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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There is a threat for heavy rain and heavy snow for California this week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 082250-1767108264481.png">Models indicate over a foot of snow for the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with several inches of rainfall possible for Southern California. Just one week ago, Southern California saw major flooding. These areas will be more susceptible for additional flooding with the recently saturated soils.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 082308-1767108294236.png">Burn scar areas and communities should be on alert for this heavy rainfall on the way. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has isolated to scattered threats for flooding already in place for Southern California, with isolated flooding possible in Northern California. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 082405-1767108370819.png">Below is the latest on the timeline of rainfall moving into the region. Rain looks widespread for New Year's Eve morning with several rounds through New Year's Day soaking Southern California. By Friday, another round of moisture already starts to sweep through Northern California. This will also bring more snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountains into the weekend.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/1230-1767108429466.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>More details on your Western Regional Forecast can always be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Alana Cameron

Rounds of Rain & Snow Returns to California

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

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TAZEWELL COUNTY, IL - On December 28th, a strong cold front moving through the Midwest produced dangerous and damaging storms as it moved through. In Illinois, many of these thunderstorms triggered tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service from Lincoln and Chicago in the afternoon. Later in the day, additional tornado warnings were issued by the NWS in Northern Indiana, Paducah, and Louisville, Kentucky. At least two tornadoes have been confirmed.One of these tornadoes was in Tazewell County, Illinois. Here is some of the damage that was captured on camera in the area.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2005655047665770791" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2005655047665770791"></div>The National Weather Service has confirmed this to be an EF-1 tornado with maximum winds of 98 mph, leaving behind damage to two outbuildings and numerous trees.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 164352-1767051837245.png">Just down the road in Mount Zion, Illinois, an even stronger tornado was reported with winds of 120 mph, bringing it up to EF-2 in strength. The National Weather Service in Lincoln <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=PNSILX&amp;e=202512292155&amp;bbb=CCA">reports </a>that this tornado tore through it, "removed the majority of the roofs off of 8 homes and produced complete destruction of a garage that was tossed to the next block."<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 163709-1767051919355.png">This tornado was also captured on camera in Mount Zion.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2005632521158144068" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2005632521158144068"></div>After the frontal boundary moved through, temperatures dropped significantly, and some spots even saw snowfall. For more on how the weather will be in these area,s be sure to join us on WeatherNation live for more!

Kevin Schneider

Tornadoes Confirmed In Illinois From Sunday

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Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1>As we are coming off the heels of our last winter event, which brought ice and snow across portions of the Northeast, we will now see a shift to a heavy snowfall event this week. We are expecting more batches of snow to move through the Northeast, accompanied by heavy lake-effect snow. Winter weather alerts are in place through Thursday. Lake effect snow warnings are in place through Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 065311-1767102812102.jpg"><h1>TIMING</h1>Multiple lows will move through Tuesday, bringing rounds of snow across the Great Lakes and the Northeast. With each low passing, winds will be out of the West/Northwest, which will help get the lake-effect machine cranking.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/12-29_RNE BAMS OVERNIGHT-1767062842504.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>SNOW TOTALS</h1>Tonight through Friday, heavy snow will be possible, with 1 to 2 feet of snow possible, with localized amounts of 3 feet possible for Northern Central New York. Not only will there be heavy snow, but blowing snow can also impact visibility, making travel conditions hazardous.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 065348-1767102839144.jpg">Tune into WeatherNation :10 past the hour for your eastern regional forecast with the latest updates on the lake-effect snow.

More Rounds of Snow For The Northeast

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Sunday brought another day of record warmth, but things have changed after the passing of a very strong frontal boundary. This front sparked up severe storms and snow across the Midwest and northern tier of the country! The air behind this front is much colder, bringing a temperature whiplash! Some cities are 30 to 50 degrees cooler in the last 24 hours! St. Louis is 54° cooler, and Dallas, Chicago, and Little Rock are all 30°+ cooler!<h1>COLD MORNINGS</h1>Cold air was in place Monday morning, and the cold, below-average temps remain in place as we start your week. In the North Central U.S., cold air will be around Tuesday morning, with a slight rebound on Wednesday, before another blast of cold air moves in on Thursday! Minneapolis will see a morning low of 3° on Tuesday morning, and by Thursday, see a low of -2°. Chicago normally averages 22° for a morning low and will be in the teens on Tuesday and Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/volff-1767040214004.png">The Southern Plains and Midwest will run below average as well. Springfield, Illinois, will see a low of 15° on Tuesday morning, which is over 10° below average.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/CENTRAL PLAINSSS-1767040312548.png">THE SOUTHExtreme cold alerts are in place across portions of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. Morning lows will be in the low 30s and 20s, with wind chills in the teens.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/TUESDAY MORNING ERLTS-1767040407192.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/tonighss-1767040425077.png">The cold snap continues Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with areas of the Sunshine State under Cold Weather Advisories this time. The wind chill from Orlando to Port St. Lucie could get as cold as 20 for parts of the overnight hours. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-30 071612-1767104180744.jpg">Make sure you stay tuned to WeatherNation, as we track this frigid air all through the upcoming work week!

Arctic Air Blasts Central & Southern U.S.

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As we say goodbye to 2025 and ring in 2026, many parts of the country can expect active weather for this year’s ball drop. In New York City, home to the nation’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration, conditions will turn cool through the evening and overnight, with a low chance for a few light snowflakes around midnight. Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing, dropping into the 20s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 194816-1767062903296.png">Here’s an early look at the forecast: a few light snow showers may be possible on New Year’s Eve across the region, but accumulations are not expected.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-29 05-26-14-1767011194963.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Did you know the first-ever ball drop originated in New York City back in 1907? Luckily for the spectators who gathered in Times Square on December 31, 1907, the weather cooperated. The day reached a high of 44°F with a low of 35°F, milder than the current normal high of 41°F and low of 30°F for December 31. Still, as the ball dropped at midnight, spectators definitely needed their winter coats, as the 35°F temperature felt colder with 20-mph west winds.Across the rest of the country, other unique “ball drops” will be taking place, and in many spots, the weather looks chilly.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 194835-1767062938607.png"> Out west, some locations will stay relatively mild. In Boise, Idaho, spectators can enjoy the famous potato drop with temperatures around 40 degrees at midnight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 194851-1767062943288.png">In the Southeast, a giant peach drops in Atlanta, where temperatures at midnight will be in the 30s. Meanwhile, a giant conch shell drops in Key West, with much warmer temperatures in the 60s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot 2025-12-29 194843-1767062947503.png">Across the rest of the nation, some can expect a cool and rainy New Year's Eve like the southwest, and bitter cold in the northern Plains.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-29 05-28-37-1767011338082.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For a more detailed look at the days leading up to the New Year, be sure to join us on WeatherNation all week long, we’re streaming 24/7!

More Rounds of Snow For The Northeast

Arctic Air Blasts Central & Southern U.S.

Weather for the Ball Drop: What to Expect as 2026 Begins

Rounds of Rain & Snow Returns to California

Tornadoes Confirmed In Illinois From Sunday

More Rounds of Snow For The Northeast

Arctic Air Blasts Central & Southern U.S.

Weather for the Ball Drop: What to Expect as 2026 Begins

Rounds of Rain & Snow Returns to California

Tornadoes Confirmed In Illinois From Sunday

More Rounds of Snow For The Northeast

Arctic Air Blasts Central & Southern U.S.

Weather for the Ball Drop: What to Expect as 2026 Begins