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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After a quiet weekend, the next upper level low pressure moves in from Alaska. With the close proximity of the low just hanging off the coast, rain and snow chance will be increasing for Southern Oregon and Northern California!Heavy rain will be possible for Northern California especially Monday and Tuesday where a few inches will possible. As colder air drops for the Sierra, some snow chances will be possible too. Again this is good news as drought has returned to the state following the historic heatwave in March. As the low moves eastward midweek, more moisture should increase across the Rocky Mountain states. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-19 112757-1776619696116.png">Winter Storm Watches have been issued for portions of the Sierra Nevada for Monday through Wednesday. Generally 4019 inches above 6500 feet will be likely but up to 12-18 inches along the highest mountain peaks is likely. Down at the lake level 1-4" of snow is possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-19 112504-1776619686508.png">Showers will begin today, but the bigger push of moisture moves in Monday through Wednesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/0419-1776609850209.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There is also an isolated threat for heavy rainfall across Northern California, the Bay Area, all the way down through Santa Barbara for Monday and Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-19 112850-1776619737293.png">More on this forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Alana Cameron

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

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Kevin Schneider

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While the severe thunderstorm risk ends with the latest system pushing off the Atlantic Coast, another potent upper trough will move into the middle states by the middle of next week. The Storm Prediction Center is already highlighting an area of potential severe weather on Thursday and Friday, from the Central Plains to the Lower Mississippi River Valley.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 192833-1776562725783.png">This upper-level low will bring strong winds aloft, enhancing shear for any storms that are able to form in the environment. This turning of the winds as you go up in the atmosphere will help organize those storms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 192901-1776562838690.png">Meanwhile, at the surface, heat and humidity will build during the afternoons, creating an unstable atmosphere. Storms that form will strengthen quickly!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/nextweeksevere-1776562942155.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Long-range, less resolute models fire thunderstorms each afternoon, beginning Wednesday. With more rounds of rain moving over similar locations, flooding will need to be monitored as a potential threat. The WPC 3-7 Day Outlook has highlighted the threat of heavy rain from the Central Plains to the Gulf Coast from Thursday to Saturday, respectively.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 193001-1776563093281.png">

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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Tornadoes, hail, wind, and rain slammed the Midwest and Great Plains on Friday as a powerful storm system moved into the region. The same storm system was producing snow in Colorado while tornado warnings were being issued hundreds of miles to the east. Unfortunately, tornadoes hit some residential areas causing damage to homes in several states and injuring at least one person in Iowa. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported thus far. We'll post summaries of the tornadoes, including their ratings, as that information comes in over the next few days. Head to the bottom of the page for radar loops from Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562751431.png"> <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051753-1776512252193.png">Over one hundred tornado warnings were issued with 25 reports of tornadoes either being spotted or causing damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051244-1776512264052.png">Many more severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings were issued on Friday, with many warnings confirmed by reports (below).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051758-1776512271813.png">Hail topped 3 inches in diameter (bigger than baseballs) in both the Midwest and Plains on Friday, with many significant hail reports (over 2 inches).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051925-1776512279734.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051918-1776514705456.png">Hurricane force wind gusts also verified on Friday, with at least 5 reported over hurricane strength in the Midwest. Squall lines formed late in the day to produce large bowing segments.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-18 051932-1776512279733.png">Radar Review</h1>Radar imagery from Friday was impressive, with many discrete supercells forming before the storms became more linear late in the evening. Many warnings were issued for storms, including confirmed tornado warnings (pink instead of red).<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-04-23-1776516944009.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-12-44-1776516960303.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/2026-04-18 03-13-20-1776516972432.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Tracey Anthony

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

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High pressure has been dominant on the East Coast this week, setting numerous records throughout the last week. Following Saturday's record highs, temperatures are expected to drop for Sunday and Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562247764.png">The temperatures will be cooling off for a few days before going right back up by midweek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562405685.png"><h3>Fire Danger</h3>Despite the cooler temperatures, fire danger will be present for Sunday and Monday with the strong winds and low humidity values.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562504453.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776562544985.png">

Jesse Kelley

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

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Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

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COLORADO - An estimated 70+ car pileup happened on Colorado's I-70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel earlier on Tuesday, April 14th. Light snow was being reported throughout the day. I-70 was closed well into Tuesday evening, but has since been reopened.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044230476697674132" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044230476697674132"></div>A frontal boundary is moving across the Northern Rockies. As a result, widespread winter weather alerts are in place for higher elevations across the Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 3-1776437893436.jpg">This system is expected to reach Utah by tonight and much of Colorado by Friday. This next round of snow for Colorado looks to bring snow levels lower, down to the I-25 corridor.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/FORECAST-1776437807033.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals will vary by elevation, but mountainous areas could pick up a foot of snow.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/PIC 2-1776437841942.jpg">The air will feel much cooler over the next few days. Numerous areas are under frost and freeze alerts.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368815559.png">In true Colorado fashion, Denver's nighttime lows will drop into the 20s and 30s after a mild start on Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/1-1776368844993.png">More details on this forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week

Active Week Ahead for the West Coast

Severe Thunderstorms Ramp Back Up This Week

Tornado Outbreak Hits the Midwest & Great Plains on Friday

Last Day of East Coast Record Heat, Big Cool Down on the Way

Colorado I-70 Pileup on Tuesday, More Snow Late Week