Well it's 4:21a.m. ET right now and I am gearing up for our 4:30 a.m. show on NBC "Early Today". Busy would be an understatement. Here's a quick peek into my head at this early hour and with no coffee yet!

During the 3 a.m. hour several tornado warnings were issued, even one that included New Orleans. The latest storm reports even has 5 possible tornados in the overnight hours. The current data is showing the severe weather continuing all the way through today. We will most likely follow these strong storms through northern Florida by the afternoon. The strong storms are only part one of the story.

As I flip over to the radar right now at 4:24 a.m. we are finding the northern branch of the storm producing a mix of rain and snow south of I-70 with snow to the north. My big dilemma this morning... fitting this all into the weather and telling the story with so many parts today. You see I only have 1:15 for my first hit and :20 seconds for the second. The problem is solved though as I am going against time and a delicate selection process. Here's a peak at my rundown.

First Hit:
Tornado Watches
National Winter Radar
Winter Storm Warnings
Northeast Snow
National Today Forecast
Current temps

Second:
Forecast Snow Totals
Regional Forecast

Ok, the music for the show is starting and here goes my day! It's now 4:31 and I'm just a minute or two away from the first weather hit. Keep it here all day long and through the storm for more updates.

************* 5:20 UPDATE:***********

Update: We are now into our show on MSNBC "First Look" and the tornado warnings just keep coming. Right now at 5:17 we are following 4 different tornado warnings in Louisiana and Mississippi. Reports now have a possible 7 tornados that have touched down overnight, golf ball size hail and wind gusts over 40 mph. It will be bumpy ride in the South and the severe storms very well could eclipse the winter part of the storm into the afternoon. With this much instability this early we will most likely see more damaging reports through the day.

Meteorologist - Jeff Ranieri