Patrick Crawford has always been a huge weather buff! He grew up in Plano, Texas, and it was there that he experienced what Mother Nature was capable of doing. He would always turn on the television to see what local meteorologists were saying about the weather. That's when he realized he wanted to be a meteorologist.

Patrick graduated from Northern Illinois University (’04) with a degree in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Geography. Broadcast Meteorology has been great to him and he has been able to work in television markets all across the country. Some of his stops have included New Orleans, Green Bay and even Yuma, Arizona. He is so excited to be part of the WeatherNation team.

He has been awarded the prestigious CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) weather seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Feel free to catch up with Patrick Crawford on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistPC/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeteorologistPC">Twitter</a> pages.

Patrick Crawford

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<p>While smoke and heat have made headlines in the Midwest and Northeast this week, a cold front will usher in a big change this weekend with a chance for widespread strong and severe storms. The low pressure system brought strong storms to North Dakota on Thursday, including a tornado! As the low moves from the Great Lakes in to Canada, an extended frontal boundary will drop across the Midwest and East Coast, tapping into widespread heat and humidity. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-17 125950-1784314811034.png">The SPC has issued an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) from northeast Ohio through the Chesapeake Bay (top of page), but the lower end risk (green region) covers a massive area from Iowa to Maine to Georgia. Wind is expected to pose the greatest threat, with downed trees and powerlines expected from the stronger storms.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 064808-1784371700806.png"></p><p>Several tornadoes are possible as well, with an elevated risk from Cleveland through Philadelphia and New York City.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 064832-1784371730467.png"></p><p>By Sunday, the risk follows the front south into Virginia and the Carolinas as the front drops into the Southeast. Damaging winds will likely be the most widespread threat once again.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 064900-1784371753736.png"></p><h1>Forecast</h1><p>On Saturday, a few strong storms are possible by around midday in between the fronts before the primary bands of storms develop later in the day. A squall line is being depicted by several forecast models along the boundary, which could produce the most widespread wind damage in the storm sequence. Storms look to gradually lose energy overnight as the front continues to dig farther south. Sunday afternoon will likely see another line of strong storms develop along the front.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-18 06-49-24-1784371788899.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Rain rates will be high enough in the Northeast to create isolated to scattered flash flooding. The WPC has highlighted areas from Eastern Pennsylvania through the Cape of Massachusetts, including New York City, with the higher risk for flooding (below). As always, if you live in a flood prone area and a flash flood warning is issued, seek higher ground!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 065037-1784371853189.png"></p>

Severe Storms Target the Northeast Saturday

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Brittany Lockley

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<p style="text-align: start"><span style="color: inherit">The monsoon has returned to the southwestern United States. This shift in the overall weather pattern is allowing deeper moisture to move north from the Pacific and Gulf, setting the stage for a daily chance of showers and thunderstorms across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, southern Utah, southern Colorado, and Nevada.</span></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2076713264898363668" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2076713264898363668"></div><p style="text-align: start"><span style="color: inherit">The North American monsoon is a seasonal wind shift that occurs each summer, transporting moisture from the eastern Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California into the Desert Southwest. As the moist air combines with intense daytime heating and mountainous terrain, thunderstorms become much more common during the afternoon and evening hours.</span></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-18 06-44-59-1784371520163.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p style="text-align: start"><span style="color: inherit">This surge of monsoonal moisture is expected to increase storm coverage through the coming days. While many of these storms will produce beneficial rainfall for areas experiencing drought, they will also be capable of dropping heavy rain over a short period of time. Because the Southwest’s dry soils do not absorb water efficiently, runoff can develop quickly, creating a heightened risk of flash flooding in washes, slot canyons, and other low-lying locations.</span></p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 064529-1784371545620.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><span style="color: inherit">Recently burned areas will be particularly susceptible to flooding and debris flows. Vegetation lost to wildfires leaves hillsides unable to absorb rainfall, allowing water, mud, and rocks to move rapidly downhill during intense thunderstorms. There are </span><strong><span style="color: inherit">Marginal and Slight </span></strong><span style="color: inherit">risks for excessive rainfall and flooding over currently burning fires across Utah and Colorado.</span></p><p style="text-align: start"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-18 064602-1784371573253.png"></p><p style="text-align: start"><span style="color: inherit">As the monsoon continues to strengthen through July, residents and visitors across the Southwest should be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions each afternoon. Even short-lived storms can produce dangerous flash flooding, making it important to avoid flooded roadways and never enter fast-moving water.</span></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/2026-07-18 06-46-23-1784371609276.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Monsoon Moisture Brings Weekend Flood Threat

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>In the Atlantic basin, we are keeping a very close eye on the Eastern Gulf. While in the Pacific, Elida continues to churn amongst two other areas with potential to develop.</p><h1>Atlantic</h1><p>A stalled front will meet a decaying TUTT (Tropical Upper-Tropospheric Trough) Low, with the potential for a surface based low to form on either side of Florida. Development of the system is possible, but it will depend on where the low forms. Some heavy rain is expected in the area regardless of tropical development.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-17 065646-1784293017738.png"></p><p></p><p></p><h1>Pacific</h1><h2>ELIDA</h2><p>Cross another name off the list in the Pacific, we've got Elida! It earned a name early Wednesday morning as the area of low pressure finally closed off.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-17 065742-1784293071862.png"></p><p>Elida isn't expected to impact land, but Elida will be stay at tropical storm strength over the next few days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784339374101.png"></p><p></p><p>There are now two areas to monitor in the Pacific Ocean, down from four earlier this week. One looks like it will form sometime early next week, in the footsteps of Elida. Secondly, NHC has highlighted another region that will probably follow the same paths of the high region and Elida.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784339491033.png"></p><p></p>

Jesse Kelley

Watching the Gulf for Tropical Development

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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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<p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-17 054825-1784288912878.png">Wildfires burning in Northwestern Ontario, Canada and northern Minnesota will send rounds of dense smoke into the U.S. into the weekend. Forecast models continue to show thick, dense smoke lingering in the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic. Air quality has improved slightly compared to Thursday.  Keep scrolling to see how you can stay safe!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/BARON 5-1784339778577.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p><strong>The forecast shows some improvement this weekend but areas of intensely thick smoke and hazardous air quality are still expected. Very unhealthy to unhealthy</strong> air quality has been noted into the U.S. as upper level winds have steered this dense smoke into the U.S.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784339836258.png"></p><p>Elevated ozone levels and smoke have prompted <strong>Air Quality</strong> alerts across the Great Lakes and the Northeast. The air quality will continue to deteriorate as smoke moves into the area.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-16 063600-1784205373322.png"></p><h1><strong><span style="color: black">How Smoke from Wildfires Can Impact Breathing</span></strong></h1><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIU_Kz5gPzI" start="0"></iframe></div><p>“We know that air pollution in general can really trigger a number of health issues, including simple things that we think about like asthma or COPD, but they can actually also trigger cardiovascular events. And smoke from wildfires is no exception,” said Samuel Gurevich, MD, pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic. “They actually put into the air a lot of what we call particulate matter, which are these very, very fine particles of dust and other organic matter that then can easily be breathed in and can irritate the airways or even be absorbed into the bloodstream.”</p><p>Dr. Gurevich said other groups that could be affected by the wildfire smoke include children with hard to control asthma, women who are pregnant, and people with pre-existing heart conditions.</p><p>So, what can they do to help stay safe? He recommends checking the air quality for your city before going out for the day. That information can be found online or within many weather apps. If the air quality is bad, it’s best to stay inside.</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/42cqyxmedcE" start="0"></iframe></div><p>“Make sure your windows are closed and your air conditioning is on. HEPA filters do a reasonably good job, as well, if you have access to that. Those are all those things you should be prepared with. And if you do already have a diagnosis of a respiratory illness like asthma, COPD, or emphysema, have a rescue plan in place,” he said.</p><p>Dr. Gurevich said if you do have to go outside, try to make it as quick as possible. You could also wear an N95 mask. Anyone experiencing shortness of breath or worsening symptoms should seek medical attention right away.&nbsp;</p><p></p>

Thick Wildfire Smoke Continues to Pour Across the Great Lakes, East Coast

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<p><strong>TEXAS HILL COUNTRY - </strong>Life-threatening flooding has been hitting portions of the Edwards Plateau and Texas Hill Country the last several days, amounting to rainfall totals around 2 feet for the region.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2077800429061320714" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2077800429061320714"></div><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784327638898.png"></p><p>The result of this flooding has caused rivers to crest at major flood stage, including the Cibolo Creek in Boerne on Wednesday, which reached a record crest at 22.63 feet. The previous highest was 19.83 feet in May 2015. <br><br>Thursday morning saw a huge jump on the Guadalupe River at Comfort, the same gauge that jumped over 30 feet in an hour on July 4th, 2025. It crested higher in 2026 than in 2025, reaching 37.08', as flash flood emergencies were issued again for Kerrville and the Guadalupe.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot 2026-07-16 114810-1784224123095.png"><br><br></p><h2>What's causing all the rain?</h2><p>A moisture-rich weather pattern has brought multiple rounds of thunderstorms over many of the same locations. The unsettled pattern has been fueled by a persistent flow of tropical moisture from the Gulf, combined with weak steering currents in the atmosphere. Because winds aloft are relatively light, thunderstorms will move slowly and may repeatedly track over the same areas. This process, <em>known as training</em>, can produce excessive rainfall totals in a short period of time and quickly overwhelm creeks, rivers, and drainage systems.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6rhkLNupAVQ" start="0"></iframe></div><h3>Who is most vulnerable?</h3><p>Some of the greatest concerns remain focused on the Texas Hill Country, where steep terrain and fast-responding waterways make the region especially susceptible to flash flooding. Even a few hours of intense rainfall can cause water levels to rise rapidly, creating dangerous conditions for motorists and residents near streams and low-water crossings. Locations that have already received recent rainfall will be more vulnerable because saturated soils have a reduced ability to absorb additional water.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><h2>Forecast, Alerts, and Outlooks</h2><p><strong>Flood Watches</strong> will expire this evening across Texas. However, scattered storms are in the forecast for tonight and for Saturday. Thankfully, the flood risk will decrease for the weekend. However, the grounds in Texas are so saturated and it will not take much from pop shower or storm to cause some flooding issues even if it is minor. It is important to remember TURN AROUND AND DON'T DROWN.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784327892697.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784327916378.png"></p><p>As the flooding threat is ending, the heat is expected to ramp up heading into next week. Something to keep in mind as residents continue to clean up after the catastrophic flooding. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/07/1-1784328009272.png"></p><p></p><p>For more info on this forecast, you can tune into the Central Regional Forecast at :30 past the hour.</p>

Watching the Gulf for Tropical Development

Thick Wildfire Smoke Continues to Pour Across the Great Lakes, East Coast

After Historic Flooding, Flood Risk Moves West Saturday

Severe Storms Target the Northeast Saturday

Monsoon Moisture Brings Weekend Flood Threat

Watching the Gulf for Tropical Development

Thick Wildfire Smoke Continues to Pour Across the Great Lakes, East Coast

After Historic Flooding, Flood Risk Moves West Saturday

Severe Storms Target the Northeast Saturday

Monsoon Moisture Brings Weekend Flood Threat

Watching the Gulf for Tropical Development

Thick Wildfire Smoke Continues to Pour Across the Great Lakes, East Coast

After Historic Flooding, Flood Risk Moves West Saturday