Easter Holiday Weekend Weather Forecast: Wet East, Chilly Midwest, Nice West

Easter week is here, and this weekend's forecast has a pronounced split in the nation's weather as a storm system tracks across the eastern half of the country.

Let's break down the forecast each day this weekend to help you plan your holiday activities.

Saturday

-Where the weather looks great: In the West from the Rockies to the West Coast, it will be sunny in most areas with temperatures near or above average, and not nearly as hot asthe recent record heat wave.

-Where you'll need a jacket: Unfortunately, rain and thunderstorms are expected Saturday from the Great Lakes to eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley. Some thunderstorms could be strong or severe with heavy rainfall, as well. In parts of the upper Midwest, snow is expected in the areas shown in blue or purple in the map below. And strong, chilly winds are expected in much of the Plains and upper Mississippi Valley behind a cold front.

Advertisement

-Where it might be okay: We can't rule out a threat of some showers in parts of the East. But in most areas, they don't seem likely enough to postpone any Easter egg hunts, but it will turn wetter on Sunday. And while it will be breezy, it will also be much warmer than average in most of the East, with 70s and 80s as far north as parts of the mid-Atlantic.

(192-hours: Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on ourPremium Pro experience.)

Easter Sunday

-Fabulous holiday weather:Again, the West is the big winner on Sunday, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures generally warmer than average for the first Sunday in April, without the recent blistering heat.

-Rain jacket will be needed: Unfortunately, rain, perhaps with a clap of thunder, is likely in the East as a cold front slices through. It will also be quite windy with the front. Any sunrise Easter services planned outdoors in the Southeast may have to be moved indoors.

-A winter jacket needed: Sunday will be chilly and windy in the Midwest, with highs only in the 40s in the Great Lakes. Some snow showers may linger in parts of the western Great Lake snowbelts from northeast Minnesota into northern Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and western and northern Lower Michigan. Leave extra time to get to your Easter destination if traveling in these areas.

(FORECAST MAPS:Rain/Snow|Highs/Lows|Travel Planner)

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Easter Holiday Weekend Weather Forecast: Wet East, Chilly Midwest, Nice West

Easter week is here, and this weekend's forecast has a pronounced split in the nation's weather as a storm system...

Read More

Trump isn't immune from civil claims his Jan. 6 rally speech incited riot, judge says

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trumpis not immune fromcivil claimsthat he incited a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021, a federal judgehas ruledin one of the last unresolved legal cases stemming from the riot.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled Tuesday that Trump's remarks at his "Stop the Steal" rally, held on the Ellipse near the White House shortly before the siege began, "plausibly" were inciting words that are not protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.

The Republican president is not shielded from liability for much of his Jan. 6 conduct, including that speech and many of his social media posts that day, according to the judge. But Mehta said Trump cannot be held liable for his official acts that day, including his Rose Garden remarks during the riot and his interactions with Justice Department officials.

"President Trump has not shown that the Speech reasonably can be understood as falling within the outer perimeter of his Presidential duties," Mehta wrote. "The content of the Ellipse Speech confirms that it is not covered by official-acts immunity."

Not the first court ruling on presidential immunity

The decision is not the court's first ruling that Trump can be held liability for the violence at the Capitol and it is unlikely to be the last given the near-certainty of an appeal. But the 79-page ruling sets the stage for a possible civil trial in the same courthouse where Trump was charged with crimes for his Jan. 6 conduct, before his 2024 electionended the prosecution.

Mehta previously refused to dismiss the claims against Trump in a February 2022 ruling that Trump was not entitled to presidential immunity from the claims brought by Democratic members of Congress and law enforcement officers who guarded the Capitol on Jan. 6. In that decision, Mehta also concluded that Trump's words during his rally speech plausibly amounted to incitement and were not protected by the First Amendment.

The case returned to Mehta after an appeals court ruling upheld his 2022 decision. He said Tuesday's ruling on immunity falls under a more "rigorous" legal standard at this later stage in the litigation.

Mehta, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, said his latest decision is not a "final pronouncement on immunity for any particular act."

Advertisement

"President Trump remains free to reassert official-acts immunity as a defense at trial. But the burden will remain his and will be subject to a higher standard of proof," the judge wrote.

Official capacity vs. office-seeker

Trump spoke to a crowd of his supporters at the rally before the mob's attack disrupted the joint session of Congress for certifying Democrat Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory over Trump. Trump closed out his speech by saying, "We fight. We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."

Trump's lawyers arguedthat Trump's conduct on Jan. 6 meets the threshold for presidential immunity.

The plaintiffscontended that Trump cannot prove he was acting entirely in his official capacity rather than as an office-seeking private individual. They also said the Supreme Court has held that office-seeking conduct falls outside the scope of presidential immunity.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who at that time led the House Homeland Security Committee, sued Trump, Trump's personal attorney Rudolph Giuliani and members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers extremist groups over the Jan. 6 riot. Other Democratic members of Congress later joined the litigation, which was consolidated with the officers' claims.

'Victory for the rule of law'

The civil claims survived Trump's sweeping act of clemency on the first day of his second term, when he pardoned, commuted prison sentences and ordered the dismissal of all 1,500-plus criminal cases stemming from the Capitol siege. More than 100 police officers were injured while defending the Capitol from rioters.

The plaintiffs' legal team includes attorneys from the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Damon Hewitt, the group's president and executive director, praised the ruling as a "monumental victory for the rule of law, affirming that no one, including the president of the United States, is above it."

"The court rightly recognizes that President Trump's actions leading to the January 6 insurrection fell outside the scope of presidential duties," Hewitt said in a statement. "This ruling is an important step toward accountability for the violent attack on the Capitol and our democracy."

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Trump isn't immune from civil claims his Jan. 6 rally speech incited riot, judge says

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trumpis not immune fromcivil claimsthat he incited a mob of his supporters to attack th...

Read More

Swedish prime minister says he'll let a hard-right party enter a future government

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden's prime minister said Wednesday that his center-right party would allow a rival with far-right roots to enter the government if the country's election this year produces a right-wing majority, taking a further decisive step to bring it into the political mainstream.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has run Sweden since 2022 at the helm of a three-party center-right coalition thatrelies on supportfrom the Sweden Democrats for a parliamentary majority but doesn't give it seats in the Cabinet.

The Sweden Democrats were founded in the 1980s by people who had been active in right-wing extremist groups, including neo-Nazis. They toned down their rhetoric and expelled openly racist members under Jimmie Åkesson, who has led them since 2005.

He oversaw their growth from a marginal movement to Sweden's second-biggest party, with 20.5% of the vote inthe 2022 election— ahead of all its rivals on the right, including Kristersson's conservative Moderate Party. The party has moved toward the mainstream but retains a hard line on immigration. Its rise echoes that of parties on the populist right in many other European countries.

Advertisement

As a Sept. 13 parliamentary election approaches, center-right parties have been reconsidering their reluctance to bring the Sweden Democrats into government directly. Last month, the Liberals, a junior partner in the government, opened up to accepting them in a future Cabinet.

Kristersson cited that "courageous decision" as a game-changer as he and Åkesson held a joint news conference Wednesday to announce that the prime minister's Moderates would allow the Sweden Democrats into a future government, Swedish news agency TT reported.

Kristersson will be the candidate for prime minister, even if the Sweden Democrats end up as the stronger party, and the Sweden Democrats would get significant responsibility for migration issues.

"In the most difficult situation since World War II, Sweden cannot do without an effective government," Kristersson said, an apparent allusion to crises including the Iran war and Russia's war in Ukraine.

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Swedish prime minister says he'll let a hard-right party enter a future government

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden's prime minister said Wednesday that his center-right party would allow a rival with far-righ...

Read More

This day in history: Soap opera General Hospital premieres

April 1st is known to many as April Fools' Day, but for television fans, it was the daythe small screengot serious about drama. On this day in 1963, two of the most influential medical soap operas in history made their debut on national television:General HospitalandThe Doctors.

Both shows chose a hospital as their primary setting, which was a relatively new concept for thesoap opera genreat the time. By focusing on the lives of doctors, nurses, and patients, these programs were able to blend professional medical crises with intense personal drama.

A soap opera is a long-running TV or radio drama that reflects a set of ongoing, melodramatic storylines, high emotional drama, and complex relationships.The Doctors,premiered on NBC, was set in the fictional Hope Memorial Hospital. For many years, it was a staple of the network's daytime lineup, known for its dedicated fan base and its focus on the moral and romantic dilemmas of its medical staff.

On the same day,General Hospitalpremiered on ABC. Set in the fictional Port Charles, New York. In its early years, it wasn't the massive hit we know today. In fact, by the late1970s, the show faced the threat of cancellation due to low ratings. Afterproducer Gloria Montytook over everything changed. She introduced younger characters and worked on the storytelling. The most famous change was the introduction ofLuke and Laura. Their 1981 wedding remains the highest-rated hour in the history of American soap operas, with 30 million viewers tuning in.

The Doctorseventually left the air in1982,General Hospitalcontinued after that and broke many records, winning numerous Daytime Emmy Awards and launching the careers of several famous actors.

Advertisement

General Hospital premiered in black-and-white as a half-hour show. It is now the longest-running American soap opera in production, holding the record for the most Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series with18 winsas of 2025.

The Doctors was initially designed as an anthology series where characters changed frequently, rather than a continuous serial. Due to low ratings (3.4) with the anthology format, it switched to a traditional continuing serial format in March 1964, which immediately doubled its ratings. The show ran for nearly 20 years until December 31, 1982.

Ask us! What questions do you have about content, strategy, pop culture, lifestyle, wellness, history or more? We may use your question in an upcoming article!

Ask us a question

Like MediaFeed's content?Be sure to follow us.

This article was produced and syndicated byMediaFeed.org.

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

This day in history: Soap opera General Hospital premieres

April 1st is known to many as April Fools' Day, but for television fans, it was the daythe small screengot serious ab...

Read More

Argentina designates Iran's IRGC a terrorist organization, aligning with US

BUENOS AIRES, March 31 (Reuters) - Argentina has designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ‌as a terrorist organization, its presidential office ‌said in a statement on Tuesday, following a push ​from the Trump administration for allies to do so.

Argentina attributed the measure to the IRGC's backing for Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which it blames ‌for the deadliest ⁠bombing in the South American nation's history, a 1994 attack on ⁠the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 and injured hundreds.

The presidential ​office said ​the measure allows ​for the implementation of ‌financial sanctions and other operational restrictions.

Advertisement

The IRGC is an elite military force whose purpose is to protect Shi'ite Muslim clerical rule in Iran. It controls large parts of Iran's ‌economy.

Both the IRGC and ​Hezbollah are already designated as ​terrorist groups ​by the United States and some ‌other countries.

Days earlier, Argentina's government ​also designated ​Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a terrorist organization, further aligning the government ​of President ‌Javier Milei with Washington.

(Reporting by Walter Bianchi ​and Sarah Morland; Editing by Sonali ​Paul and Kevin Buckland)

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Argentina designates Iran's IRGC a terrorist organization, aligning with US

BUENOS AIRES, March 31 (Reuters) - Argentina has designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ‌as a ter...

Read More

Nevada lithium mine clears major hurdle despite conservationists' worries for rare wildflower

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge in Nevada has ruled against conservationists who wanted to stop a lithium-boron mine they said would harm anendangered wildflower.

The ruling marks a major legal victory for the 11-square-mile (28.49 square-kilometer) Rhyolite Ridge Lithium/Boron Mine Project in Esmeralda County, located between Reno and Las Vegas. The land holds the largest lithium and boron deposit in the world outside of Turkey, said Bernard Rowe, managing director of Ioneer, the Australia-based company behind the project.

U.S. District Judge Cristina Silva ruled Friday that the federal government properly approved the project and sufficiently examined the impacts the project will have on the rare wildflower called Tiehm's buckwheat, whose entire population grows within 10 acres (4.05 hectares) of land in the project area. Environmental groups behind the lawsuit say they may appeal.

Lithium is an essential component of electric vehicle batteries. Rhyolite Ridge would beNevada's third lithium mine, and one of few mines that will process the materials on site, Rowe said.

"Rhyolite Ridge will create hundreds of new American jobs, reduce reliance on foreign materials and processing, and provide a domestic source of two critical minerals," Chad Yeftich, vice president of corporate development and external affairs at Ioneer, said in a statement.

Growing US manufacturing

Ioneer wants construction to start by the end of this year and production in 2029, though it is still looking for a financial partner after a major investor pulled out last year. Sibanye Stillwater said the project did not make financial sense. In January 2025, the Department of Energy finalized a nearly $1 billion loan for the project.

The $2 billion mine would have a life span of over 77 years and would produce enough lithium carbonate for around 400,000 electric vehicles per year, Rowe said. It will also produce boric acid, which is used in pest control, flame retardant, and medical and personal care.

Advertisement

Rhyolite Ridge wasfirst approved under the Biden administrationas an part of the former president's clean energy agenda. The Trump administration has alsosupported lithium projects in Nevadaas a way to bolster US manufacturing of critical minerals. The Interior Department declined to comment.

Protecting the wildflower

The Center for Biological Diversity, which haslong fought to protectthe wildflower and successfully pushed for its endangered species designation in 2022, is not finished in its fight, Great Basin Director Patrick Donnelly said.

His organization is considering appealing the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the case could have implications for other species and protected habitats on the Endangered Species Act.

"This can seem like a little remote flower in the middle of nowhere. But if we lose on Tiehm's buckwheat, you know, what else are we facing with the whittling away of the Endangered Species Act?" Donnelly said.

Tiehm's buckwheat is a wildflower a couple inches tall that grows in an area the size of seven football fields in the Silver Peak Range. In the spring, the plant produces green leaves and yellow flowers that look like pom-poms. When it blooms, it is the epicenter of a vibrant pollinator community, Donnelly said.

Silva, a Biden-nominated judge, found Ioneer's mitigation efforts, which include fencing around the habitat and buffer zones between the mining activities and the buckwheat, were sufficient for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act. Silva wrote that of the buckwheat's 1.4 square mile (3.63 square kilometers) of critical habitat, it will lose 4.9% due to the project.

Donnelly maintains the mining project will increase the risk of the wildflower going extinct, which would affect the ecosystem's biodiversity. He cast doubt that fencing around the flower's habitat will protect it.

"There's been this kind of death by a thousand cuts for Tiehm's buckwheat," Donnelly said, adding that if it were to move forward, it would be the "death blow" for the wildflower.

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Nevada lithium mine clears major hurdle despite conservationists' worries for rare wildflower

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge in Nevada has ruled against conservationists who wanted to stop a lithium-boron mine the...

Read More

Appeals court suspends order for Voice of America employees to return to work

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court panelagreed Tuesdayto suspend a federal judge's order for the Trump administration to bring hundreds of Voice of America employees back to work from paid leave.

The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a stay pending the government's appeal of the lower court'sMarch 17 ruling. More than 1,000 employees of Voice of America will remain on administrative leave while the appeals court weighs the case, a process that could take months.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered President Donald Trump's administration to restore the government-run Voice of America's operations after it had effectively been shut down a year ago. Lamberth was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan.

The case is assigned to Circuit Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson, Robert Wilkins and Gregory Katsas.

Advertisement

Henderson was nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush. Wilkins was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama. Katsas was nominated by Trump, a Republican.

Voice of America has broadcast news reports to countries around the world since its formation during World War II. Before Trump's executive order, it had operated in 49 different languages, broadcasting to 362 million people.

Voice of America has been operating with a skeleton staff since Trump issued an executive order to shut it down.

Lamberth also has ruled that Kari Lake, Trump's choice to lead Voice of America, did not have the legal authority to do what she had done at the agency.

byAdministrator

in

April 01, 2026

Appeals court suspends order for Voice of America employees to return to work

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court panelagreed Tuesdayto suspend a federal judge's order for the Trump administration...

Read More