Another day of strong winds and critical fire weather conditions across the Intermountain West, Rockies and Plains.

Red flag warnings have been issued for more than 11 million people today. Some of these warnings have been designated as a Particularly Dangerous Situation meaning...

( #NWSSPC): A multi-day stretch of active severe thunderstorm potential is forecast later this week into early next week across parts of the Plains into the Upper Midwest, lower/mid MS Valley, TN Valley and lower OH Valley.

Now is the time to review your severe weather safety plan. #USwx #wx #wxsky

Warm temperatures, dry conditions, and breezy winds will lead to elevated grass fire concerns Wednesday. Take care not to cause a spark!

Thursday will just be the kick-off of days of severe weather threat across the southern U.S. Don't wait until the day you're under the threat for severe weather to put together a plan for your family, and check the latest through the week at weather.gov.

Rahm Emanuel moves to the left on Israel Emanuel, who worked on a massive Iron Dome defense package as President Barack Obama's chief of staff, is calling for an end to U.S. taxpayer military funding for Israel.

Rahm Emanuel moves to the left on Israel

www.nbcnews.com/politics/202... by @natashakorecki.bsky.social

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is grounded after launching satellite into the wrong orbit Jeff Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin is blaming a bad engine for a failed launch that left a satellite in the wrong orbit, dooming it.

Jeff Bezos' rocket company Blue Origin is blaming a bad engine for a failed launch that left a satellite in the wrong orbit, dooming it.

Windy conditions will likely return later this week as a strong weather system moves through the area. With this, the strongest winds are expected Thursday. For more information regarding the upcoming weather system, visit weather.gov/billings. #mtwx #wywx

A Lebanese man says he lost 13 members of his family when Israeli strikes destroyed his home just before the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect.

THIRTY MINUTES.

thirty goddamn minutes.

Gunman at pyramids north of Mexico City kills 1 Canadian tourist and injures 6 Mexico's government says one Canadian tourist has been killed and six other people were injured when a man with a gun opened fire at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, a tourist site an hour outside of Mexico’s capital.

A man with a gun opened fire at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, killing one Canadian tourist and injuring six other people at the tourist site an hour north of Mexico’s capital, the Mexican government said.

Warm & dry weather will persist into Wednesday, but confidence is increasing for a dynamic spring storm system late Wednesday to Friday. Rain, wet snow & strong winds possible. Monitor the forecast over the coming days as details become clearer. #mtwx #wywx

Tear gas, pepper spray and arrests as protesters try to storm a Wisconsin beagle lab Hundreds of animal rights protesters who tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin have been turned back by police who fired tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.

Hundreds of animal rights activists who tried to gain entry Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired tear gas and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.

Wyoming quietly becomes ninth US state to ban gender marker changes on ID ➡️ https://bit.ly/483yE54

📷 Envato

Map showing the 24-hour temperature change across Wisconsin. It’s much cooler today.

Last night’s cold front has really cooled things off.

Temperatures are 30 to 40 degrees lower today than they were yesterday!

IEMBot Image

The Storm Prediction Center issues Day 1 Convective Outlook (Max Risk: Enhanced) at Apr 18, 0:59z Link

IEMBot Image

The Storm Prediction Center issues Day 1 Convective Outlook (Max Risk: Moderate) at Apr 17, 19:53z Link

Coast Guard searching in Pacific for 6 after losing contact with boat following Typhoon Sinlaku The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for six people after losing contact with their disabled boat off the coast of Guam following Typhoon Sinlaku.

BREAKING: The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for six people after losing contact with a disabled boat off Guam following a typhoon.

Alt Text: National Weather Service Hail Size ChartAn educational infographic by the National Weather Service titled "Hail Size Chart." It provides a visual conversion between hail diameter in inches and common household objects.Text content:"While the National Weather Service encourages the actual measurement of hail size, oftentimes, an object-to-size conversion can provide important information about hail that fall from thunderstorms. Below you will find a list of common objects used to describe the diameter of observed hail."Size Comparison Table:DiameterObject0.25 inchesPea0.75 inchesPenny1.00 inchesQuarter1.50 inchesPing Pong Ball1.75 inchesGolf Ball2.00 inchesLime2.50 inchesTennis Ball2.75 inchesBaseball4.00 inchesSoftball4.50 inchesGrapefruit

Did you know that a 3-inch hailstone can fall to the ground as fast as 107 mph?

Find shelter, stay indoors, and stay away from windows when severe weather strikes. weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm

Rain Gauge Rally 2026 April 1-30, 2026 CoCoRaHS How many new volunteers can you recruit in your state?

Want a routine that gets you outside each morning? And to contribute to science while doing so? Consider joining CoCoRaHS during “Rain Gauge Rally” this April. Get a gauge, measure the precip (or lack thereof); that’s all there is to it!

www.cocorahs.org

2:30 PM 4/17/26: Another tornado appears to be in progress southeast of Rochester. MNDOT camera: US 63: T.H.63 SB S of 80th St (MP 32) #mnwx

#SPC issues Tornado Watch 129 till 1:00Z Link

Got bored tonight, so I downloaded 3 hours worth of Earthcam replay / archive footage from their Skydeck camera atop of the Willis Tower (Sears Tower) in Chicago and made a time lapse of the fog rolling in off Lake Michigan. Good illustration of how our atmosphere behaves like any other fluid. #ilwx

Tornado watch graphic.

A large tornado watch has been issued until 8 pm.

Tornadoes and hail to the size of softballs likely.

Take shelter immediately if warnings are issued.

An official National Weather Service infographic titled "Key Messages for Friday Apr 17 Severe Weather" (Updated 12:00 PM CDT). Key Information: Headline: Significant hail and wind risk from west-central Missouri into northwest Oklahoma this afternoon/evening. Overview: Potential for very-large to giant hail (3–3.5+ inches) and severe wind gusts (60–90 mph). Greatest hail threat is northwest OK into south-central KS; greatest wind risk is eastern KS into western MO. Timing: Supercellular storms forming early/mid-afternoon (hail threat), transitioning to a significant wind threat by evening. Safety: Monitor updates and be prepared for watches/warnings. Map Description: The map highlights severe weather risk zones across the Central Plains and Midwest. Moderate (Red): Covers eastern KS and western MO, including Kansas City, Topeka, and Joplin. Enhanced (Orange): Surrounds the red zone, reaching Enid and Wichita. Slight (Yellow) & Marginal (Green): Extend from Oklahoma City and Tulsa up through Omaha and Des Moines.

A moderate risk (level 4 of 5) has now been issued from northwest Oklahoma through central and eastern Kansas and into west-central Missouri. Read the latest key messages:

Dont' forget anyone in a hot car. Everyone operates on auto-pilot once in a while. Have a plan! Place a bag or other item in the backseat to remind you of passengers after you park. Place a stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder to check for passengers. Consider additional methods such as phone alarms, partner/buddy check-ins, or built-in car reminder systems.

Everyone operates on auto-pilot once in a while. Caregivers should have a strategy to ensure that no one is ever forgotten in a hot car. Always be Weather-Ready. weather.gov/safety/heat-children-pets

Boston Fleet defeat the Minnesota Frost 3-2 in regulation.

Fleetmin's running out of #win captions 😎

This holding is part of a decision upholding a district court orderpreventing the State of Montana from enforcing policies that bar transgender people from obtaining accurate sex designations on their birth certificates and driver’s licenses.

More here: www.aclu.org/press-releas...

#SPC issues Tornado Watch 121 till 2:00Z Link

IEMBot Image

The Storm Prediction Center issues Day 3 Convective Outlook (Max Risk: Enhanced) at Apr 15, 19:32z Link

Student kills four in Turkey's second school shooting in two days Three students and one teacher died in the attack in the province of Kahramanmaras, Governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters, adding the shooter had shot and killed himself.

A teenage student shoots at least four people dead including three fellow pupils and wounds at least 20 others at a middle school in southeastern, the local governor says, marking the country's second school attack in two days.