Weather Wise

Super El Niño Explained: What It Means for Your Winter Weather

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:16:05 +0000

🌊 A Super El Niño is taking shape in the Pacific — and meteorologists say it could be unlike anything we've ever seen before. First Alert 6 Senior Chief Meteorologist Rusty Lord and Nick Weig break it all down.

🌡️ Pacific Ocean temperatures are rising to unprecedented levels, raising serious concerns in the meteorological community about what this means for global weather patterns this fall and winter.

❄️ What could it mean for YOUR winter? Rusty explains why warmer-than-average doesn't mean snow-free — and why wild weather swings could be on the table.

🌧️ From Pineapple Express storms hammering California to ice storms in Texas and drought and famine risks worldwide, the potential impacts of this Super El Niño are massive and largely uncharted.

🎙️ Rusty's winter outlook drops in late October — subscribe so you don't miss it! Subscribe to First Alert 6 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WOWT6News #ElNino #SuperElNino #WinterOutlook #WeatherWise #FirstAlert6

Sesame Street Storm Special, Wildfire Smoke Science & Much-Needed Omaha Rain

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:13:47 +0000

The oppressive summer heat is finally giving way to much-needed rain across the Omaha metro! On this episode of the Weather Wise Podcast, Digital Anchor Nick Weig sits down with Chief Meteorologist Matt Serwe to break down the active weather pattern and dive into the broader impacts of extreme weather. Key topics discussed:

• ⛈️ Much-Needed Rain: The summer heat breaks as rain moderates temperatures across the Omaha metro.

• 🔥 Wildfire Crisis: Tracking the devastating Spokane fires and the long-term recovery after Nebraska's worst wildfires in state history. • 💨 The Science of Smoke: How wildfire smoke particles can actually inhibit clouds from producing rainfall. •

🧸 Sesame Street's New Special: How Elmo and friends are helping children and families navigate storm anxiety.

• 🗺️ 2-3 Week Outlook: What to expect as the jet stream begins its transition toward the fall position.

Stay connected with First Alert 6: 👉 Download the First Alert 6 Weather App for real-time radar and local updates. 👉 Subscribe to the First Alert 6 YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstAlert6 #WeatherWise #FirstAlert6 #OmahaWeather #WildfireSmoke #SesameStreet #NebraskaNews #OmahaNews

Heat Wave Breaks, Wisconsin Tornado & Meet Our Newest Meteorologist

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:07:54 +0000

🌡️ Omaha's near-historic heat wave finally breaks — but not before triple-digit temps and suffocating humidity pushed air conditioners and power grids to their limits.

🌪️ A massive EF-3 tornado tore through northeastern Wisconsin, stretching 1,500 yards wide with a 12-mile track and 140 mph winds — and miraculously, no deaths.

🌧️ Lincoln dealt with heavy rain, strong winds, and localized flooding while Omaha stayed dry — and parts of Schuyler saw 3-4 inches of rain in a single morning storm.

🔥 Wildfires continue to rage across Canada, Minnesota, and the Pacific Northwest — and drought conditions in western Nebraska are raising concerns closer to home.

🤝 Plus — meet Carmello Lattuca, the newest member of the First Alert 6 Weather team, on the debut episode of Weather Wise! Weather Wise is First Alert 6's new weather-focused podcast, hosted by Nick Weig and the entire First Alert 6 Weather Team.