605-1767645972878.png"></p><p>Snowfall totals moving forward are likely in the higher elevations but a couple inches over the Donner pass and up near Mount Shasta could cause road slow-downs on our interstates.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/we2-1767620172781.png"></p><p>More details on your Western Regional Forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.</p>

Heavy Rain & Snow Winding Down Tonight in California

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<p>After colder air settles into the Southeast earlier this week, warmer temperatures will briefly return ahead of an approaching storm system, setting the stage for severe weather.</p><p>Here are some of the hail reports from Saturday's storms along the Gulf Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1767495361933.png"></p><p></p><p>The low diving across the Mississippi Valley today will move through the Carolinas on Saturday, dragging a cold front across the Gulf Coast. As warmer and moist air surges north ahead of the boundary, more thunderstorms are possible tonight. Following the front, temperatures will stay warm and more sunshine will be expected for next week.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1767495625178.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p>

Severe Storms Target the Southeast on Saturday

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<h1>Northern U.S.</h1><p>In the North-Central U.S., an Alberta Clipper will help reinforce the cooler air as we move into the weekend. Morning lows and afternoon highs will be well below normal for many spots in the northern U.S.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-02 131959-1767385206537.png"></p><p>Be cautious of the wind chill; some of these spots may read above zero on a thermometer, but they will feel even colder than that. Some wind-chills could reach the single digits.</p><p>Temperatures will not rise significantly in the afternoon. Check out the high temperatures to start the weekend! </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-02 132146-1767385317298.png"></p><h2><strong>Southern U.S.</strong></h2><p><strong>Frost and Freeze Warnings</strong> were issued earlier this week across portions of the South. Here is a look at the temperatures that kicked off 2026 on Thursday!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-01 074114-1767278487500.jpg"></p><p>Temperatures have been warming back up to end the week. Many areas will be at or above normal with high temperatures into the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-02 132431-1767385475366.png"></p><p>Make sure you stay tuned to WeatherNation, as we continue to monitor the cold air! </p>

Chilly Air Across the Northern States

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<p>As we say goodbye to 2025 and ring in 2026, many parts of the country can expect active weather for this year’s ball drop. In New York City, home to the nation’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration, conditions will turn cool through the evening and overnight, with a low chance for a few light snowflakes around midnight. Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing, dropping into the 20s.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/PIC 2-1767206581020.jpg"></p><p>Here’s an early look at the forecast: a few light snow showers may be possible on New Year’s Eve across the region, but accumulations are not expected.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/12-30_rne bams-1767123576095.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Did you know the first-ever ball drop originated in New York City back in 1907? Luckily for the spectators who gathered in Times Square on December 31, 1907, the weather cooperated. The day reached a high of 44°F with a low of 35°F, milder than the current normal high of 41°F and low of 30°F for December 31. Still, as the ball dropped at midnight, spectators definitely needed their winter coats, as the 35°F temperature felt colder with 20-mph west winds.</p><p>Across the rest of the country, other unique “ball drops” will be taking place, and in many spots, the weather looks chilly.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 172400-1767140647149.png"><br>Out west, some locations will stay relatively mild. In Boise, Idaho, spectators can enjoy the famous potato drop with temperatures around 40 degrees at midnight.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 172354-1767140651187.png"></p><p>In the Southeast, a giant peach will NOT be dropping this year in Atlanta; the city is opting for a New Year's celebration called Countdown Over ATL. Temperatures will still be cool if you're participating. Still, some other spots will be dropping unusual items such as a giant orange in Miami, a giant pineapple in Sarasota, and a giant conch in Key West, where temperatures will be in the 50s.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 172347-1767140655771.png"></p><p>Across the rest of the nation, some can expect a cool and rainy New Year's Eve like the southwest, and bitter cold in the northern Plains.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-29 05-28-37-1767011338082.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>For a more detailed look at the days leading up to the New Year, be sure to join us on WeatherNation all week long, we’re streaming 24/7!</p>

Weather for the Ball Drop: What to Expect as 2026 Begins

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<p><strong>TAZEWELL COUNTY, IL </strong> - On December 28th, a strong cold front moving through the Midwest produced dangerous and damaging storms as it moved through. In Illinois, many of these thunderstorms triggered tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service from Lincoln and Chicago in the afternoon. Later in the day, additional tornado warnings were issued by the NWS in Northern Indiana, Paducah, and Louisville, Kentucky. At least two tornadoes have been confirmed.</p><p>One of these tornadoes was in Tazewell County, Illinois. Here is some of the damage that was captured on camera in the area.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2005655047665770791" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2005655047665770791"></div><p>The National Weather Service has confirmed this to be an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 98 mph, leaving behind damage to two outbuildings and numerous trees.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 164352-1767051837245.png">Just down the road in Mount Zion, Illinois, an even stronger tornado was reported with winds of 120 mph, bringing it up to EF-2 in strength. The National Weather Service in Lincoln <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSILX&amp;e=202512292155&amp;bbb=CCA">reports </a>that this tornado tore through it, <em>"removed the majority of the roofs off of 8 homes and  produced complete destruction of a garage that was tossed to the next block."</em></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 163709-1767051919355.png">This tornado was also captured on camera in Mount Zion.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2005632521158144068" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2005632521158144068"></div><p>After the frontal boundary moved through, temperatures dropped significantly, and some spots even saw snowfall. For more on how the weather will be in these area,s be sure to join us on WeatherNation live for more!</p>

Tornadoes Confirmed In Illinois From Sunday

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<p><strong>UPPER MIDWEST - </strong>Blizzard alerts are in place for portions of the Upper Midwest through Monday. <strong>Blizzard warnings </strong>are issued when visibility is less than 1/4 mile, winds are greater than 35 mph, and lasting for more than 3 hours. Additional alerts are in place, including <strong>winter storm warnings</strong> and<strong> winter weather advisories</strong>.  4 - 14" of snow will be possible and white out conditions will stick around long after the snow stops falling. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web1-1767010399907.png"></p><p>The Iowa Department of Transportation reports that portions of the heavily traveled Interstate 35 are closed from Clear Lake to Ames due to hazardous weather conditions.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2005641210451407198" src="https://x.com/iowadot/status/2005641210451407198"></div><p>As the frontal system moves through, temperatures will turn colder, and winds will increase, allowing blizzard conditions to continue into the beginning of the workweek.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-29 05-13-43-1767010456858.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Snowfall totals could reach several inches, especially with the added influence of lake-effect bands near Lake Superior.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Web5-1767010518679.png"></p><p>For more coverage, be sure to watch us live on WeatherNation!</p>

Blizzard Conditions In the Upper Midwest, Portions of I-35 Shutdown

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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.

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<p>Unseasonably warm temperatures continue to prevail in much of the central and southeastern United States, as an area of high pressure maintains the jet stream north, allowing warm air to build up. Widespread record highs have been noted for days now, with Christmas being a particularly warm day down in Oklahoma and Texas!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-26 124127-1766796470565.png"></p><p>More records have been falling throughout the day on Saturday. It's not just that many records have been falling recently; it's how easily they are going down. We've seen multiple records fall by 10° or more, including a record of 87° in Wichita Falls!</p><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-27 173416-1766882070014.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-27 173358-1766882070019.png"></p><p></p><h1>A PATTERN CHANGE ON SUNDAY</h1><p>Feast your eyes on Sunday! Some cities will see a HUGE drop in temperatures as a cold front blasts south. Denver will go from near 60° on Saturday to a high of just 34° on Sunday. Salt Lake City will drop to the mid-30s on Sunday as well. Omaha, Nebraska, will see a high of 60° on Saturday, but by Monday, temperatures will only rise into the low 20s! (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/artic-air-returns-this-weekend">Read more here</a>)</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web1-1766921888574.png"></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web2-1766921941970.png"></p><p>The South Central will remain firm in the above-average temperatures through the weekend, but here too temperatures will crash down by the beginning of next week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web3-1766921966466.png"></p>

Record Warmth For One More Day

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<p><strong>CALIFORNIA - </strong>Over the past few days, tropical moisture has brought flooding through portions of California. Although the main atmopsheric river is gone, multiple disturbances over the next few days will bring more rain and storms and the chance for more flooding. Flooding, mudslides, and severe storms will all be threats over the next few days. Portions of California have seen almost a foot of snow just since Wednesday morning.</p><h1>Rain &amp; Flooding</h1><p>Although winding down, we still have a slight risk (level 2 out of 4) for flooding on Friday. The major impacts of today are expected to stay in the LA area.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web1-1766761826334.png"></p><h1><strong>TIMING</strong></h1><p>There will be rounds of rain and snow with breaks, as multiple waves move through over the next few days. On Saturday, things clear out with calmer conditions for the rest of the weekend.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-26 10-11-05-1766761893366.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Heavy Snow</h1><p>Heavy snow will accumulate over the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Friday, leading to travel impacts and the potential for delays. <strong>Winter Storm Warnings</strong> have been issued all across California. 3-5 feet of snow is expected, with some areas seeing higher totals.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/web1-1766761959472.png"></p><p>For more details on your forecast out west, tune in to your Western Regional :50 past the hour.</p>

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