Jeff Huffman

08/04/2024

Every landfalling hurricane has a key moment that could cost (or save) lives. This may be Debby's...

08/03/2024

Heads up: Semantics on will not be the big story. Despite the "still developing" nature of the storm, preparations should begin NOW in southeast Georgia and coastal Carolinas for extreme flooding.

Florida takes the first hit, but the longer-lasting impacts will likely occur in Georgia and the Carolinas.

05/26/2024

ANOTHER ROUND of severe storms for East-Central and Southeast Missouri this evening (w/ audio).

Those of you with damage: Do what you can to secure objects by times listed in video.

Everyone: Stay vigilant.

05/26/2024

This was a memorable event early Sun morning across the , SE Missouri, and region. In many counties, 70%+ of customers woke up without power as severe storms knocked down poles, uprooted huge trees, and peeled roofs off of homes & businesses.

05/25/2024

Do NOT go to bed without having multiple ways to receive an alert tonight (Sat) in the red shaded region. Considering the holiday weekend, I am especially concerned with those camping or partying late and prone to passing out. This is a serious tornado risk that is shifting east.

05/09/2024

It was a wild night for me, and Wednesday was a crazy, difficult day to forecast. I'm so glad it wasn't as bad as feared in Southeast Missouri.

The lightning strike at the beginning of this video shows the left side of the tornado that crossed the mountains in Huntsville. It was the first "wedge" I've seen. Nothing like those rope things in Florida. See the snapshots in the comments.

05/08/2024

I did this really fast. Based on satellite data around 6:00 p.m., it's valid for Southeast Missouri this evening (Wednesday, 5/8). The air south of the red line has not been tapped into yet. In other words, plenty of energy is available for rotating storms with large hail and destructive winds. A long-track violent tornado is also possible. Friends, stay vigilant!

05/08/2024

***This is NOT a current forecast*** I watch a lot of severe weather coverage in my current job. This is one of the best explanations I've seen on why we should still find our safe place for just "radar-indicated" tornado warnings. Credit: KMOV Steve Templeton

05/08/2024

Friends in Southeast Missouri and the STL area: I am quite concerned over today's severe weather outbreak. It's complex. There could be more than one round. A few violent tornadoes are possible. And even if a tornado does not threaten you, the potential for hurricane-force wind gusts exists on the leading edge of curved line segments. STAY VIGILANT!

p.s. I won't share exact times due to the complex nature of the event. So, have a way to stay informed all afternoon and night.

04/08/2024

As if today couldn’t get any more exciting, I drove through a hailstorm and then saw this! ™️

04/01/2024

What looks like run-of-the-mill activity on radar now will turn violent this evening across as upper-level spin arrives. Supercells capable of tornadoes & destructive hail are expected in red areas this evening. Squall lines with an additional damaging wind risk could last well after midnight in orange areas.

04/01/2024

Heads up Missouri friends. There could be a couple of violent tornadoes later this evening. If you live in or near any of those red paths, stay vigilant deep into the night.

03/05/2024

Joining Caitlin Clark on the stage of “firsts” for women from Iowa, our first freshmen from the UF Weather Center becomes the first Gator to be named “Chief”. Congrats Rebecca!!!

I'm happy to announce that I've been promoted to Chief Meteorologist at Iowa's News Now. It's been an honor to serve eastern Iowa for the last 8 years & I'm looking forward to several more with the rest of the WeatherFirst team. Proud to also be the first female chief in the area ✨️

02/25/2024

Missouri friends (in the voice of a ride operator): For your convenience, please keep your coats, scarves, and gloves within reach at all times this week.

Friendly reminder: we're quickly switching back to winter this week!

Wednesday will start off with temperatures in the 40s, but by the afternoon many of us will be in the 30s with a significant wind chill.

The good news is temperatures will quickly warm by next weekend.

02/16/2024

High confidence forecast (finally!): Morning rush trouble spots KC to CoMo, with a dicy evening commute possible in STL.

Areas along and north of I-70 may see heavier banding and rapid accumulation. This will be a slushy sleet/snow mix at first and mostly on grassy surfaces south of I-70, transitioning to all snow before ending. Any moisture on roads will turn icy quickly after sunset.

Apologies for the delay on this, as I've been swamped with a major work project.

02/12/2024

Worst forecast bust I've ever seen. And I wasn't alone. National Weather Service Paducah said it best, "it does not get much worse than this."

02/12/2024

Final update: I’m DONE. I shouldn’t have even tried with this one! 🤷🏻‍♂️

As if the huge shift south wasn’t enough, the low pressure system is now not strong enough to overcome the marginally cold enough air to begin with. And we all know how warm the ground is.

Simply stated, most locations where it rain or snows during the day (SE MO) will have only a brief dusting to show for it.

And in case you didn’t see my previous update, nothing to speak of north of a Springfield to Cape line. Zero snow COMO to STL metro, which is basically unchanged.

But if you’re a snow lover, there is still plenty of winter left. And the pattern favors a late spring.

02/12/2024

Everyone in Missouri: I’m keeping an eye on trends (yes, while watching the game)…

Trend is SOUTH. Big time. Snow may not even get north of 44. And for those of you in SEMO, a slushy inch or two appears more likely.

But not until around sunset Monday.

02/11/2024

Update: Confidence increasing that heaviest snow in will fall between US 60 and I-44 in south-central .

Caveat: Where the snowfall rates are lighter, it will melt WHILE it's snowing. So this is a tough one north and south of that heavier band.

Columbia: IF anything at all, a brief dusting.
JeffCity: IF anything at all, up to 1/2".
StLouis: Gradient from none north to 1.5" south across metro.
Springfield: At least 2 slushy inches, briefly up to 5".
SEMO: Most will fall in higher elevations, but a dusting can't be ruled out in the flood plain.

02/11/2024

MIDMO UPDATE: Likely NO snow north of US HWY 54/50 in Missouri. So Jeff City & CoMO -- this one likely misses you. But confidence is low. HUGE bust potential on north side.

OZARKS: Narrow bands of heavy wet snow will result in sharp gradients from 1 to 6" over short distances late Sunday into Monday (arrival times noted on map).

Highest confidence is along I-44 from OKC to Rolla. Very low confidence on north side between I-44 and I-70 in Missouri.

01/24/2024

01/22/2024

Hints of warmer weather may be on our minds, but I am NOT looking forward to this "once in a lifetime" event.

Two adjacent broods of cicadas will emerge from the ground in April in an event that hasn't happened since 1803.

01/22/2024

This won't be a crippling ice storm, but think about how cold those roads already are -- they will be a skating rink in the morning. If your city (or area) is purple (or pink), just stay home!

01/21/2024

I'm posting because this will NOT be a major crippling ice storm. But you WILL want to stay home for the first half of Monday across most of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois.

01/13/2024

Urgent heads up up for and metro area: The arctic front will bring a few hours of moderate snow and reduced visibility today along the I-70 corridor.

EXTREMELY hazardous travel *starting* at the following times:
Columbia ~ 1 pm
Jeff City ~ 2 pm
St. Charles ~ 3 pm
St. Louis & Arnold ~ 4 pm

01/13/2024

Fresh powder sweeping through Dixie! It will be cold enough for nearly all of this to accumulate on roads. Followed by arctic air that keeps it on the ground for several days. Starts Sunday in Oklahoma, then slows down across the Mid-South before ending early Tuesday in the Southern Appalachians.

This map was hand-drawn to blend the models with the most challenging spots circled. Darkest blue areas are likely closer to 4", generally 2 to 4" in medium blue, and less than 2" in the light blue areas.

01/12/2024

I know some of my snow lovers will be disappointed, but the bigger "heads up" has always been about the duration and intensity of this arctic air. Once you go below freezing this weekend, here's how long it will take to climb out...

01/11/2024

BUST ALERT: I will humbly admit the track of tomorrow's storm is much farther north than I posted about last weekend (t.ly/t4Vl0). But the general idea that multiple snows will affect many of you, followed by a brutal prolonged period of arctic air, is still on track.

Regarding Friday's event, the heaviest (by far) will be along and north of the I-80 corridor in Iowa and northern Illinois. However, a second piece of energy -- which I thought would be the main event -- will give a 2-hour thumping along the I-44 corridor Friday afternoon. KC misses most of this one, but Springfield to St. Louis might have some briefly challenging roads.

The next snow event will affect areas mainly south of I-70 on Sunday night and Monday, covering the ground in much of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.