Ryan Wichman

The hottest stretch of the year so far arrives today and Thursday. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the lower 90s, but the combination of heat and humidity will push the heat index close to 100 degrees. The first significant heat event of the season can be especially dangerous as our bodies and daily routines have not yet adjusted to summer conditions. This story continues below.

TOLEDO, Ohio — When you hear the phrase “Tornado Alley,” you probably picture scenes like powerful twisters carving through open fields in Oklahoma or Texas. But new research shows that traditional tornado alley is no longer the only hotspot. Storm data over the past several decades shows tornado activity has gradually shifted eastward — away from parts of the central Plains and toward the Midwest and Southeast.

TOLEDO, Ohio — A major winter storm is set to unfold this weekend across a large swath of the eastern United States with ice across the deep south and heavy snow from the Ohio River north. In northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, this storm is expected to bring the heaviest snowfall in several years. Ahead of the snow, bitterly cold air returns with an arctic front dropping wind chill readings 15 to 25 degrees below zero Friday morning.