WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Ready for some fall-like temperatures? Some residents in the Northwest will get a taste of autumn as a cold trough of low pressure digs into the region from Canada this weekend. Another cold trough is expected in the area mid-week as well! Farther south, the cooler air will be clashing with the warmth of summer, leading to energy for strong storms and heavy downpours. Many areas around the Four Corners and Rockies will have potential to see 1-3 inches of rain by the end of the day on Tuesday.<h1>Rain &amp; Flood</h1>Pacific moisture will inundate the region, with days of heavy downpours for areas around the Four Corners. 1-4 inches of rain are expected in the favored locations, with scattered flash flooding possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 073655-1788010632203.png">Flood outlooks are elevated through Monday in portions of Arizona and Utah, with the isolated risk for flooding lingers around the region through Wednesday, at least.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-29 07-48-41-1788011591471.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Severe Storms</h1>As the low and cold front swing through the Rockies on Saturday, scattered severe storms are possible from eastern Nevada through northern Utah. Isolated severe storms are possible for areas in green from Tucson through Cheyenne.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 074510-1788011120706.png">Damaging winds are the primary threat Saturday, though storms could also pack hail or spawn a brief tornado. A significant wind risk (gusts 75+ mph possible) has been outlined as well, from Ely, Nevada into the Black Hills of South Dakota. Salt Lake City is included in this elevated threat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 074721-1788011619441.png">The strongest storms are expected primarily in the afternoon and evenings, through overnight severe storms and flooding will be possible. Severe storms appear possible around the Four Corners on Sunday and Monday as well, so stay prepared to seek shelter if a warning is issued for you.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-29 07-47-36-1788011601974.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Drought Relief</h1>September is favored for above average precipitation across a majority of the Western United States. This would be a great way to end a solid monsoon season, which runs through the end of the month.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 075355-1788011658558.png">With more rain on the way, drought improvement is likely for some areas, while drought removal is even possible in others. Keep doing your rain dance (take video and tag us if you do!).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 075403-1788011667031.png">

Rob Bradley

Stormy, Cooler Conditions Return to the West

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Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Atlantic on Thursday. Former Invest 96-L was able to create a clearly defined center of circulation Thursday morning with robust convection. The system encountered strong winds which broke the system apart. These remnants have a low chance to develop again, but will still bring heavy rain to the Caribbean and the Bahamas in the days ahead.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/remnttt-1787954738966.png">Puerto Rico has seen dire drought conditions and is in desperate need of rain. Still, with dry ground and hilly terrain, flash flooding will be a threat. Interests in the Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should stay updated on the forecast in the coming days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 063657-1787920639757.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 054609-1788003975626.png">Another low pressure system in the northern Gulf is being monitored for development. This weak low needs time to get organized but it probably won't have it. Most models expect to the low to move onshore by Monday, which would stop any development that occurs prior. A few heavy thunderstorms are expected on the north side of the low in the central Gulf.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 054650-1788004064974.png">El Niño has been smothering tropical waves in the Atlantic this summer, with four named storms to date but only 12% of average cyclone energy! This doesn't mean the rest of the season will be just as quiet, however, as 66% of all hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs between August 20th and October 10th. The climatological peak of Atlantic Hurricane Season is September 10.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 090839-1787843332378.png">

NHC Monitoring Two Areas in the Atlantic

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It has been an active summer for portions of the Northern Plains, with several rounds of severe weather even during the last week. Another low will spur additional severe weather threats this weekend into Monday. Damaging winds and large hail will be the biggest threats. The tornado threat will be isolated, but possible. Daytime heating will provide instability, with afternoons and evenings offering the best chance of severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/FD-1787965655416.png">Some storms may hold together into the overnight hours, but expect more rounds of severe weather to develop on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-29 06-52-10-1788007985498.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Most will see around a quarter of an inch or less of rain, but there will be localized heavier rainfall in the storms that develop over the next few days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 065017-1788007844665.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 065023-1788007836844.png">For the latest updates on these storms, make sure to tune into the central regional forecast:30 past the hour.

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

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Brittany Lockley

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The Pacific hurricane season is showing no signs of slowing down as multiple tropical systems churn across the basin, with warm ocean temperatures and a strengthening El Niño helping create favorable conditions for development.Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell are among the latest systems to form over the open Pacific. Both storms are forecast to strengthen as they remain over warm water and could reach hurricane intensity this weekend.Karina is moving northwest across the Eastern Pacific and is expected to continue strengthening while remaining over the open ocean. The storm is not currently expected to pose a direct threat to land.Farther west, Lowell is also forecast to intensify. The system is expected to make several changes in direction before eventually tracking westward this weekend. Lowell could become a hurricane by Saturday night<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 061110-1788005511690.png">While Lowell remains far southeast of Hawaii, its longer-range track will be monitored closely. Some forecast guidance suggests the system could eventually move into the Central Pacific, potentially bringing indirect impacts to Hawaii. However, there remains considerable uncertainty in the forecast at that range.The active pattern may not end with the current systems. There is also another area southwest of Mexico where an area of low pressure could develop this weekend. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions are expected to become favorable for additional organization, giving the disturbance a high chance of tropical development over the next several days.Another disturbance south of Hawaii is also being watched, although its chances of development are currently much lower.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 061216-1788005564238.png">El Niño Helping Fuel Pacific Activity<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 063244-1788006785219.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Niño continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific.El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures across portions of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Those unusually warm waters can influence weather patterns around the globe while also creating an environment that can favor tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-29 063337-1788006834640.png">This year’s El Niño has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.While the Pacific remains crowded with tropical systems, many of the current storms are expected to remain over open water. Still, with several additional areas being monitored, the active stretch of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season is far from over.Click here for more on what is happening in the Atlantic Basin:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/atlantic-tropics-watching-several-areas-strong-tropical-wave-next-week"> Atlantic Tropics.</a>

Pacific Tropics Active as El Niño Fuels Two Tropical Storms

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Taban Sharifi grew up in Southern California between Los Angeles and San Diego. She is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) with the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She has a B.S. in Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Go Bruins! While in school, Taban was a meteorology intern with NBC LA. There she helped forecast daily weather for the greater Los Angeles region and created a playbook to deploy weather sensors for NBC owned-and-operated stations across the country. Her first on-air job took her to San Angelo, Texas, where she was a morning meteorologist and co-anchor. Working in West Texas gave her knowledge and experience covering severe storms. From there, she moved to Palm Springs, California. People think forecasting in California is sunshine all the time, but with temperatures in the 120’s, wildfires, damaging winds, floodings, and earthquakes, the forecasting kept her very busy! She also worked there as a general assignment reporter and told community stories. Taban is excited for the challenge and opportunity to forecast nationally with WeatherNation. She also looks forward to exploring all that Colorado has to offer!

Taban Sharifi

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During El Nino, temperatures across the Eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer, or above normal. For the hurricane season, this means an increase in tropical activity across the Eastern Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 160007-1787781615977.png">These warmer sea surface temperatures also mean an increase in shark activity for Southern California beaches. Meteorologist Taban Sharifi spoke to Dr. Christopher Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach on how El Nino brings changes to marine life along the coast.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1FcXy4BQcgA" start="0"></iframe></div>As the waters continue to warm through the Fall, Dr. Lowe talked about the changing species that will be seen across the Southern California waters that are not typically there. This includes hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and even manta rays. This also includes white sharks. The water farther south will get too warm for the white sharks, that are normally off the Baha of California, and they will begin to push north. Dr. Lowe said, "It's going to push those juvenile white sharks that are normally in Mexico into Southern California waters." This is something they have already started to see happen during July and August of this year, and the numbers of these sharks are increasing. Dr. Lowe said the sharks could reach as far north as Santa Cruz, CA.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 155905-1787784580682.png">There's a sweet spot for water temperatures for these sharks that sits between 64°-72°. Above 82° is when sharks begin to move north. Currently, water temperatures in the Eastern Pacific are significantly warmer than that 82° threshold.A message to beach goers: "Believe it or not, having all those white sharks off that beach might actually keep people safer. Because they are eating sting rays, there are fewer sting rays that might hurt people," said Dr. Lowe.Watch the full interview for more on how close these sharks get to the coastline and how scientists track their behavior.

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

Pacific Tropics Active as El Niño Fuels Two Tropical Storms

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

Stormy, Cooler Conditions Return to the West

NHC Monitoring Two Areas in the Atlantic

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

Pacific Tropics Active as El Niño Fuels Two Tropical Storms

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

Stormy, Cooler Conditions Return to the West

NHC Monitoring Two Areas in the Atlantic

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

Pacific Tropics Active as El Niño Fuels Two Tropical Storms

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches