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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On the heels of an active opening week to Meteorological Spring, another threat of severe weather will be in the cards yet again for Wednesday. With plenty of unstable air to tap into, as this system chugs East, the threat for severe weather persists. The Storm Prediction center has issued a SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk for severe weather from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.Hail is another big concern. More widespread, 1" in diameter hail is possible, but many locations could also encounter 2" in diameter hailstones Tuesday. Some portions of Texas and Illinois have already seen hailstones over 3.5", which is in between the size of a softball and teacup.RELATED ARTICLE: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/destructive-tornadoes-hail-rip-through-central-us">Destructive Tornadoes, Hail Rip Through Central U.S.</a>A SLIGHT (level 2 out of 5) risk remains in place following the cold front through tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282080141.png">During the overnight, a tornado risk remains in place especially across the Gulf Coast. Have a few ways to receive alerts to wake you up if warnings are issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282254705.png">The threat for severe weather continues Thursday morning as the squall line moves through the Carolinas and Georgia. The biggest threat will be damaging winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282360616.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/New Baron Video 3-1773282503903.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Tune in to WeatherNation live for the very latest.

Jesse Kelley

Significant Severe Weather Threatens Again Wednesday

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/we1-1773228612033.png">After the Storm Prediction Center upgraded parts of Illinois and Indiana to a Moderate (Level 4/5) Risk on Tuesday, destructive severe storms ripped through the heart of the country. A large supercell on the ground for up to 45 minutes produce a large and dangerous tornado in the town of Kankakee, IL. Our field crews were on the ground to capture it as it happened:<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2031517397438624249" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2031517397438624249"></div>This tornado, causing loads of damage in it's wake. First responders worked tirelessly, picking up debris and searching for survivors in the aftermath. Loads of footage came out of this tornado, many of them heartbreaking to see.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2031730530631434633" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2031730530631434633?s=20"></div>A highly unstable atmosphere lead to strong updrafts creating large hail with severe storms. Hail stones the size of softballs and larger were reported in Texas and Illinois.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 082436-1773239081623.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/AAA_WEB5-1773228556681.png">A hailstone from the Kankakee, IL supercell looks likely to be state records, and could challenge national records for biggest hail. The photo posted by a Kankakee resident looks to be upwards of 7-8 inches in diameter! The stone will have to be examined to determine if it breaks the record set by hail from Vivian, South Dakota from 2010 that measured 8 inches.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 115507-1773251922303.png">Severe Storms is still expected to impact millions today as this system works it's way east. Read the latest details here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/another-round-of-severe-weather-likely-next-week">Severe Threat Wednesday</a><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2031525994843214069" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2031525994843214069"></div>

Destructive Tornadoes, Hail Rip Through Central U.S.

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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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A strong ridge of high pressure building over the Western U.S. will bring warm, dry, and windy weather conditions. This will set up a strong fire weather risk for the next few days. Outdoor activities that could spark or ignite should be avoided over the next few days. Here is a look at the forecast.<h1>Fire Weather Alerts<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282944542.png"></h1><h1>FIRE OUTLOOK</h1><h3>THURSDAY</h3>The fire weather outlook for Thursday shows strong intensity. Critical outlooks have been issued for parts of Nebraska and Colorado. Also, down to New Mexico and Texas, we could see critical fire conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282977324.png">Fire weather conditions should begin to improve this weekend. It is always important to know some tips on how to prevent fires, so here are some tips.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/pic4-1773244322444.png">

Fire Weather Risk for the Plains Wednesday and Thursday

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Kevin Schneider

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The relentless weather is going to continue in the heartland this week. However, instead of severe storms, a few fast-moving systems look to stir up trouble late this week. We're going to the other end of the spectrum, with snow and winds returning. Winter alerts are now issued for parts of the Canadian border from North Dakota to the UP of Michigan.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773282797509.png"><h1>THURSDAY-FRIDAY</h1>A potent shortwave trough will dive south out of Canada fairly quickly on Thursday. That looks to fire up a windy area of low pressure, cutting into the Great Lakes by Friday. Winds will pick up throughout the day on Thursday, with some gusts approaching 70 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 092745-1773242898649.png">Winds plus snow is not a fun recipe to drive in. Expect blowing snow leading to whiteout conditions, possibly teetering on blizzard conditions.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-11 09-32-15-1773243168701.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>THIS WEEKEND</h1>Another day, another system. This one follows in the footsteps of the previous one. That will funnel EVEN MORE cold air southward.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 093339-1773243234730.png">Even more snow and winds will greet us getting into the weekend. By the time Monday rolls around, many locations could be looking at another few inches of snow on the ground!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-11 09-35-11-1773243337525.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Old Man Winter Roars in This Week

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The ridge of high pressure to the east has brought numerous records across the U.S. this week. Many more records were broken Wednesday across the northeast and the southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164420-1773269131474.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164423-1773269085076.png">Now, the attention will be out west as another ridge of high pressure builds across the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164601-1773269167515.png">Heat Advisories are in effect through Friday across portions of Southern California. There is a high risk of heat illness for most of the population on Thursday and Friday as temperatures peak 20-30 degrees above normal.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164619-1773269184398.png">Los Angeles has a shockingly warm week ahead with numerous days expected to be in the 80s and 90s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164715-1773269262807.png">Take heat related illnesses seriously and find ways to stay cool if you need to spend long periods of time outside or without air conditioning. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-11 164749-1773269274052.png">More details can be found :50 past the hour in your Western Regional Forecast.

Fire Weather Risk for the Plains Wednesday and Thursday

Old Man Winter Roars in This Week

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps From Coast to Coast

Significant Severe Weather Threatens Again Wednesday

Destructive Tornadoes, Hail Rip Through Central U.S.

Fire Weather Risk for the Plains Wednesday and Thursday

Old Man Winter Roars in This Week

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps From Coast to Coast

Significant Severe Weather Threatens Again Wednesday

Destructive Tornadoes, Hail Rip Through Central U.S.

Fire Weather Risk for the Plains Wednesday and Thursday

Old Man Winter Roars in This Week

Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps From Coast to Coast