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Critical Weather Alerts: Tracking Storms and Wildfires Across the Nation · EM Morning Brief

• 0:00
  Good
• 0:00
  morning.
• 0:00
  I'm
• 0:00
  Cedric
• 0:01
  and
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  This
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  is
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  your
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  EM
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  Morning
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  Brief
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  for
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  Wednesday,
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  February
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  18,
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  2026
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  a
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  fast
• 0:07
  moving
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  multi
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  hazard
• 0:09
  storm
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  drives
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  today's
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  national
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  risk
• 0:11
  picture.
• 0:12
  Winter
• 0:12
  storm
• 0:13
  and
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  blizzard
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  conditions
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  across
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  parts
• 0:14
  of
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  the
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  upper
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  Midwest
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  and
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  Great
• 0:16
  Lakes
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  paired
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  with
• 0:17
  critical
• 0:18
  fire
• 0:18
  weather
• 0:18
  on
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  the
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  High
• 0:19
  Plains.
• 0:20
  National
• 0:21
  Weather
• 0:21
  Service
• 0:21
  bulletins
• 0:22
  keep
• 0:22
  blizzard
• 0:23
  and
• 0:23
  winter
• 0:23
  storm
• 0:24
  warnings
• 0:24
  active
• 0:25
  around
• 0:25
  western
• 0:25
  Lake
• 0:26
  Superior
• 0:27
  where
• 0:27
  whiteouts
• 0:27
  and
• 0:28
  dangerous
• 0:28
  travel
• 0:28
  are
• 0:29
  possible,
• 0:30
  while
• 0:30
  red
• 0:30
  flag
• 0:31
  warnings
• 0:31
  and
• 0:32
  critical
• 0:32
  to
• 0:32
  extremely
• 0:33
  critical
• 0:34
  fire
• 0:34
  weather
• 0:35
  messaging
• 0:35
  expands
• 0:35
  across
• 0:36
  portions
• 0:36
  of
• 0:36
  Colorado,
• 0:37
  Nebraska,
• 0:38
  Kansas
• 0:38
  and
• 0:38
  into
• 0:39
  Texas
• 0:40
  where
• 0:40
  any
• 0:40
  spark
• 0:41
  can
• 0:41
  run
• 0:41
  quickly
• 0:41
  in
• 0:42
  wind
• 0:42
  and
• 0:42
  low
• 0:42
  humidity.
• 0:44
  Out
• 0:44
  West,
• 0:45
  Northern
• 0:45
  California's
• 0:46
  Sierra
• 0:46
  sees
• 0:47
  major
• 0:47
  travel
• 0:47
  impacts
• 0:48
  with
• 0:48
  winter
• 0:48
  storm
• 0:49
  warnings
• 0:49
  and
• 0:49
  highway
• 0:49
  closures
• 0:50
  while
• 0:51
  backcountry
• 0:51
  search
• 0:52
  and
• 0:52
  rescue
• 0:52
  continues
• 0:53
  after
• 0:53
  an
• 0:53
  avalanche
• 0:54
  near
• 0:54
  Donner
• 0:54
  Pass
• 0:55
  in
• 0:56
  the
• 0:56
  southern
• 0:56
  Plains.
• 0:57
  Oklahoma
• 0:57
  Emergency
• 0:58
  Management
• 0:58
  reports
• 0:59
  widespread
• 1:00
  wildfire
• 1:00
  impacts
• 1:01
  and
• 1:01
  ongoing
• 1:02
  response
• 1:02
  activity.
• 1:04
  Let's
• 1:04
  run
• 1:04
  through
• 1:04
  the
• 1:05
  States.
• 1:06
  A
• 1:06
  blizzard
• 1:06
  warning
• 1:07
  remains
• 1:07
  active
• 1:07
  for
• 1:07
  Alaska's
• 1:08
  western
• 1:08
  Arctic
• 1:09
  coast
• 1:09
  with
• 1:10
  strong
• 1:10
  winds
• 1:10
  and
• 1:11
  severely
• 1:11
  reduced
• 1:12
  visibility
• 1:12
  possible
• 1:12
  in
• 1:13
  blowing
• 1:13
  snow
• 1:14
  conditions
• 1:15
  that
• 1:15
  can
• 1:15
  quickly
• 1:15
  become
• 1:16
  life
• 1:16
  threatening
• 1:16
  if
• 1:17
  travel
• 1:17
  goes
• 1:17
  sideways.
• 1:20
  Northern
• 1:20
  California
• 1:21
  remains
• 1:21
  in
• 1:22
  a
• 1:22
  high
• 1:22
  impact
• 1:22
  winter
• 1:23
  storm
• 1:23
  pattern.
• 1:24
  Winter
• 1:24
  storm
• 1:25
  warnings
• 1:25
  cover
• 1:25
  Sierra
• 1:26
  locations,
• 1:27
  including
• 1:27
  the
• 1:27
  west
• 1:28
  slope
• 1:28
  of
• 1:28
  the
• 1:28
  northern
• 1:29
  Sierra
• 1:29
  with
• 1:30
  major
• 1:30
  travel
• 1:30
  impacts
• 1:31
  and
• 1:31
  rapidly
• 1:32
  changing
• 1:32
  conditions.
• 1:34
  Interstate
• 1:34
  80
• 1:35
  and
• 1:35
  other
• 1:35
  key
• 1:35
  corridors
• 1:36
  have
• 1:36
  seen
• 1:36
  closures
• 1:37
  and
• 1:37
  restrictions
• 1:38
  amid
• 1:38
  heavy
• 1:39
  snow
• 1:39
  and
• 1:39
  whiteouts
• 1:41
  in
• 1:41
  the
• 1:41
  backcountry
• 1:42
  north
• 1:42
  of
• 1:42
  Donner
• 1:42
  Pass.
• 1:43
  Responders
• 1:44
  continue
• 1:44
  operations
• 1:45
  after
• 1:45
  a
• 1:45
  large
• 1:46
  avalanche
• 1:46
  in
• 1:46
  the
• 1:47
  Castle
• 1:47
  Peak
• 1:47
  area.
• 1:48
  Local
• 1:49
  authorities
• 1:49
  report
• 1:50
  multiple
• 1:50
  skiers
• 1:51
  rescued
• 1:51
  and
• 1:51
  others
• 1:52
  still
• 1:52
  unaccounted
• 1:53
  for
• 1:53
  as
• 1:53
  storm
• 1:54
  conditions
• 1:54
  complicate
• 1:55
  access.
• 1:57
  Colorado
• 1:57
  is
• 1:58
  split
• 1:58
  between
• 1:58
  winter
• 1:58
  impacts
• 1:59
  in
• 1:59
  the
• 1:59
  mountains
• 2:00
  and
• 2:00
  dangerous
• 2:01
  fire
• 2:01
  weather
• 2:01
  on
• 2:01
  the
• 2:02
  Plains.
• 2:03
  Winter
• 2:03
  storm
• 2:03
  warnings
• 2:04
  continue
• 2:04
  for
• 2:04
  higher
• 2:05
  terrain
• 2:05
  in
• 2:05
  western
• 2:06
  and
• 2:06
  central
• 2:06
  Colorado
• 2:07
  where
• 2:08
  heavy
• 2:08
  snow
• 2:08
  and
• 2:08
  blowing
• 2:09
  snow
• 2:09
  can
• 2:09
  make
• 2:10
  travel
• 2:10
  very
• 2:10
  difficult
• 2:11
  to
• 2:11
  impossible
• 2:13
  on
• 2:13
  the
• 2:13
  Front
• 2:13
  Range
• 2:14
  and
• 2:14
  Eastern
• 2:14
  Plains.
• 2:15
  Red
• 2:15
  flag
• 2:15
  conditions
• 2:16
  persist
• 2:17
  on
• 2:18
  the
• 2:18
  Eastern
• 2:18
  Plains
• 2:18
  near
• 2:19
  Liman.
• 2:20
  Local
• 2:20
  reporting
• 2:20
  indicates
• 2:21
  a
• 2:21
  wind
• 2:21
  driven
• 2:22
  grass
• 2:22
  fire
• 2:22
  prompted
• 2:23
  evacuations
• 2:24
  before
• 2:24
  officials
• 2:25
  moved
• 2:25
  toward
• 2:25
  containment
• 2:26
  and
• 2:26
  lifted
• 2:27
  orders
• 2:27
  later
• 2:27
  in
• 2:28
  the
• 2:28
  day.
• 2:29
  Idaho
• 2:30
  Winter
• 2:31
  weather
• 2:31
  impacts
• 2:32
  continue
• 2:32
  in
• 2:32
  Idaho
• 2:33
  with
• 2:33
  winter
• 2:33
  storm
• 2:33
  warning
• 2:34
  language
• 2:34
  and
• 2:34
  advisories
• 2:35
  active
• 2:35
  in
• 2:36
  multiple
• 2:36
  areas.
• 2:37
  National
• 2:38
  Weather
• 2:38
  Service
• 2:39
  messaging
• 2:39
  highlights
• 2:40
  additional
• 2:40
  heavy
• 2:40
  snow
• 2:41
  in
• 2:41
  some
• 2:41
  zones
• 2:42
  and
• 2:42
  continued
• 2:43
  difficult
• 2:43
  travel
• 2:44
  with
• 2:44
  guidance
• 2:45
  to
• 2:45
  keep
• 2:45
  emergency
• 2:46
  supplies.
• 2:46
  If
• 2:46
  you
• 2:47
  must
• 2:47
  drive
• 2:48
  for
• 2:48
  the
• 2:48
  Idaho
• 2:49
  Panhandle
• 2:50
  and
• 2:50
  mountain
• 2:50
  passes,
• 2:51
  expect
• 2:51
  slick
• 2:52
  roads
• 2:52
  and
• 2:53
  and
• 2:53
  reduced
• 2:53
  visibility
• 2:54
  at
• 2:54
  times.
• 2:55
  Kansas
• 2:55
  remains
• 2:56
  under
• 2:56
  critical
• 2:56
  fire
• 2:57
  weather
• 2:57
  messaging
• 2:58
  with
• 2:58
  red
• 2:58
  flag
• 2:59
  warning
• 2:59
  bulletins
• 3:00
  in
• 3:00
  effect
• 3:00
  in
• 3:00
  parts
• 3:00
  of
• 3:01
  the
• 3:01
  state.
• 3:02
  The
• 3:02
  setup
• 3:02
  is
• 3:03
  the
• 3:03
  classic
• 3:03
  rapid
• 3:04
  spread,
• 3:05
  strong
• 3:05
  winds,
• 3:06
  very
• 3:06
  low
• 3:07
  relative
• 3:07
  humidity
• 3:08
  and
• 3:08
  warm
• 3:09
  temperatures.
• 3:10
  Michigan
• 3:11
  is
• 3:11
  in
• 3:11
  an
• 3:11
  active
• 3:11
  winter
• 3:12
  weather
• 3:12
  window,
• 3:13
  especially
• 3:13
  across
• 3:14
  the
• 3:14
  Upper
• 3:14
  Peninsula
• 3:15
  and
• 3:15
  parts
• 3:15
  of
• 3:15
  northern
• 3:16
  Lower
• 3:16
  Michigan.
• 3:17
  National
• 3:18
  Weather
• 3:18
  Service
• 3:18
  warnings
• 3:19
  call
• 3:19
  for
• 3:19
  heavy
• 3:20
  snow,
• 3:20
  blowing
• 3:21
  snow
• 3:21
  and
• 3:21
  hazardous
• 3:22
  travel.
• 3:24
  Northern
• 3:24
  Minnesota
• 3:25
  remains
• 3:25
  in
• 3:25
  high
• 3:26
  impact
• 3:26
  winter
• 3:26
  conditions.
• 3:27
  A
• 3:28
  blizzard
• 3:28
  warning
• 3:28
  is
• 3:28
  posted
• 3:29
  for
• 3:29
  portions
• 3:29
  of
• 3:30
  the
• 3:30
  North
• 3:30
  Shore
• 3:30
  region
• 3:31
  along
• 3:31
  Lake
• 3:32
  Superior
• 3:32
  with
• 3:33
  heavy
• 3:33
  snow
• 3:33
  and
• 3:34
  strong
• 3:34
  winds
• 3:34
  capable
• 3:35
  of
• 3:35
  producing
• 3:35
  near
• 3:36
  zero
• 3:36
  visibility
• 3:37
  and
• 3:37
  dangerous
• 3:38
  travel
• 3:39
  nearby.
• 3:40
  Winter
• 3:40
  storm
• 3:40
  warning
• 3:41
  products
• 3:41
  also
• 3:41
  call
• 3:42
  for
• 3:42
  significant
• 3:43
  snow
• 3:43
  totals,
• 3:44
  especially
• 3:44
  in
• 3:44
  higher
• 3:45
  terrain
• 3:45
  along
• 3:45
  the
• 3:46
  lake
• 3:46
  with
• 3:46
  gusty
• 3:47
  winds
• 3:47
  adding
• 3:47
  blowing
• 3:48
  snow.
• 3:50
  Montana
• 3:50
  remains
• 3:51
  under
• 3:51
  active
• 3:51
  winter
• 3:52
  hazards
• 3:52
  in
• 3:52
  multiple
• 3:53
  areas.
• 3:54
  National
• 3:54
  Weather
• 3:54
  Service
• 3:55
  office
• 3:55
  updates
• 3:55
  highlight
• 3:56
  ongoing
• 3:57
  snow
• 3:57
  increasing
• 3:58
  winds
• 3:58
  and
• 3:59
  periods
• 3:59
  of
• 3:59
  sharply
• 4:00
  reduced
• 4:00
  visibility,
• 4:01
  especially
• 4:02
  in
• 4:02
  northeast
• 4:02
  Montana,
• 4:03
  conditions
• 4:04
  that
• 4:04
  can
• 4:04
  turn
• 4:04
  routine
• 4:05
  driving
• 4:05
  into
• 4:05
  a
• 4:06
  stranded
• 4:06
  vehicle
• 4:07
  scenario
• 4:07
  fast.
• 4:09
  Nebraska
• 4:10
  is
• 4:10
  in
• 4:10
  a
• 4:10
  critical
• 4:10
  fire
• 4:11
  weather
• 4:11
  setup
• 4:12
  along
• 4:12
  the
• 4:12
  High
• 4:12
  Plains
• 4:13
  with
• 4:13
  NWS
• 4:14
  fire
• 4:15
  weather
• 4:15
  products
• 4:15
  highlighting
• 4:16
  critical
• 4:16
  to
• 4:17
  extremely
• 4:17
  critical
• 4:18
  conditions
• 4:19
  near
• 4:19
  the
• 4:19
  Colorado
• 4:20
  border
• 4:20
  region.
• 4:21
  Parts
• 4:22
  of
• 4:22
  North
• 4:22
  Dakota
• 4:23
  sit
• 4:23
  on
• 4:23
  the
• 4:23
  edge
• 4:23
  of
• 4:23
  the
• 4:24
  Upper
• 4:24
  Midwest
• 4:24
  winter
• 4:25
  hazard
• 4:25
  zone
• 4:25
  with
• 4:26
  National
• 4:26
  Weather
• 4:26
  Service
• 4:27
  products
• 4:27
  indicating
• 4:28
  winter
• 4:28
  storm
• 4:29
  warning
• 4:29
  impacts,
• 4:31
  snow,
• 4:32
  blowing
• 4:32
  snow
• 4:33
  and
• 4:33
  difficult
• 4:34
  travel,
• 4:34
  particularly
• 4:35
  in
• 4:35
  the
• 4:35
  Northeast
• 4:36
  North
• 4:36
  Dakota
• 4:37
  area
• 4:37
  referenced
• 4:38
  in
• 4:38
  regional
• 4:39
  warning
• 4:39
  language.
• 4:40
  Oklahoma's
• 4:41
  wildfire
• 4:41
  situation
• 4:42
  remains
• 4:42
  active
• 4:43
  the
• 4:44
  Oklahoma
• 4:44
  Department
• 4:44
  of
• 4:45
  Emergency
• 4:45
  Management
• 4:46
  posts
• 4:46
  a
• 4:46
  late
• 4:46
  evening
• 4:47
  situation
• 4:47
  update
• 4:48
  describing
• 4:49
  ongoing
• 4:49
  wildfire
• 4:50
  response
• 4:50
  activity
• 4:51
  impacts
• 4:52
  across
• 4:52
  affected
• 4:53
  areas
• 4:53
  and
• 4:53
  continued
• 4:54
  coordination.
• 4:55
  This
• 4:56
  is
• 4:56
  the
• 4:56
  kind
• 4:56
  of
• 4:56
  event
• 4:57
  where
• 4:57
  conditions
• 4:57
  can
• 4:58
  change
• 4:58
  quickly
• 4:59
  with
• 4:59
  wind
• 4:59
  shifts.
• 5:00
  Oregon
• 5:01
  remains
• 5:01
  under
• 5:01
  active
• 5:02
  winter
• 5:02
  weather
• 5:03
  messaging
• 5:03
  with
• 5:04
  winter
• 5:04
  storm
• 5:04
  warning
• 5:05
  and
• 5:05
  related
• 5:05
  advisory
• 5:06
  products
• 5:06
  posted
• 5:07
  by
• 5:07
  the
• 5:07
  National
• 5:08
  Weather
• 5:08
  Service
• 5:08
  for
• 5:09
  parts
• 5:09
  of
• 5:09
  southwest
• 5:10
  Oregon
• 5:10
  and
• 5:11
  and
• 5:11
  nearby
• 5:11
  terrain.
• 5:13
  Texas
• 5:13
  is
• 5:13
  in
• 5:14
  a
• 5:14
  heightened
• 5:14
  fire
• 5:14
  weather
• 5:15
  posture
• 5:15
  in
• 5:15
  portions
• 5:16
  of
• 5:16
  the
• 5:16
  state
• 5:16
  with
• 5:17
  red
• 5:17
  flag
• 5:17
  warning
• 5:18
  products
• 5:19
  posted
• 5:19
  by
• 5:19
  the
• 5:19
  National
• 5:20
  Weather
• 5:20
  Service.
• 5:22
  Washington
• 5:23
  has
• 5:23
  active
• 5:23
  winter
• 5:24
  advisories
• 5:25
  in
• 5:25
  parts
• 5:25
  of
• 5:25
  the
• 5:25
  state
• 5:26
  per
• 5:26
  late
• 5:26
  evening
• 5:27
  National
• 5:27
  Weather
• 5:27
  Service
• 5:28
  products
• 5:29
  with
• 5:29
  accumulating
• 5:30
  snow
• 5:30
  and
• 5:30
  slick
• 5:31
  travel
• 5:31
  expected
• 5:32
  in
• 5:32
  affected
• 5:32
  areas.
• 5:34
  Northern
• 5:35
  Wisconsin
• 5:35
  remains
• 5:36
  under
• 5:36
  a
• 5:36
  winter
• 5:37
  storm
• 5:37
  warning
• 5:37
  along
• 5:38
  the
• 5:38
  Lake
• 5:38
  Superior
• 5:39
  side
• 5:40
  where
• 5:40
  heavy
• 5:40
  snow,
• 5:41
  a
• 5:41
  glaze
• 5:41
  of
• 5:41
  ice
• 5:42
  and
• 5:42
  strong
• 5:42
  wind
• 5:43
  gusts
• 5:43
  can
• 5:43
  combine
• 5:44
  into
• 5:44
  hazardous
• 5:45
  travel
• 5:45
  and
• 5:45
  sporadic
• 5:46
  reduced
• 5:46
  visibility.
• 5:48
  All
• 5:48
  other
• 5:48
  states
• 5:48
  have
• 5:49
  no
• 5:49
  significant
• 5:49
  updates
• 5:50
  in
• 5:50
  the
• 5:50
  last
• 5:50
  24
• 5:51
  hours.
• 5:53
  That's
• 5:53
  the
• 5:53
  EMN
• 5:53
  Morning
• 5:54
  Brief
• 5:54
  for
• 5:54
  February
• 5:55
  18,
• 5:56
  2026.
• 5:57
  Stay
• 5:57
  safe.