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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All eyes are on the Caribbean as we are now tracking the 13th named storm of the 2025 season - Melissa. In fact, we've been tracking Melissa and it's origins as a tropical wave for more than a week now and we could be watching it for another week still! In the short term, Melissa will hardly move, bringing intense rainfall to Caribbean, especially between Puerto Rico and Jamaica, with over a foot off rain possible for Hispaniola (Haiti &amp; the DR).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761362045128.png">Melissa's lack of movement is due to its position between two ridges of high pressure in the mid-levels, while in the upper-levels, a trough is still keeping shear high to limit short-term development.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761362115187.png">In addition to shear, Melissa is battling some dry air, two factors that often limit tropical development. These factors are expected to lessen in the next few days and Melissa is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane as it sits over the warm waters of the Caribbean this weekend into next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761362164727.png">The latest forecast cone from the National Hurricane Center illustrates the chaos, showing little forward movement over the next few days. Forecast models are starting to come into better agreement about an eventual turn to the north through the Greater Antilles into the eastern Bahamas, likely after a slow drift to the west near Jamaica.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1761362368425.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Hurricane watches and warnings (in pink and red) and tropical storm warnings have been issued for Jamaica and Haiti. This means that hurricane and tropical storm force conditions are likely within the warning areas within 36 hours. The winds are expected to get quite bit stronger through the weekend into next week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761362202831.png">Sea surface temperatures remain warm across the Caribbean, providing ample fuel if the wave can find a pocket of lower shear and increased moisture.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-23 060209-1761220940859.png">As many of our recently back-loaded tropical seasons have reminded us, October is not the month to let your guard down.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-15 103336-1760546429287.png">Tune into WeatherNation for the top weather headlines for more on the tropics.

Jesse Kelley

Melissa Meanders in the Caribbean, Expected to be a Major Hurricane

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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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As an upper-level low moves in from the west, it will be encountering growing surface instability. With stronger winds aloft and potential energy for thunderstorm development, a severe risk will be present over the next few days. A majority of the Lone Star State has been highlighted with a risk of severe thunderstorms today, with a Level 2 Slight Risk across West Texas and down into the Big Bend. With upper-level winds overhead increasing shear, a tornado threat will also be present.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1png-1761362441925.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761362592864.png">A severe weather risk, along with the threat of tornadoes, will again be with us on Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 140804-1761336595098.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 140814-1761336607828.png">Below is the latest on the forecast timing for potential severe weather.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1761362663444.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates on the strong storms and potential for flooding. You can always find more details in your Central Regional Forecast :30 past the hour.

Multiple Rounds of Severe Thunderstorms Across Texas

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Dave Holder

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As a slow-moving upper-level low approaches from the west, its energy will combine with plentiful moisture, increasing chances for heavy downpours and high rainfall accumulation rates.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761361262054.png">At the surface, moisture is pooling along surface fronts and will continue to do so into the weekend. The upper low will provide plenty of lift, creating heavy rainfall due to the ample amount of deep moisture available. Flood Watches have been issued for parts of the Southern Plains through this weekend!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761361340399.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761361362853.png">The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted portions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana today and Saturday with a Level 2 Slight Risk of excessive rainfall. These outlooks will likely be tweaked in the coming days, with an upgrade not out of the question. This entire area has been unusually dry over the last few weeks. San Antonio, for example, has not recorded any rainfall so far this October. This incoming system will most certainly put an end to that! Several inches of rain will be likely and with the ground acting like concrete in some spots runoff can occur quickly!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-22 171707-1761175477939.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761361453958.png">Check back with Weather Nation for the latest information. You can always get your South-Central regional forecast every 30 past the hour.

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

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Multiple storm systems are taking aim at the West Coast into the weekend and early next week, setting the stage for flood, wind, and snow impacts. These systems are known as atmospheric rivers, efficient water transport systems that bring tropical moisture poleward to give the west coast of the U.S. a third to half of its annual precipitation during the winter season.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142332-1761337421458.png">Heavy rain and flooding are expected to be the most widespread issues over the next few days, with isolated flash flooding expected today and Saturday (below) as rainfall rates increase to over 1" per hour at times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142400-1761337446802.png">The core of the upper-level low will move onshore tomorrow, increasing wind shear and instability, leading to thunderstorms and possibly severe storms. An isolated tornado threat will also be present, mainly confined to the coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142537-1761337642418.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142543-1761337649816.png">Another system arrives Sunday morning with more rain and snow. The third system doesn't appear as gusty/strong as Saturday's low, but it will still bring some of the same impacts. Here is the latest on the timing of the heavy rain moving through.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1761361122305.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>We spoke with Chad Hecht from the Center of Western Weather and Water Extremes about what exactly Atmospheric Rivers are.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/PKG_TRT_5.33_UPCOMING ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EVENTS WITH CW3E_ALANA CAMERON_BD_E0102125-1761170244851.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The Weather Prediction Center has been forecasting rainfall totals of a couple of inches, and our in-house forecast models show the snowfall totals in the higher elevations receiving several inches to several feet of snow, too.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142933-1761337784735.png">Winter alerts have been issued across much of the Northwest, with more likely to be added in the coming days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 143241-1761337967004.png">Be sure to join us LIVE on WeatherNation for the latest forecast!

The Pacific Northwest Being Impacted by the Latest Atmospheric River

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GREAT LAKES - A large trough has been moving over the northern U.S. since early this week, bringing along with it gusty winds, scattered showers, and cooler temperatures.As the upper-level trough and surface front move over the Great Lakes, they'll continue to usher in cooler air above warmer sea surface temperatures. The contrast between the two can enhance lake-effect showers. It's not quite cold enough for lake-effect snow with this system. These off-and-on showers, which have been dragging over the Great Lakes, will begin to wind down as we head into the weekend.With cold temperatures also being ushered in, temperatures tonight will drop into the 30s and 40s from the Great Lakes down to the Carolinas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 141852-1761337221612.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 142002-1761337234549.png">As a result, Frost Advisories and Freeze Warnings have been issued again for Saturday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 141435-1761337300431.png">For more details on what the forecast looks like once this low moves out, be sure to join us LIVE on WeatherNation, which streams 24/7.

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

The Pacific Northwest Being Impacted by the Latest Atmospheric River

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

Melissa Meanders in the Caribbean, Expected to be a Major Hurricane

Multiple Rounds of Severe Thunderstorms Across Texas

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

The Pacific Northwest Being Impacted by the Latest Atmospheric River

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

Melissa Meanders in the Caribbean, Expected to be a Major Hurricane

Multiple Rounds of Severe Thunderstorms Across Texas

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

The Pacific Northwest Being Impacted by the Latest Atmospheric River

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air