Severe weather outbreak on the way

Severe storms shift focus to the Midwest and Deep South today while downpours and late-season snow hit the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. The Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies deal with more rain and mountain snow with a few pockets of thunderstorms. The Breakfast Brief is published Monday through Friday at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

After a stormy night in the Plains and along the Mississippi Valley, severe weather shifts to the Midwest and Deep South with the Tennessee Valley having the strongest risk for severe weather, including tornadoes and gusts greater than 60 mph. We'll see severe storms fire from western Louisiana to Peoria, Ill., and east to Raleigh and Wilmington, N.C.

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On the northern end of the larger storm system causing the severe weather, we'll see heavy downpours and even snow in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Yes, we said snow. Late-season white stuff is in the forecast due to colder-than-average temperatures moving southward out of Canada.

Watch the flakes fly on the WeatherRadar here.

The northern tier isn't the only place locked in below-average temperatures. Chilly morning temperatures bring a frost advisory to the interior Northeast this morning. Highs will only make it into the 50s.

On the opposite end of the temperature scale, record-breaking heat bakes the southern Plains and Florida again today. Highs will reach back into the 90s, with triple digits expected in central Texas. See the TemperatureRadar for closer details.

Finally, the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies stay active with rain and mountain snow today. If you're headed over the passes, be sure to check the WeatherRadar first to know how heavy the snow is. Remember, the darker the pink, the heavier the snow.

The wet and snowy activity will lessen by the afternoon and evening hours.

When severe weather is in your forecast, you can be prepared. Follow along with these tools to stay weather-aware.