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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The Aspen Acres fire burning in Southern Colorado, near Pueblo, is over 28,000 acres with no containment. Evacuations remain in place as the fire is still expected to grow due to strong winds. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2071956924137136402" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2071956924137136402?s=20"></div>Numerous additional wildfires continue to burn across Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, scorching tens of thousands of acres.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1782933780957.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2071685133040816622" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2071685133040816622"></div>These fires are also sending smoke and hazardous air quality through the four corners. Air quality alerts are in effect across a large portion of Colorado, including Denver.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 082804-1782916092423.png"><h1>Fire Outlooks</h1>A critical fire risk will continue through Wednesday and Thursday. As opposed to yesterday, the threat of dry thunderstorms is no longer. However, it's still important to avoid all activities that could spark a flame.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 044142-1782902600638.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 044150-1782902600638.png">This is especially important as we move towards the 4th of July, as it's possible to continue these fire conditions into the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043144-1782556311355.png">Residents are encouraged to stay informed, follow local evacuation orders, and do their part to help prevent the start and spread of wildfires this summer.

Jesse Kelley

Massive Fires Burn in the Four Corners

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Severe storms will be possible as we head towards the holiday weekend across the Northeast ahead of an incoming heatwave that will send heat index values into the triple digits.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/dangerous-stretch-of-heat-shaping-up-this-week">Dangerous Stretch of Heat Shaping Up This Week</a>A threat of severe weather sticks around through tonight across portions of New York and New England. New York City is now under a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk, with the main threat being strong, damaging winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 132154-1782933798409.png">Our in-house model only shows us very isolated chances for some of these storms to spark up in the New England area. Any of these storms do have that potential of forming those hailstones and gusty winds. Some more rain does return to the forecast come Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/07-01 rne bams3k-1782933865589.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>A Marginal risk for severe weather sticks around the Northeast into the end of the work week. Two more Marginal (level 1 out of 5) risks have been issued by the Storm Prediction Center taking us through Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 132453-1782933900249.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 132324-1782933883489.png">For more details on the threats and timing of these storms, tune in to WeatherNation :10 past the hour for your Eastern Regional Forecast.

Alana Cameron

Storms Spark up in the Northeast Ahead of Heatwave

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The hottest temperatures of the year are looming mid to late this week. An area of high pressure will cause the temperatures to rise underneath. Intense heat will build across the Midwest and Northeast this week as the ridge moves east. There is an Extreme Heat Risk labeled for many on Thursday as the heat intensifies (above).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-30 153240-1782855167339.png">Over 200 million people are under heat alerts this week. Not only will the air temperatures be scorching hot, breaking records, but the humidity will add to the dangers of heat illness. Dew points are expected to be in the 70s, meaning your body will have more difficulty cooling off.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1782933613975.png">We spoke with the National Weather Service in Philadelphia/Mt. Holly to get some perspective on just how unusual this heat is for the northeast.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PlvJoWIawEw" start="0"></iframe></div>There are 60+ possible records on Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 083358-1782916444329.png">Heat indices will hit the triple digits for a majority of the Midwest and Northeast beginning Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 083453-1782916510250.png">The heat builds more out east by Thursday. This will be where the majority of our records will fall across the Northeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 083458-1782916504734.png">Heat waves become deadly when they are extended in duration, and complicated by overnight lows struggling to cool off enough. Be sure to mix in plenty of water, even with a holiday weekend coming up. Know the signs to look out for in friends and family.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 043943-1782556806519.png">

Dangerous Stretch of Heat Leads Us to the 4th

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Winds hit 85 mph in Nebraska in the last 24 hours, but on Monday morning, a storm brought significant winds across a few cities in South Dakota. Some winds clocked in at over 130 mph. Keep in mind an EF-3 tornado begins with winds at 136 mph. These wind gusts were the strongest recorded in South Dakota state history.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-30 055833-1782820730289.png"></h1>On Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center keeps an enhanced risk of severe storms around for the Plains through Wisconsin.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 131219-1782933174188.png">Tornadoes, significant winds, and significant hailstones remain possible through Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 131304-1782933194770.png">The threat for severe weather carries on through Thursday. A Marginal to Slight risk is in effect from the Dakotas through Michigan. Significant storms will also be likely. Watch for updates in the forecast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 131330-1782933217896.png">Additional storms remain in the forecast through Friday. It remains an active week ahead for strong and severe storms across the Plains through the Upper Midwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-01 131403-1782933251013.png">For more on the forecast and timing, tune in to WeatherNation!

Dave Holder

Severe Storms Keep Northern U.S. Active

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Kevin Schneider

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Early in the season, we watch closer to the coasts here at home for development in the Hurricane Season. Until the waves coming off the coast of Africa start to fly and quit losing the battle to Saharan Dust, old fronts are the leading source of development.Currently, a frontal boundary moving through the southeastern U.S. has prompted a marginal risk for severe weather across portions of the Southeast. Main threat will be damaging winds. Earlier this week, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring an area of potential tropical interest. That area is no longer expected to form into a tropical system. For now, the only name we have crossed off for the Atlantic season is Arthur.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-27 063531-1782563982336.jpg">The Eastern Pacific, on the other hand, does have a high chance of potential tropical development by Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot 2026-06-30 154035-1782855661730.png">

Dangerous Stretch of Heat Leads Us to the 4th

Severe Storms Keep Northern U.S. Active

Slow-Moving Front No Longer Expected to Develop Tropically, Monitoring Eastern Pacific

Massive Fires Burn in the Four Corners

Storms Spark up in the Northeast Ahead of Heatwave

Dangerous Stretch of Heat Leads Us to the 4th

Severe Storms Keep Northern U.S. Active

Slow-Moving Front No Longer Expected to Develop Tropically, Monitoring Eastern Pacific

Massive Fires Burn in the Four Corners

Storms Spark up in the Northeast Ahead of Heatwave

Dangerous Stretch of Heat Leads Us to the 4th

Severe Storms Keep Northern U.S. Active

Slow-Moving Front No Longer Expected to Develop Tropically, Monitoring Eastern Pacific