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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UPPER MIDWEST and GREAT LAKES - Three straight days of destructive severe storms moved through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Hail up to 3" in diameter caused damage between Madison and Milwaukee Tuesday evening, with multiple confirmed tornado warnings. Wednesday, additional rainfall left Milwaukee, WI under water.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 073701-1776346632507.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044202476317093912" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044202476317093912"></div><h2>Thursday</h2>The outlook shifts east and south for Thursday. As the cold front sweeps through, we'll have a MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather for most of the outlook. However, the SPC has higher confidence in northern Arkansas and central New York state's chances of severe weather. A SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather is issued for those areas, with all threats being on the table. If you are in the brown shaded area below, you have an elevated risk of seeing a tornado. Have a severe weather plan in place as you go about your day.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 073857-1776346756175.png">Timing</h1><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/new severe-1776346436272.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms in the same areas, this may lead to an isolated to scattered flooding risk across the Great Lakes region. Be prepared for flooding, especially if you still have some snow on the ground; frozen ground can take longer to absorb flood waters compared to unfrozen ground.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2044599476434907195" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2044599476434907195"></div>

Jesse Kelley

Administrator

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

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Kevin Schneider

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Record high temperatures are in the forecast for the second half of the work week, and in fact, we broke dozens of records on Wednesday across the northeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 175039-1776297071030.png">Over the next several days, multiple cities could challenge or break daily records, with temperatures running more than 20 degrees above average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 062741-1776335272812.png">Across the Southeast, temperatures will remain well above normal. Many cities are expected to approach 90 degrees today, Wednesday, and Thursday far above the typical April highs in the 70s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 062811-1776335306351.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 062843-1776335339243.png"><h3>Fire Danger</h3>With this kind of warmth, fire concerns increase. Hot, dry conditions can quickly dry out soils and vegetation, creating more fuel for fires. There is an elevated threat of fire danger. By Thursday, the elevated risk is across portions of Georgia to Virginia.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-16 062921-1776335374964.png">

Adrian Hernandez

Eastern Heat + Fire Danger

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SW PLAINS - Portions of Texas and Oklahoma are at risk of severe thunderstorms through Thursday morning. The threat for severe storms is expected to slow into the overnight hours but is still non-zero. Wind reports earlier on Wednesday gusted up to 84 mph in Elk City, Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195038-1776304346569.png">In addition to this significant hail risk, there is also a risk of tornadoes with these supercells.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 195124-1776304385162.png">The risk for flooding is fairly minimal in these areas, but models do have a few localized, heavier downpours through the next couple of days in these areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 132632-1776281196660.png">

Alana Cameron

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

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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 Pacific Northwest, spreading precipitation into the Cascade Mountains, Northern Rockies, and the Tetons. 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/Screenshot 2026-04-15 173357-1776296103780.png">The cold front will bring rain to lower elevations and snow to the Cascades as it moves inland. Moisture will then spread east into Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This system is expected to reach Utah by Thursday 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/2026/04/04-15 rnw-1776296293280.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals will vary by elevation, but mountainous areas could pick up 1-2 feet of snow through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 173403-1776296142137.png">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/Screenshot 2026-04-15 131915-1776280770436.png">Cities like Casper, WY go from 45° Thursday morning to 17° Saturday morning. Prepare for the cooler air by this weekend!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-15 131919-1776280813352.png">More details on this forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Jackie Brown

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

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<h1>Multi-Day Severe Storm Set-Up</h1>We continue to see the busy April pattern from Texas to the Great Lakes. A huge trough will swing through, bringing a severe threat risk on Tuesday and Wednesday. All severe threats will be possible, including damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Heavy rainfall will also be embedded in some storms, raising concerns about flooding. Make sure to stay with us for the latest updates and shifts in the forecast.An ENHANCED (level 3 out of 5) risk for severe weather is in place on Tuesday. The outlook even expands a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk out into the northeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-14 072908-1776173358269.jpg">Similarly, on Wednesday, we'll have another outlook where two hot spots for severe weather are highlighted. At this point, however, a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather is issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-14 063457-1776162907110.png">Daytime heating will help to spark up thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Some storms will remain strong into the evening and nighttime hours, so make sure to have multiple ways to get alerts.In addition to severe storm hazards (wind, hail, and tornadoes), heavy rainfall rates are expected to lead to flash flood potential. It doesn't appear to be a high-end flooding threat, but as the forecast draws closer, we will keep you updated!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot 2026-04-14 073108-1776173482064.jpg">For a deep dive into the north and south sides of this severe threat, visit the following articles on our website! <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/upper-midwest-and-great-lakes-enhanced-risks">North Side</a> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/dryline-driven-storms-for-texas-and-oklahoma">South Side</a>

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

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

Storm Overview: Who All Is At Risk This Week?

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

Eastern Heat + Fire Danger

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

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

Storm Overview: Who All Is At Risk This Week?

Severe Storms Leave a Mark on the Great Lakes

Eastern Heat + Fire Danger

Overnight Storms Slow for Texas and Oklahoma

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

Storm Overview: Who All Is At Risk This Week?