Kevin Schneider

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The National Hurricane Center is always improving and looking for better ways to communicate threats when it comes to Hurricane Season. This year, they're rolling out a handful of new products, with a new cone, website and symbology to talk about. <h2>NEW CONE</h2>They've been toying around with an experimental cone for the past 2 years. This year the National Hurricane Center making it operational. It makes it easier to show inland impacts, especially wind, of a landfalling tropical system. Watch and warnings that pertain to a certain tropical system will now be shown along the cone's path.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/NHC Cone-1774369916399.png"><h2>TRACK FORECAST ERROR</h2>Speaking of the cone, which again, is used to show where the center of any particular tropical system will be in the future, is getting trimmed. These cones are built in with a typical error within the forecast. This year, it's shrinking by 4-8% vs last year. In the Pacific Basin, it will be 3-8% smaller vs 2025. <h2>STORM SURGE ALERTS FOR HAWAII</h2>This one's pretty straightforward. The National Weather Service will have the ability to issue Storm Surge Watches and Warnings for the Hawaiian Islands like they do in the lower 48. This will also come with a peak storm surge graphic and a potential inundation map. <ul><li>Generally, a Storm Surge Watch will come out when the threat is within 48 hours of occurring</li><li>Generally, a Storm Surge Warning will come out when the threat is within 36 hours.</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Example Peak Storm Surge-1774369995289.png"><h2>A NEW WEBSITE</h2><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Hurricanes.gov">Hurricanes.gov</a> will get a makeover of sorts. They're beginnging to work on a mobile version that will be more accessible with a bit of a different look. <h2>UPDATED SYMBOLOGY</h2>This one has some scary words, but is pretty simple too: anything that is not expected to develop in both the 2 &amp; 7 day timeframe will come with a grey/white X. So now the scale will go0% | Grey/White 10%-30% | Yellow 40%-60% | Orange 70%+ | RedBelow is an example of what the Tropical Weather Outlook could look like this year<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Example Outlook-1774370071665.png">

Patrick Crawford

NHC Rolls Out New Products in 2026

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We finally made it! Out of Winter and into Spring, which means allergies, and America's Pastime! However, this might not feel like Opening Day for everyone: some will see toasty temperatures that remind us of the Dog Days of Summer already, but others might have to contend with some rain delays.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 043448-1774348607592.png"><h1>RAINY GAMES</h1>A front will drop into the strike zone on Thursday, which will make contact with some warm and humid air. The result might annoy some fans, depending on the timing of things.Related Article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/sharp-front-sparks-more-severe-chances-late-week">Severe Chances Thursday</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 161650-1774477017499.png">Starting in St. Louis, the threat appears pretty slim at the start. Better bet rainfall might be in the later innings, but a solid chance to get the game in as of right now. It'll be HOT though, with a first pitch around 90!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 073929-1774445980567.png">A bigger concern might be the Cubs in Chicago for an outright delay. Late morning rain turning into some rumbles of thunder could mean some delays in the proceedings.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 074219-1774446150665.png">The Reds will host the Red Sox from Boston Thursday and looks like we'll get the game in here as well. Watch out for storms leaving the stadium if you have to travel north, though, by the evening.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 074607-1774446381784.png"><h1>GOOD NEWS</h1>If your first official ballgame isn't being played in the Midwest, you should be okay! Head far enough down south and you shouldn't run into any issues at all for the Angels vs Astros game!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-25 075547-1774446959718.png">

OPENING DAY: Hoping Home Openers Don't Strike Out

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Spring has sprung, and the arrival of the season sparks the beginning of so many different facets of the world we live in. From the renewed growth of plants, to the great migrations of animals returning home, spring has an endless list of things to look forward to. As we kick off this spring season, we want to get you ready for every aspect of the season.<h2>Spring Garden Trends:</h2>One of the biggest kickoffs to Spring is the kickoff to the growing season. But what can you expect this year as you head to the gardening section? We spoke with Garden Media to learn more.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A0rAvB6Y5vs" start="0"></iframe></div>The theme for 2026 is "Lemonading", which simply means making the most of the challenges life hands us each and every day. Whether you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, finding the latest and greatest in high-tech gardening gear, or simply making your garden a sanctuary for you and your pets, there's lessons we can learn through 2026's theme. You can find the full report on spring 2026 gardening trends on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://gardenmediagroup.com/trends/">Garden Media's website</a>.<h2>Monarch Butterfly Migration:</h2>The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single flap for monarch butterflies as they return to the U.S. after spending the winter in Mexico. This endangered species needs our help as they make their trek back to U.S. soil. We spoke with David Mizejewski with the National Wildlife Federation to learn more about this major migration, and what plants we can plant in our own backyards to help these insects soar back to success.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DojDFfgJ6yQ" start="0"></iframe></div>You can learn more about the Monarch Butterfly's migration on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly">the NWF website</a>.<h2>Spring Tree Pollen:</h2>For millions of people across the globe, Spring marks the start of allergy season. For those that suffer from tree allergies, it can be a nightmare as trees come into bloom. The experts at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.davey.com/">Davey Tree Company</a> gave us some insights on what trees are the biggest culprits this season, and how we can protect ourselves from the pollen.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9pYlXgluRqo" start="0"></iframe></div>Arborists recommend Pacific Dogwood, Oregon White Oak, Hornbeam, Sweetgum, and American Holly trees for those who are sensitive to tree pollen, but still want to plant a tree in their neighborhood. Hayes also recommends sterile, female trees that don't produce fruit as alternatives.<h2>Cherry Blossom Forecast:</h2>What began as a gift of trees from Japan in 1912 has turned into a national tradition as thousands wait for the blooming of the cherry blossoms in the Tidal Basin. This year, the blossoms are expected to reach peak bloom by late March, early April. We sat down with the National Park Service at the National Mall to learn more about these annual blossoms.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>March 11th marked the first buds on the trees and kicks off Bloom Watch in the park. You can learn more about the Cherry Blossoms, how weather impacts them, and when peak bloom will be this year on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">National Park's website.</a><h2>Hummingbird Migration:</h2>Some of Mother Nature's tiniest travelers are making the long journey back home after wintering in warmer weather. Hummingbirds have already begun their trips, but there are some things you can do at home to help them along the way. We spoke with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/">International Hummingbird Society</a> to learn more about this great migration.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/leQC0l8LxDY" start="0"></iframe></div>As the birds travel some 8,000 miles in some cases, it's important to remember to clean your hummingbird feeders regularly as they need to make frequent stops during their travels.<h2>Death Valley's Super Bloom:</h2>American's hottest National Park is home to one of the biggest super blooms in recent history. Death Valley National Park is going through a "Super Bloom" and and is advising visitors on how to best enjoy this spring season.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZeBr_MCd1Ac" start="0"></iframe></div>The National Park service says this is the biggest bloom since 2016. You can learn more about the Super Bloom, where it stands, and how to best view it on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/wildflowers.htm">Death Valley National Park's Super Bloom</a> webpage.

Tracey Anthony

Springing into Spring: Gardening, Migration, Pollen, and More!

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St. Patrick's Day is here and Mother Nature is bringing us some chilly weather for the east. Chicago was WAY ahead of us last week, getting in on their St. Patrick's Day festivities by dying the Chicago river green!<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033181427588575299" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033181427588575299"></div><h1>The Forecast</h1>After a gnarly system brought rain, snow and even severe weather to the central/eastern U.S., most of us are going to be staying nice and dry in it's wake. Out towards Chicago and Boston specifically, looking bone dry. Even, in some cases, rather chilly for this time of year! Most of these major parades got quite the lucky forecast!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Web1-1773749134699.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Web2-1773749143924.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Web3-1773749375942.png">Make sure you're staying tuned to WeatherNation for all of your top weather headlines from coast to coast!

Alana Cameron

A Lucky Forecast for St. Patty's Day

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FROM NOAAABOVE: An avalanche occurs at an elevation of 10,500 feet at Elk Point, Utah, in the Wasatch Mountain range. (Image credit: Bruce Tremper/U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center)NOAA and U.S. Forest Service collaborate to ensure avalanche safety up on the mountain. Ready to ski, snowboard and snowmobile?&nbsp;Before heading into the backcountry, it's critical to have the latest weather and snow conditions — especially when the potential for avalanches is high. These swift-moving snow masses can quickly reach speeds up to 100 mph and,&nbsp;on average, cause 25-30 deaths each winter in the United States, according to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/national-avalanche-center/">U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center, (NAC).offsite link</a>&nbsp;NOAA’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weather.gov/">National Weather Service (NWS</a>), the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/national-avalanche-center/">NACoffsite link</a>, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://www.avalanche.state.co.us/">Colorado Avalanche Information Centeroffsite link</a> are working together to get you the information you need to keep you informed to safely enjoy cold-weather recreation.&nbsp;<h2>Know before you go</h2>At the NWS, weather forecast offices that serve avalanche-prone regions nationwide, meteorologists gather detailed weather observations and produce daily forecasts which include new snow totals, snow water equivalent, probability of precipitation, wind, temperature, and sky cover.&nbsp;That information is compiled into&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product_sites.php?site=NWS&amp;product=AVG">Avalanche Weather Guidance</a>,&nbsp;which helps avalanche forecasters, search and rescue teams, and emergency managers better understand how the weather will impact snow stability.NWS&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weather.gov/wrh/avalancheweather">Avalanche Weather webpages</a> deliver easy access to current avalanche and weather information. These webpages display NWS weather alerts and forecasts relevant to avalanche interests and all Avalanche Watches and Warnings issued by the Avalanche Centers with polygons to pinpoint weather and avalanche information for a specific location.&nbsp;Avalanche forecasters at<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/us-avalanche-centers/"> the Avalanche Centers and the Colorado Avalanche Information Centeroffsite link</a> use weather forecasts and observations combined with terrain and snowpack data to create avalanche forecasts. These forecasts provide an assessment of the avalanche danger and associated snowpack and weather conditions. If conditions warrant, forecasters will also issue Avalanche Watches and Warnings, which are distributed by NWS.<img src="https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/ww-avalanche.png" alt="Image describing avalanche watches and avalanche warnings." title="Image describing avalanche watches and avalanche warnings. (Image credit: NOAA/Avalanche.org)">ABOVE: This graphic explains the difference between an avalanche watch and an avalanche warning. (NOAA/<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Avalanche.org">Avalanche.org</a>)<img src="https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/avalanche-warning-signs.png" alt="Image describing avalanche watches and warnings." title="Image describing avalanche watches and warnings. (Image credit: NOAA/Avalanche.org)">ABOVE: This graphic explains the warning signs of an avalanche. (NOAA/<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://Avalanche.org">Avalanche.org</a>)<h3>What to know about backcountry snow</h3><ul><li>Arm yourself with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/product_sites.php?site=NWS&amp;product=AVG">weather forecast&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/">avalanche forecastoffsite link</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-tutorial/get-the-gear.php">Get the gearoffsite link</a>: Always carry an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Know how to use them.</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-tutorial/get-the-training.php">Outsmart the slideoffsite link</a>: Avalanches are complex phenomena. Learning how to spot unstable terrain and slopes that are steep enough to slide can help you avoid a potential avalanche.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class=" ext-link-after" href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-tutorial/travel-safely.php#partner">Team up on the terrain:offsite link</a> Make sure you have a partner if you travel in the backcountry. A good partner can help you make decisions and is essential if things go wrong.</li></ul>

Avalanche Danger in the Backcountry

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

Rob Bradley

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Melissa is a name that will never be used again to label tropical cyclones in the Atlantic. The WMO (World Meteorological Organization) announced on Wednesday it will retire the name after devastating impacts from Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean last fall. Melissa is the 100th name to be retired in the Atlantic Basin. The WMO shared the following release with its announcement. "The World Meteorological Organization’s Hurricane Committee retired Melissa from its rotating list of names because of the death and destruction it caused in the Caribbean in October 2025. The committee selected Molly as the replacement name.At its peak, Melissa was classified as a category 5 storm based on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with life-threatening winds reaching around 300 km/h. The storm produced devastating storm surge and damaging winds across Jamaica and Cuba and brought extreme rainfall and flooding to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba.Melissa was responsible for more than 90 deaths across Jamaica, Haiti and the other island nations. Melissa is the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica. The storm ties Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas in 2019 and the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane in the USA as the strongest hurricane (in terms of maximum sustained wind speed) to make landfall in the Atlantic basin.“The risks associated with tropical cyclones are both real and increasing. It only takes one landfalling tropical cyclone to roll back years of development. And this was unfortunately the case with Hurricane Melissa,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.“Recovery will be long and hard. Despite the force of Melissa, loss of life was in the dozens rather than the thousands. This is testimony to the accuracy of advance forecasts and the use of these early warnings to support early action. Hurricane Committee Members can be proud of themselves for saving so many lives and helping to protect key sectors of the economy like transport, energy and fisheries,” she said in an opening video message.The Hurricane Committee consists of experts from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and represents North America, Central America and the Caribbean (WMO Regional Association IV). It met in Mexico City from 2 to 5 March to review the past season and prepare for the forthcoming one.“After more than four months since the passage of Melissa over Jamaica, stories about the impacts and recovery continue to dominate the news and media. Melissa has now been engraved in the collective memory of the nation,” said Evan Thompson, Principal Director at Meteorological Service, Jamaica, and President of WMO’s Regional Association IV.In 2025, the Atlantic basin produced 13 named storms (winds of 63 km/h or greater), of which five became hurricanes (winds of 120 km/h or greater), including four major hurricanes with winds reaching 180 km/h or greater. An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="ext" href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/Background.html">average season</a>&nbsp;has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="ext" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/">WMO’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center Miami is operated by the US National Hurricane Center</a>&nbsp;and is responsible for issuing regular forecasts to guide individual NMHSs to inform decisions on storm preparation, such as closing airports and ordering mass evacuations – as was the case with Melissa.“Every forecast and warning is a lifeline for real people, and a constant reminder that our work is not just about science, but about saving lives. The strong relationship between the RSMC Miami and the affected members during Melissa demonstrated the partnerships built within the Committee, and our shared commitment to reducing the human and economic impacts of storms such as Melissa throughout the region,” said Michael Brennan, Chair of the Hurricane Committee, Director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, and Director of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre Miami.While it attracts the most public attention, the WMO naming convention is only a small part of the life-saving work of the Hurricane Committee.The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wmo.int/content/tropical-cyclone-naming">&nbsp;lists of names</a>&nbsp;helps in the communication of storm warnings and to alert people about potentially life-threatening risks. The names alternate between male and female, and are intended to be easy to pronounce in every language in the region. Names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly or destructive that its name is retired.I am very thankful that there was unanimous approval of my request for the retirement of Melissa. Jamaica would not have liked to constantly recount the trauma that was visited on us in 2025,” said Mr Thompson.&nbsp;The name Molly, which was selected by Hurricane Committee members, will be used in 2031."

Jesse Kelley

WMO Retires the Name "Melissa" Following Devastating Impacts Last Fall

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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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As we head through the rest of the work week, an upper-low will move across the Intermountain West and into the Central Plains, increasing chances for severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. The upper-level ridge responsible for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/spring-like-temperatures-return-to-the-southwest">record heat</a> across the Southwest will begin to break down, allowing the upper-level low, currently moving through the Rockies, to move east, bringing strong jet stream winds overhead.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web2-1772451788235.png"><h2>Wednesday</h2>Wednesday the SPC has issued a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe storms for the threat of isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms from north Texas through Illinois with the primary threats of large hail and isolated wind damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1772662736557.png">As we move into the evening and overnight hours, more thunderstorms are likely along this stalled boundary. The biggest threats will be wind and hail. Although a few isolated tornadoes could be possible.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1772662976202.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Thursday - Friday</h2>Our next trough swings in later this week and targets some of the same areas for severe weather. On Thursday, the Storm Prediction Center has issued a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather across portions of the Plains. Large hail, severe winds, and a tornado or two will all be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1772663161422.png">The Storm Prediction Center has issued an additional outlook for Friday. This time, they've upgraded their outlook to an ENHANCED (level 3 out of 5) risk for severe weather. Several major cities are in this enhanced outlook, including OKC, Kansas City, and Tulsa. Strong winds, large hail, and even tornadoes are expected, however the SPC believes the heaviest severe weather in their enhanced-shaded area. The timing of these storms will likely head into Friday night. Make sure you have several ways to get alerts, and have your severe weather plan in place for this weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1772663223879.png">Timing out these storms later this week, scattered to severe thunderstorms are expected to begin Thursday afternoon and evening and continue through the overnight. Initially, the dryline will help to pop some supercells in west Texas. These storms are expected to move east into the Plains later in the afternoon and evening. By nightfall, the low-level jet will strengthen, keeping the risk for severe storms going through the overnight period and into Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1772663322717.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>In addition, as deep moisture continues to move north, heavy rain will become a hazard. Significant rainfall looks to be possible from North Texas up through the Ohio Valley through next week, as a moisture-laden atmosphere continues to interact with strong upper-level energy.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web5-1772623390529.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-28 173627-1772325396060.png">As the severe weather season begins to ramp up, so too does our coverage! Severe Weather Awareness Week is here! Make sure you tune in, as we get prepared for the upcoming season with interviews, tips, and some really interesting facts!

Severe Thunderstorms Possible The Rest of the Week

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Hurricane Melissa devastated islands in the Caribbean in late October in 2025. Now, four months later, the National Hurricane Center has completed the post-storm analysis of Melissa, finding that the winds reached 190 mph, tying it with Hurricane Allen for the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin's history. The folks at the National Hurricane Center concluded that Melissa reached a central pressure of 892 mb at its strongest, which lashed the western side of Jamaica with high winds, incredible storm surge, and prolonged rainfall. All of these factors contributed to 95 known fatalities as of the report, released February 26, 2026.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-25 095044-1772038470377.png">The origins trace back to a tropical wave emerging off of the western coast of Africa on October 13th. By midnight on the 26th, Melissa had rapidly developed into a major hurricane. With weak steering, the forecast track was HIGHLY uncertain. Even with this uncertainty, the forecast track was incredibly accurate by the National Hurricane Center (below)<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-25 095418-1772038476153.png">What's going to gain more attention is the upgrade to 190 mph winds. According to the National Hurricane Center, even though they didn't directly observe the winds specifically:<blockquote>"Based on a blend of satellite estimates, flight-level wind and dropsonde data"</blockquote>This ties it with Hurricane Allen from 1980, which was the previous strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Basin. Official Report from the National Hurricane Center: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL132025_Melissa.pdf">READ IT HERE</a> Josh Morgerman reliving Melissa: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/iCyclone/status/2009330402310381611?s=20">WATCH IT HERE</a>

Hurricane Melissa OFFICIALLY Tied for the Strongest in Atlantic History

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NORTHEAST - A strengthening Nor’easter churned up the Atlantic and slammed into the Northeast, delivering heavy snow, hurricane-force wind gusts, and pounding surf along the coastline. Communities from Pennsylvania to Maine faced dangerous travel and rapidly changing conditions as the storm intensified offshore. Blizzard warnings and winter alerts remain in place through tonight and into early tomorrow morning across the northeastern United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/pic6-1771886133489.png">As a reminder, blizzard warnings are issued for low visibility due to blowing snow. The wind is the biggest factor in a blizzard, which makes travel difficult if not impossible. This is the first blizzard warning issued by the NWS in New York City since January of 2022.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/pic6-1771885743103.png">The forecast for additional snowfall totals could still exceed another 6-12", and has already exceeded a foot for portions of New Jersey. The Winter Storm Severity Index (WSSI) for the weight of snow across these locations hits EXTREME. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-23 025922-1771840767000.png"><h1>Timing</h1>Heavy snow and strong winds will continue with this low-pressure system through tonight and into early tomorrow morning. Areas still being impacted include southern New England, New York, and New Jersey metro areas.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-23_rne noreaster 12z-1771876035516.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Strong winds continue as the low-pressure system deepens. Remember, the bigger the pressure difference, the stronger the winds. The persistent strong winds will lead to large swells developing with waves 8-12 feet, possibly higher, for many Northeast beaches through Tuesday. Coastal Flood Alerts are in place through tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-23 124746-1771876077350.png">We'll be updating this story frequently on air and online, so be sure to check back for updates.

Brittany Lockley

Blizzard - Nor'easter Takes Aim at the Atlantic Coast

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<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 5-1770994156274.png">Well, this weekend is jam-packed with holidays and events, from Valentine's Day on Saturday to Presidents' Day on Monday...Mother Nature is getting a jump start on all the fun by brewing up a cross-country storm to literally rain on the Mardi Gras parades across the south.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2022166343257403406" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2022166343257403406"></div>A little rain won't stop Carnival in the streets of New Orleans this weekend, however it can put a damper on crowds. The wettest say looks to be Sunday but some parades later on Saturday may require poncho attire.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 2-1770993628707.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/1-1771038458259.png">Rain-related interruptions could cause postponements and/or delays at Sunday's Daytona 500. Wet pavement would prevent racing as the track becomes too slick at high speeds.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-13 09-34-52-1770993751399.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Three days of severe storm potential kick off the weekend tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 7-1770993948562.png">Tune into WeatherNation or download the WeatherNationTV app for your latest forecast updates!

Parades, Ponchos & Pit Stops: Rain & Severe Storm Threat Looms Over Mardi Gras and the 500

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A meteor, possibly two, exploded over the eastern Gulf Monday evening, with many sightings reported throughout the state of Florida. The event was captured by the GOES lightning mapper, which the National Weather Service in Tallahassee posted on Tuesday. NASA has now released footage from observatories that show the bolide, a term used to describe a larger than normal meteor which breaks up and explodes, potentially producing a sonic boom. This event occurred during the 9 pm hour Monday night. View the footage by clicking the thumbnails <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://fireballs.ndc.nasa.gov/skyfalls/events/20260203-023717?utm_source=TWITTER&amp;utm_medium=NASASpaceAlerts&amp;utm_campaign=NASASocial&amp;linkId=903447175">in this article</a>. Observatories at UCF in Orlando and in Daytona beach both show the bright treak of light toward the bottom edge of the camera's view, but the footage does show enough to see the meteoroid break up before it disappears from view. Curious about the different terminology used to describe meteors? Check out the helpful guide from the AMS below.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/AMS-TERMINOLOGY-2015-EN-ENGLISH-compressed3 (1)-1770238580752.jpg">You may notice the location of the bolide on the lightning mapper and NASA's reanalysis are in different locations. Were there two fireballs or bolides Monday evening? It seems likely given the time and locations were quite different.

GOES and NASA Capture Bolide Meteor Exploding Over the Gulf Monday Night

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Whether it's pulling a slumbering rodent out of hibernation, or watching Bill Murray replay the same day over and over again. One thing is clear: people have some strong opinions when it comes to Groundhog Day. Even here at WeatherNation, some meteorologists find the holiday whimsical, while others find it downright weird.But who thought the best weather prognostication was sleeping rodents in the first place?<h2>HISTORY OF GROUNDHOG DAY:</h2>The most common belief of the origins of the holiday date back to an old Christian religious holiday called Candlemas Day. On February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas and halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox, believers would take their candles to churches to have them blessed. The blessings would then carry them through the rest of winter. As the tradition flourished, English folk songs give us an insight on when Candlemas went from purely a religious holiday to one with weather significance.<blockquote>"If Candlemas be fair and bright,Come, Winter, have another flight;If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,</blockquote><blockquote>Go Winter, and come not again."</blockquote>As the English tradition flooded into Germany, that's where we see the first instances of animals being introduced into this folklore. As February 2nd came around, Germans used local animals, typically hedgehogs or badgers to see if they saw their shadows to do the weather forecasting for them. If they saw their shadow then another "second winter" would come along bringing six more weeks of winter.A vast influx of German immigrants into America, and specifically into Pennsylvania is where we start to see the development of our modern day Groundhog Day festivities. Hedgehogs are not native to Pennsylvania, meaning they were finally allowed to continue their hibernation as another animal would take over prognostication duties. While the Germans brought the idea of Dachstag ("Badger Day"), the weasels are extremely rare to this region and not native to the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Another alternate was chosen instead, and the German immigrants selected groundhogs as they can be found throughout the state.<h2>MODERN GROUNDHOG DAY:</h2>The groundhog day as many know it includes the small borough of Punxsutawney, PA and it's now secretive and exclusive group of organizers called the "Groundhog Club's Inner Circle". Kicking off in 1886, the modern holiday was born, and now each year tens of thousands of people gather at Gobbler's Knob to see the most famous groundhog of them all cast his prediction.Since the popularization of the holiday, other groundhogs have rose to occasion and issue their own forecast for a more local perspective. Some of which include State Island Chuck at the Staten Island Zoo in New York City.<h2>GROUNDHOG DAY ACCURACY:</h2>While weather folklore can be fun to discuss, it oftentimes struggles with the science of meteorology. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration keeps track of the most accurate groundhogs for those that wish to find their forecast from a furry friend. In the top spot is State Island Chuck, followed by General Beauregard Lee (Georgia's official weather rodent), and Lander Lil. The latter of which isn't actually a real groundhog, but instead a statue of a prairie dog in Lander, WY.As for America's most famous groundhog forecaster, Punxsutawney Phil, his accuracy rate of just 35% places him 17th. A full list of groundhog forecasting accuracy can be found on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/stories/grading-groundhogs">NOAA's website</a>.<h2>FORECAST:</h2>On Monday, Phil declared 6 more weeks of winter. We'll let you be the judge of what cities are feeling like winter right now. You can also watch us anytime, anywhere on our streaming platforms, or on channel 215 on DISH Network. Find out more on how to watch: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/watch-us">HERE</a>.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-02 155257-1770072782955.png">

6 More Weeks of Winter!

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At some point or another, we've all heard this warning–don't go outside in the cold or you'll get sick. But is there any truth to that?<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/SOT_TRT .35_CAN YOU GET A COLD FROM THE COLD WEATHER_CLEVELAND CLINIC_BH_012026-1768934981727.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>“You can't get a cold from the cold weather itself, but you can get a cold indirectly from cold weather environments,” explained Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic. While cold weather doesn’t directly make us sick, Dr. Vyas said viruses do. She explained that when the temperatures drop, the nose and throat can dry out, making it easier for viruses to enter the body. Viruses, like the flu, spread more easily in cold, dry conditions. Another reason more people tend to get sick in the winter is that we’re spending more time indoors. Being in close quarters with others increases your chances of getting sick, so it’s important to take extra precautions this time of year. “Make sure you wash your hands frequently, cover your cough or sneeze and stay home if you're sick. Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated will go a long way in keeping you healthy as well,” Dr. Vyas said. “I also recommend getting your vaccines, such as the flu shot, as well as any other vaccines that are appropriate for the winter months.” For those who do come down with a cold, Dr. Vyas recommends checking in with a doctor if symptoms worsen or don’t go away. While cold weather doesn’t directly make you sick, bundling up and staying inside during extreme temperatures helps prevent frostbite and other cold-related health issues.

Can You Catch a Cold From the Cold Weather?

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If you've scrolled through social media lately, you may have seen the headlines warning of "exploding trees" due to the extreme cold in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. But is that actually true?We spoke with experts at the Dave Tree Company to learn more.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtN0QGJILm0" start="0"></iframe></div>Lou Meyer, a certified arborist, said when referring to "exploding trees", people shouldn't expect Bugs Bunny types of explosions. Trees will instead crack as the fluids within them freeze rapidly due to dramatic drops in temperatures. Meyer goes onto explain that sudden temperatures drops of warm to cold can cause the trees to be more susceptible to the cracking, especially around the bark. He also added that trees that receive more sunlight, say on a south facing side, are more likely to crack as the sun will heat up part of the tree while the rest of the plant remains colder. While Meyer said you can sometimes hear tree cracking occurring, it won't be anything truly explosive. You may also be hearing thundersnow, or sometimes even cryoseisms, or frost quakes. Both are other rare winter phenomena. Meyer emphasizes, "Trees don't really explode...except when they're hit by lightning."<h2>CENTRAL U.S. FORECAST:</h2>Places like Minnesota, and the Dakotas are in a region that could see potential tree cracking as temperatures plummet well below zero. Dangerous wind chills are also forecasted through the weekend with some locations expected to dip nearly 40 to 50 degrees below zero. <h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-21 155052-1769036077404.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-21 155147-1769036085651.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-21 155309-1769036099763.png">SOUTHERN U.S. FORECAST:</h2>While cold air is expected to dip deep into the southern tier of the country, temperatures won't feel as extreme, but will have just as much of an impact. The colder air is helping to provide the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Rare%20Snow%20&amp;%20Ice%20Threatens%20the%20South%20This%20Weekend">threat of icing</a> across the South and into the Northeast by next week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-21 155111-1769036246179.png">Record cold is expected across various states over the weekend. Several National Weather Service Offices are advising residents to be aware of the cold, and to dress appropriately while they prepare for the snow, cold, and ice.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fnh473lIkEI" start="0"></iframe></div>We spoke offices in the Little Rock, Arkansas and Norman, Oklahoma to discuss the impacts the cold will have on their communities.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/878G77ma2i0" start="0"></iframe></div>

Could Major Cold Snap Cause "Exploding Trees"?

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<h1><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202513">COURTESY: NCEI Assessing the U.S. Temperature and Precipitation Analysis in 2025</a></h1><h2>Annual Key Points:</h2><ul><li>For the first time since 2015, no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. or its territories during 2025.</li><li>The tornado in Enderlin, North Dakota, was the first verified EF-5 since 2013.</li><li>The Eaton and Palisades Fires were the second- and third-most destructive California wildfires on record, respectively.</li><li>The Texas Hill Country experienced a 1-in-100- to 1-in-1,000-year flood event that killed at least 135 people after nearly two feet of rain fell in just a few days.</li><li>Utah and Nevada set new annual temperature records, with Utah eclipsing its previous record that had stood since 1934.</li></ul><img src="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/Notable-Weathe-Climate-US-132025_Final_2.png" alt="Map of the U.S. showing locations of notable weather and climate events in 2025 with text describing each event and title at top stating “Notable Weather and Climate Events: 2025”. " title="Map of the U.S. showing locations of notable weather and climate events in 2025 with text describing each event and title at top stating “Notable Weather and Climate Events: 2025”. ">Map of the U.S. notable weather and climate events in 2025.<h2>Other Highlights:</h2><h3>Temperature</h3>Annual temperatures across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) averaged 54.6°F in 2025, which was 2.6°F above the 20th-century average and ranked as the fourth-warmest year in the 131-year record. Temperatures were above average nationwide, with the most pronounced warmth across the western third of the country. Averaged across the entire region from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/reference-maps/rockies-and-westward">West Coast through the Rocky Mountains</a>, this area recorded its warmest annual temperature on record.<img src="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/grid-ranks-tavg-202501-202512_0.png" alt="Map of the U.S. showing temperature percentiles for 2025 with warmer areas in gradients of red and cooler areas in gradients of blue. (Courtesy of NOAA NCEI.)" title="Map of the U.S. showing temperature percentiles for 2025 with warmer areas in gradients of red and cooler areas in gradients of blue. (Courtesy of NOAA NCEI.)">Map of the U.S. Mean Temperature Percentiles in 2025.Based on average annual temperatures across <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/reference-maps/">NOAA climate regions</a>, the Southwest saw its warmest year on record; the West and Northwest both ranked third warmest, and the South tied for its fourth-warmest year. Statewide, Utah and Nevada recorded their warmest years on record at 4.3°F and 3.7°F above their 20th-century averages, respectively. In total, a dozen states experienced one of their four warmest years. At the county level, 62 counties across 10 states—more than eight million people—recorded their warmest year on record.Annual temperatures in Alaska averaged 29.5°F, 3.5°F above the 1925–2000 average, ranking as the ninth warmest in the 101-year record. Much-above-average temperatures persisted through most of the year, producing the third-warmest January–November statewide, though a notably cold December lowered the annual ranking.Hawaiʻi recorded an average annual temperature of 67.0°F, 0.7°F above the 1991–2020 average, placing the year within the warmest third of the 35-year record.<h3>Precipitation&nbsp;</h3>The CONUS received an average of 29.19 inches of precipitation in 2025, 0.73 inch below the 20th-century average, placing the year in the driest third of the 131-year record. The annual average does not fully reflect some of the pronounced regional wet and dry patterns seen throughout the year: the western U.S. experienced drier-than-average conditions in the first half of the year, followed by wetter-than-average conditions late in the year, while central and eastern regions generally saw above-average precipitation in spring and early summer, then below-average totals in the fall.&nbsp;<img src="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/grid-ranks-prcp-202501-202512_0.png" alt="Map of the U.S. showing precipitation percentiles for 2025 with wetter areas in gradients of green and drier areas in gradients of brown. (Courtesy of NOAA NCEI)" title="Map of the U.S. showing precipitation percentiles for 2025 with wetter areas in gradients of green and drier areas in gradients of brown. (Courtesy of NOAA NCEI)">Map of the U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles in 2025.Much of the Southwest and Southeast ended the year below average, with deficits exceeding one foot in parts of the Southeast, while the central and northern Plains, along with the western Ohio Valley, were wetter than average. Kentucky had its 10th-wettest year on record, with over a third of its counties receiving more than a foot above their average annual rainfall.Alaska received 39.72 inches of precipitation in 2025, 3.02 inches above average, placing the year within the wettest third of the 101-year record. Hawaiʻi recorded a total of 41.96 inches, 19.77 inches below average for the state, or about 68 percent of normal (1991–2020), marking its third-driest year in the 35-year record.<h3>Tropical Cyclones</h3>Despite the lack of U.S. landfalls in 2025, the North Atlantic hurricane season was active, producing 13 named storms, including five hurricanes and four major hurricanes; this amount was near the long-term average. The season was particularly notable for three Category 5 hurricanes—Erin, Humberto and Melissa—the second-most to form in a single year. While Erin and Humberto remained offshore, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica at peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph—tying with the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane as the strongest landfall on record in the Atlantic Basin and ranking as the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2025. Although no direct landfalls occurred, remnants of tropical systems—including Super Typhoon Halong (Alaska) and Hurricane Priscilla (Southwest)—brought flooding impacts to the U.S. late in the year.<h3>Floods</h3>2025 was characterized by widespread and significant flooding, driven by a combination of atmospheric rivers, slow-moving convective systems and tropical moisture. Significant flood events were observed in every season and region; July alone recorded 1,434 flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service—the second-highest July total in 40 years. Several historic precipitation events overwhelmed infrastructure, producing 1-in-1,000-year rainfall recurrence intervals in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas. These events resulted in significant loss of life; catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country in July resulted in at least 135 fatalities, while recurring storms in the Ohio Valley and severe weather across the South contributed to dozens of additional fatalities throughout the year.The year featured stark regional extremes, beginning and ending with strong atmospheric rivers that impacted the West Coast; notable events in February, November and December caused widespread damage and fatalities in California and the Pacific Northwest. In the interior, stalled spring fronts produced historic rainfall across the Lower Ohio Valley, while summer saw a shift to the Northeast, where record-breaking rainfall rates inundated the New York City metro area. Unique hydrological extremes also marked the year, including a record-breaking glacial outburst flood in Alaska, tsunami-induced flooding in Hawaiʻi and deadly flash floods over wildfire burn scars in New Mexico.<h3>Tornadoes</h3>The preliminary U.S. tornado count for 2025 was 1,559, ranking as the fifth-highest on record and 127 percent of the 30-year (1991–2020) average. The year was marked by several notable extremes, including 300 preliminary tornado reports in March—a new March record—more than three times average. In addition to the Enderlin EF-5 tornado, five EF-4 tornadoes occurred in Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois and Kentucky. At the state level, North Dakota shattered its previous annual tornado record of 61 (set in 2010), with 72 tornado reports in 2025.<h3>Wildfires</h3>The number of wildfires in 2025 was approximately 105 percent of the 20-year (2001–20) average, with more than 72,000 wildfires reported. The total number of acres burned from these wildfires—5.0 million acres—was 72 percent of the 20-year average of nearly seven million acres.Southern California experienced some of the year’s most destructive fires. Fueled by Santa Ana winds gusting up to 90 miles per hour and dry conditions, the Eaton Fire burned 14,000 acres, while the Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres and was the most destructive wildfire on record for Los Angeles. Together, these fires damaged or destroyed over 18,000 structures during January and were responsible for 31 fatalities. Later in the year, the Gifford Fire became the largest wildfire for California in 2025, burning over 131,000 acres across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in August.In Arizona, the Dragon Bravo Fire burned more than 145,000 acres between July and September, making it the largest wildfire of the year in the U.S. and the 10th-largest in Arizona history.Alaska had a below-average 2025 wildfire season, with approximately one million acres burned—about two-thirds of the state’s 20-year (2001–20) average.<h3>Drought</h3>The drought footprint across the CONUS experienced marked fluctuations during 2025, following a distinct pattern of spring expansion, early summer contraction and autumn resurgence. The year began with 38.1 percent of the lower 48 states in moderate to exceptional drought (D1–D4). Coverage expanded steadily through March, reaching a spring peak of 44.7 percent on March 25. Widespread precipitation then drove a substantial decline, with drought coverage falling to its annual minimum of 29.6 percent by June 3. However, this improvement was short-lived. Drought conditions intensified during late summer and autumn, with coverage increasing rapidly to a yearly maximum of 46.1 percent on October 21 and again on November 18. By the final week of the year (December 30), drought coverage had eased slightly but remained elevated at 42.8 percent, leaving a larger portion of the country in drought than at the start of 2025.<h3>Snowfall</h3>The 2024–25 snow season featured above-average snowfall across parts of the mountainous West, central Plains, Gulf Coast, Southeast and Ohio Valley, while below-average snowfall occurred across much of the Great Basin, southern Rockies, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and portions of the Northeast.The 2025–26 snowfall season to date (October 1–December 31, 2025) saw above-average snowfall across much of the Midwest and Great Lakes region, with lake-effect areas receiving more than a foot above average for this period. In contrast, much of the Mountain West and High Plains received lower-than-average snowfall, particularly the Cascades, Wasatch and Uinta and the northern and southern Rockies, with the exception of the Sierra Nevada and parts of the northern Cascades, Bitterroots and middle Rockies.&nbsp;

Year in Review: 2025 4th Warmest on Record

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2040214257594499223" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2040214257594499223"></div> Several rounds of severe storms have tracked across the Central and Eastern half of the country this week. That continued again on Friday with storms from the Midwest to the Southern Plains. Field Correspondent Brett Adair captured a tornado (above) in Illinois Friday afternoon, while large hail (below) and gusty winds hit the Southern Plains. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/pic6-1775251677983.png"><h1>Friday - Saturday</h1>The cold front will continue to progress to the east on Saturday, with an elevated threat for severe storms around Lake Erie.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 043046-1775298816090.png">Wind and hail damage will remain he primary concern, but an isolated strong tornado is possible around portions of Ohio (below). <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 042939-1775298889477.png">As the front pushes into the Atlantic on Sunday, a few more severe storms will be possible, primarily from the Chesapeake Bay south through the coast of South Carolina. Wind damage is expected to be the primary hazard.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 042942-1775298898838.png">Through Saturday morning, thunderstorms should be in a weakening phase but more scattered severe storms will be possible from the Gulf Coast up to the Northeast as afternoon heat builds, increasing instability. Heavy rain moves east overnight with a few more severe storms Sunday afternoon from the Mid-Atlantic coast south through South Carolina. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-04 04-43-58-1775299469534.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy rain could lead to flooding, with 1-3 inches possible, while in heavier downpours totals could surpass 5-6 inches. Isolated to scattered flash flooding is possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 043751-1775299092998.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 043802-1775299100873.png">Tune into WeatherNation for the latest on these storms.

Severe Storms Push East Through Sunday

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On the northern side of the strong low creating severe weather chances, snow and ice continue across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Since Thursday, ice has accreted up to half an inch thick in parts of Wisconsin. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 051736-1775301472809.png">Thousands of residents are in the dark because of trees falling on power lines, though those numbers did improve through the day on Friday. Heavy snow began to fall and accumulate quickly on Friday, with totals by Saturday morning already surpassing a foot! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 051622-1775301480296.png">Winter alerts are out including Ice Storm Warnings for Northern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. Some areas could see ice totals up to a half inch. The new ice concerns are already over some of the same areas who may still be in the dark from Thursday's event. Heavy snow will continue on the back side for the Dakotas and northern Minnesota where winter storm warnings are in effect. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 050901-1775300950885.png">Freezing rain looks to persist in northern Michigan through the mid-to-late morning, possibly into the early afternoon. Heavy snow will gradually shift east behind the low, coming down heavily from the Dakotas through Northern Minnesota. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-04 05-22-46-1775301801163.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>An additional 4-8 inches of snow (image top of page) will be likely across the Dakotas and Minnesota. In addition, significant icing looks to be possible across Michigan. Travel will be tough this weekend so avoid travel if you can!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 051504-1775301371890.png">

Snow and Ice Persist on Saturday in the Upper-Midwest

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Unseasonably warm air is taking over much of the eastern United States this holiday weekend, bringing a taste of summer well ahead of schedule. Temperatures are soaring 15 to 25 degrees above average from the Southeast through the Mid-Atlantic and into parts of the Northeast, with many cities climbing into the upper 80s. In some spots, especially across the Ohio Valley and Appalachians, highs could push close to 90 degrees, challenging or even breaking daily records.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 062624-1775305690597.jpg">This early-season heat is not just about warm afternoons, it is also setting the stage for active weather. As the atmosphere becomes more unstable, the risk for thunderstorms increases, particularly later in the day Saturday. Some of these storms could turn strong to severe, producing gusty winds and heavy downpours as the warm, humid air fuels their development.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 062651-1775305669351.jpg">But the summerlike stretch will not last long. A cold front is expected to sweep across the eastern half of the country by Easter Sunday, bringing rounds of rain and thunderstorms along the East Coast. Behind it, a much cooler air mass will move in, quickly knocking temperatures back down into the 40s and 50s this weekend before slowly creeping up next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 062639-1775305700895.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 062704-1775305711033.jpg">By the start of the new week, the same areas that experienced near-record warmth will feel a much different air mass. Highs across parts of the Northeast are expected to drop into the 50s, marking a sharp return to more typical early spring conditions. The rapid shift from warmth to chill is a classic example of springtime “weather whiplash,” where dramatic temperature swings can happen in just a matter of days.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-04 062717-1775305657001.jpg">

Summer-Like Heat Surges Before Easter Cooldown

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LIFTOFF - At 6:35 PM ET on April 1, 2026, NASA launched astronauts on an historic mission to the Moon. This marks the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years, dating back to the Apollo era.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2039477801787769177" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2039477801787769177"></div>NASA’s Space Launch System sent four astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, aboard the Orion spacecraft on a test flight around the Moon and back. This 10-day mission will demonstrate life support systems and help lay the foundation for future deep space exploration.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091928-1774711352235.png">What's Next for Artemis II?</h2><ul><li>Day 1: focused on launch and entering Earth orbit.</li><li>Days 2-4: outbound transit toward the Moon.</li><li>Days 5-6: Orion will fly by the Moon, entering its sphere of influence, where the Moon becomes the dominant gravitational force.</li><li>Days 7-10: return trip to Earth, followed by re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, where the U.S. Navy will recover the capsule.</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 180532-1775088336863.png">After sling shotting around the moon, Orion will head back toward earth near the end of next week. Several burns will reposition the spacecraft before it re-enters Earth's atmosphere next Friday. It is expected to splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego. We will be monitoring the forecast in this area of the Pacific closely for any impacts. Check back for updates!<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-02 073719-1775137047865.png"></h2><h2>What is the Future of the Artemis Program?</h2>In simple terms, Artemis is the first step in a broader effort to send humans to Mars. Before that, NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon and establish a sustained presence while testing humanity’s ability to live and work beyond Earth’s orbit. Artemis II, specifically, will send astronauts around the Moon and back.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 091131a-1774710738504.jpg">This will be the first mission since 1972 to take humans beyond low Earth orbit, and potentially farther from Earth than any human has traveled before. NASA currently plans a series of Artemis missions, with Artemis IV expected to land astronauts on the Moon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 180027-1775088036041.png">Artemis II marks a major step forward in human space exploration, pushing us farther than we’ve gone in decades, and bringing us one step closer to returning to the Moon… and eventually, reaching Mars.

Artemis II Launch Goes Perfectly, Tracking Orion Around the Moon

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Dave Holder

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After our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/severe-storms-return-to-the-midwest">latest upper-level storm system</a> clears the area, conditions should be much quieter across the country as cooler and more stable air arrives behind the sweeping cold front. However, looking ahead to next week, long-range models continue to hint at further systems dropping in across the West Coast through the latter half of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-03 172547-1775259084048.png">As upper-level energy begins to move into the Southwest, winds just above the surface will respond by shifting out of the south across the Plains. This will increase moisture and heat as air moves off the Gulf, most likely leading to growing instability each afternoon. With strong upper-level energy combining with instability, severe thunderstorms are looking like a good bet by the end of the week!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-03 172558-1775259312245.png">Long-range models are also depicting widespread precipitation throughout next week, with higher elevation snow also looking likely.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-03 172623-1775259360814.png">The Climate Prediction Center's 6-10 Day Outlook also agrees with this scenario. Here, confidence is high for above-average precipitation across the Southwest, with a particular emphasis on Texas's Rio Grande country.

Further Active Weather By Late Next Week

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WHAT TO EXPECT A severe weather threat is taking shape across the southern Plains this week as a stalled boundary, a sharpening dryline, and an upper-level disturbance come together over a record-breaking warm and increasingly humid central airmass.<h2>OUTLOOK</h2>An ENHANCED risk has been issued through the overnight hours. Damaging winds, large hail, and a few tornadoes will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/fjfjfjss-1775063569605.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/wind s-1775063505900.png"><h2>TIMING</h2>Storms continue to fire along a dryline, producing gusty winds and large hail. These storms will continue to move to the east overnight, so have multiple ways to get alerts. Things will wind down midday Thursday. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/FORECASSSTTTTTTT-1775091363575.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Severe Threat Wednesday in the Plains

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

Taban Sharifi

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While much of the country, and in particular the Southwest, baked underneath a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/record-heat-rolls-east-this-week">historic heatwave</a> in March, a shift in the jet stream has brought cooler and wetter weather back to the area.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2038436047768670271" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2038436047768670271"></div><h1>Alerts</h1>Winter alerts are in effect across the higher elevations of Utah and Colorado. Some areas are expecting a foot of snowfall, with isolated locations seeing higher totals. Winds will also be gusty across the higher terrain. Winter Weather Advisories were reissued across northern Utah for another round expected on Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 164533-1775083550601.png">The Sierra Nevada Mountains also have winter alerts in place that will continue through most of Thursday morning. Travel delays and slick roadways are likely. Stay safe as this much-needed moisture arrives across the higher terrain.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 164841-1775083739866.png"><h1>Forecast Timing</h1>While one system is departing, another area of disturbance will move across Northern California and back into Utah and Colorado. This system will continue to bring impacts through Friday morning.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/FORSS-1775091796749.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-01 165239-1775083975535.png">Although not a "drought buster" by any means, these systems will at least help put a dent into the record-low snowpack across the West, along with some relief from the heat!

Jackie Brown

SW Pattern Change: Tracking Rain & Snow

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It's been unbearably hot across the West for the last week, after warm and dry conditions for a good chunk of the winter season. This has led to drought conditions, with dry vegetation ready to burn. Another cold front moves across the Northern Rockies and High Plains, increasing fire danger into the upcoming week. Fire Weather Alerts are in effect overnight. There are even threats for isolated dry thunderstorms that can spark wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico overnight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/overnightttttssss-1774923482169.png">In Nebraska, the Ashby and Minor fires grew rapidly by tens of thousands of acres, very close to the Morrill burn scar. Given the continued fire weather conditions, more fire growth is possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-30 083405-1774881249265.png">An elevated threat for fire weather continues Tuesday across portions of New Mexico and Texas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-30 083433-1774881277930.png">Keep it locked in on WeatherNation, as we continue to update you on these fires and their impacts!

Critical Fire Danger & Isolated Dry Thunderstorms

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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is here and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-28 050710-1774696193114.png">On Thursday, March 26th, the National Mall announced peak bloom has been reached! The peak is expected to last about a week or so, depending on weather conditions. On March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026, which was only off by about 3 days - an impressive forecast!<h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080844-1774534352362.png"><h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

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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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Heavy rainfall from moisture that inundated the Hawaiian Islands late last week is on the move. It's being funneled around an area of high pressure, taking aim at the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully, it won't be nearly as heavy or intense as what Hawaii faced.Related: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/flash-flood-emergency-for-oahu-additional-rain-expected-for-hawaii">Kona Low Recap</a>This round looks like it will be a little different than the previous round, which brought only rain to the area. Snow levels with this system will drop a bit, bringing a shot at some wintry impacts to the mountain passes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 033707-1774345071882.png">An active Jetstream will bring more energy into the region on Tuesday. That's when you can expect the most widespread rain, with only scattered coverage from Wednesday onward.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-24 03-38-07-1774345113637.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There will be winds with this latest batch, with some of the mountain peaks expecting the worst of them. Sporadic power outages will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-24 033943-1774345194700.png">Make sure you're staying tuned to WeatherNation for your northwest forecast at :50 past the hour!

Adrian Hernandez

Pineapple Express Delivers Another Round of Rain

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After record shattering rain and hurricane force winds last weekend, Hawaii is already dealing with another strong low pressure system moving in from the west, known locally as a Kona Low.<h2>FRIDAY</h2>Catastrophic flash flooding unfolded overnight Thursday into Friday morning on the northern side of O'ahu, after 5-9 inches of rain fell from slow moving thunderstorms. As a result, a dam failure was possible but officials say that the dam is in good condition so far. More heavy rain is possible to change the status. Evacuation orders have been issued for Haleiwa and Waialua as intense flooding cut off roads and inundated low lying areas. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-23 042733-1774261661310.png">The heavy rain was created by an approaching Kona Low, which will keep the weather pattern rainy through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 112518-1774200333277.png">The low is shifting east into this week, leading to sunnier conditions and a much-needed break from the rain.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-22 11-27-05-1774200450759.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals could easily surpass 1-4 inches where thunderstorms train, or move over the same locations multiple times. Flooding will happen fast as the grounds are very saturated from the previous storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 044159-1774176130318.png"><h1>Previous System Record Rain &amp; Wind</h1>Rainfall totals from the previous system are almost unfathomable. Each island had at least one weather station record over 20 inches of rain with hurricane-force winds recorded as well. These intense conditions left the islands more prone for impacts from following storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-20 110451-1774026907445.png">

Powerful Kona Low Devastates Hawaii Over the Weekend

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A series of systems moving across the Northern half of the nation will spark a sharp contrast with the record heat building in the south / southeast over the weekend. As cold fronts move from the Midwest into the East, several rounds of severe storms are possible. The current threat is likely to have the most widespread impacts with wind and hail remaining possible.<h1>Through Monday</h1>The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley region with a SLIGHT Risk of severe storms through the overnight hours.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 200457-1774231654561.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 200517-1774231710312.png">On Monday as the front drops south into the Carolinas, a few isolated severe storms are possible in the afternoon.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/03-22_Rse bams3k-1774231815701.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Get the latest forecast for the East anytime on the WeatherNaiton app, or by tuning in at :10 past the hour.

Severe Storm Potential Heads East from the Ohio Valley to the Southeast

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Wildfire activity is ramping up across the United States, as a dangerous combination of dry air, gusty winds, and above-average temperatures creates ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread. From the Rockies to the Plains, fire weather alerts have been issued frequently, with low humidity and strong winds allowing even small sparks to quickly turn into fast-moving wildfires. The next several days will be concerning across central parts of the country, where dormant grasses act as fuel and can carry flames over large distances in a short amount of time.&nbsp;Precipitation will be limited over the next few days, and cold front will brings gusty winds. Red Flag warnings are in place.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 114616-1774201587137.png">For Sunday, fire alerts have been issued from Kansas down through the Texas Panhandle. While the actual temperatures of this heatwave have been the main focus, increasing temperatures lead to low relative humidity. Winds will kick up at times, too, in response to systems riding around the periphery of the upper-level heat dome.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 114746-1774201678543.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 114822-1774201714644.png">Unfortunately, some fires have already sparked and continue to grow. The 24 Fire, located to the southwest of Colorado Springs, has has grown to over four and a half thousand acres and remains uncontained, prompting evacuation orders for nearby communities. Crews on the ground, along with aerial support, are working to slow the spread, but shifting winds and dry fuels continue to pose challenges. Smoke from the fire has been visible across the region, a reminder of how active the situation remains.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 114938-1774201788226.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-22 115050-1774201865700.png">Frequent wind events, dry air, and limited moisture are all contributing to an elevated fire risk heading into spring. As a result, follow evacuation orders if necessary, and take extra precautions to avoid starting new fires. With the current pattern in place, the potential for additional wildfire outbreaks will likely continue in the weeks ahead.&nbsp;Stay tuned for WeatherNation for more details.

Fire Danger Continues Through the Weekend Across Central States

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033702354504323511" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033702354504323511"></div>It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashioned blizzard. The Upper-Midwest experienced intense blizzard conditions last weekend, and while the blizzard has cleared, additional rain and snow makers are on the way. While additional snow, ice, and storms are in the forecast, these systems are not expected to be as impactful.<h1>Timing</h1>Clipper systems with limited precipitation and impacts are expected to phase through the Great Lakes and Northeast through Friday. Stronger systems begin taking shape this weekend, with heavier precipitation and gusty winds. Friday into Saturday can expect heavier rain and snow in New York and New England, while the Upper-Midwest gets a new round of moderate snowfall from the trailing system. By Sunday, that next system is expected to move from the Great Lakes into the Northeast, bringing ice, snow, rain, and wind!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-20 10-29-40-1774017019380.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rain and Snow Totals</h1>I-95 and the Central Appalachians are likely to stay on the rainy side of these systems, but higher elevations in the Northeast, along with areas that see lake-enhanced precipitation, will see some snowfall. Mountain areas could see some 6"+ totals.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-19 201431-1773972882164.png">Make sure to check in with us here on WeatherNation! We'll be covering these clipper systems all week, so follow along to stay updated on the latest!

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes and Northeast Gusty, Cooler

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NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetation fire broke out with visible heat signatures detectable on satellite. As winds shifted and the fire headed south quickly, mandatory evacuations were prompted near the town of Oshkosh, NE. Since then, the fire has continued to grow, becoming the largest in state history for the state of Nebraska, named the Morrill Fire.<ul><li>Acres: 643,074</li><li>Containment: 98%</li><li>Status: Active</li><li>Counties involved: Keith, Arthur, Garden, and Morrill</li></ul>Additional fires broke out across the state on this critical fire risk day, including the Cottonwood Fire, which has now burned about 130,000 acres with 80% containment. This fire broke southeast of North Platte in Dawson, Lincoln, and Frontier counties. Evacuations were ordered last week but lifted on Saturday, March 14th.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033022876803281258" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033022876803281258"></div>The governor of Nebraska Jim Pillen issued an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/WildFiresCentralNebraska.pdf">emergency proclamation</a> to unlock state resources and support the response to multiple wildfires in central and Western Nebraska. The fires include:<ul><li>The Road 203 Fire (within the Nebraska National Forest) - 35,916 acres | 76% contained</li><li>Cottonwood Fire (near Brady and Gothenburg) - 131,259 acres | 78% contained</li><li>Morrill County Fire - 643,074 acres | 67% contained</li></ul><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 2-1773936782932.jpg"><h2>Fire Outlooks and Forecast</h2>Fire weather outlooks show elevated and critical conditions in the Central Rockies into the Western Great Plains. Warm, dry, and gusty conditions are expected to persist in these areas for the next several days, making for difficult firefighting conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 3-1773936756106.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/PIC 4-1773936761845.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773946906307.png">Please stay aware of smoke plumes in your area and do not undertake activities where a spark or flame could start a new fire.

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