It has been a while since we've covered a tornado risk forecast but here we are. Five percent is the significant value: Below is the hail risk. Fifteen percent is significant for 1" or larger hail. The hatching is where 2" or larger hail is forecast to occur. Please keep an eye on the weather in these areas.

Heavy rains are forecast the next five days from Manitoba and Saskatchewan into North Dakota with moderate to heavy rains in surrounding states.

The blogosphere has lit up this evening with, in my opinion, irresponsible forecasts of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico in nine days. This is based on the U.S. Global Forecast Model (GFS) which forecasts 9 out of every two hurricanes -- i.e., wildly overforecasts hurricanes. Here is what the most accurate model in the world (ECMWF) shows in nine days. A hurricane off the coast of Baja: Here is what the same model shows in the Gulf of Mexico: In terms of hurricanes: A big fat nothing! It is not impossible a hurricane could occur in the Gulf. But "panic" (an unfortunate choice of words by one NWS office) is wildly inappropriate. At this time, there is absolutely nothing to panic about.

An energy mess is developing in Europe: Belgian energy company Electrabel said its Doel 4 nuclear reactor would stay offline at least until the end of this year after major damage to its turbine, with the cause confirmed as sabotage. Unfortunately, several other Belgian reactors have been shut down for maintenance in recent months due to what may be a generic flaw in the design - this seems to be the same issue that affected  nuclear plant in the UK last week. The loss of Doel 4 therefore means that fully half of the country's nuclear capacity is offline. Doel 4 could be out for months... Energy experts have raised the spectre of possible blackouts this winter and say Belgium will have to boost interconnection capacity with neighbouring countries to prevent power shortages. As many know, Europe gets a greater percent of its energy from 'alternative' sources as compared to the United States. What many don't realize is that when temperatures are coldest in w...

The never-ending list of climate hypocrites continues: Hillary Clinton Wants 'Mass Movement' on Climate Change By Associated Press 23 March 14 illary Rodham Clinton says young people understand the significant threat of climate change and that she hopes there will be a mass movement that demands political change. The potential 2016 presidential candidate says at a Clinton Global Initiative University panel that young people are much more committed to doing something to address climate change. Clinton says it isn’t “just some ancillary issue” but will determine the quality of life for many people. The former secretary of state cited global warming as a major issue that students could face in the future. But, when it comes to her carbon footprint: By LAURA MYERS ©2014 LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Hillary Rodham Clinton likes to travel in style. She insists on staying in the “presidential suite” of luxury hotels that she chooses anywhere in the world, including ...

From my friends and colleagues at AscelBio . Click here if you would like an unbiased assessment from experts .

The Smith House had 0.70 inches over night along with some hail. Here is the forecast rainfall for the nation between now and Sunday night.