Brittany Lockley

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A stormy end to the week is taking shape for parts of the eastern U.S., where rounds of thunderstorms could bring torrential rain, localized flash flooding and damaging winds, and tornadoes.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 080313-1787234712903.png">The greatest concern Thursday stretches across portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including several major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor. Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City are among the areas where periods of heavy rain could affect millions of residents and create problems for the evening commute.&nbsp;<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-20 08-00-29-1787234474474.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>A cold front moving east will provide the trigger for showers and thunderstorms throughout the day. With plenty of moisture available, some storms will be capable of producing a large amount of rain in a short period of time.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 080419-1787234676441.png">Urban communities will be particularly vulnerable. Heavy downpours can quickly overwhelm storm drains, leaving streets, underpasses, and other low-lying areas flooded. Areas that experience multiple storms could see the flooding risk increase as the ground becomes increasingly saturated.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 080144-1787234532487.png">&nbsp;Severe thunderstorms are another concern as the front approaches. Portions of the Mid-Atlantic could experience storms capable of producing strong to damaging wind gusts. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 080231-1787234564809.png">The unsettled weather will gradually shift south as the week comes to an end. By Friday, the focus for heavier rainfall and thunderstorms is expected to extend from parts of Virginia and North Carolina toward the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of South Carolina.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 080332-1787234624798.png">The front could linger near the East Coast rather than quickly clearing the region, allowing additional showers and storms to develop into the start of the weekend. Several inches of rain could accumulate in some locations, especially where thunderstorms repeatedly track over the same areas.&nbsp;Anyone traveling through the affected region should keep an eye on changing weather conditions and be prepared for slower travel. Visibility can drop quickly beneath the heaviest downpours, and flooded roads can become dangerous within minutes.&nbsp;If a roadway is covered by water, drivers should turn around and find another route. The depth of floodwater can be difficult to determine, and even relatively shallow moving water can create hazardous conditions for vehicles.&nbsp;

Heavy Rain and Strong Storms Could Disrupt Travel Across the East Coast

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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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A ridge of high pressure has dominated the southern U.S., with multiple records being broken daily. Miami, Florida, saw a record high of 100° on Tuesday, tying the previous record of 100° set in 1942. This is only the second time Miami has reached this temperature since records began in 1895! More records were broken on Wednesday. The heat alerts will remain in place across the south through Friday<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071529-1787231741460.png">Feels-like temperatures remain dangerously hot across the central and southern United States. Many areas will feel like 110-115 in the afternoon. Charleston will have a high of 94 on Thursday, but a feels-like temperature of 112°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 184642-1787186812650.png">Many cities across the South will be challenged in their attempts to break records, as this high-pressure system dominates.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 120518-1787164742476.png">Heat alerts are in place across the Southwest too. This includes Las Vegas, Phoenix, and parts of California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071601-1787231776550.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 163300-1787178785662.png">

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

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Lala did not make a direct landfall on the Hawaiian Islands but it did still bring significant impacts. Rainbow Falls in Hawaii saw a large surge of water compared to what it typically looks like (above).The Hawaii Department of Transportation reported that parts of Highway 11 on the Big Island were shut down due to flooding. More than 130,000 customers lost power Saturday at the height of the storm. As the storm moves west-northwest, expect conditions to slowly improve as the blustery showers back off. WeatherNation's field correspondent, Jonathan Petramala, was there bringing the views on the ground.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2088807962383143316" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2088807962383143316"></div>Totals for rainfall exceeded 30+ for many locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-17 101407-1786983268612.jpg"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2089171101914223009" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2089171101914223009"></div>Lala briefly strengthened to a category 4 hurricane. It is not expected to bring any additional impacts to land as it continues to move over open Pacific waters.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071257-1787231592742.png">There is another area to monitor for the Hawaiian Islands. A high chance of tropical development is being monitored and looks to take a similar trajectory to Lala. This could bring additional heavy rainfall, high surf, and strong winds to the Islands.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071348-1787231654146.png">The GFS model keeps the new potential system just south of the Islands through this weekend. Other models do show the potential for this system to get closer to the Islands. There is still some uncertainty, but it is something worth keeping an eye on. The name to listen for if this becomes the next tropical system in the Eastern Pacific is Iselle.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/08192-1787178437506.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Severe weather outlooks remain possible in the forecast through the end of the week. On Thursday, there are also two slight risks for severe weather, one across the Atlantic Coast as the first front moves east, and the other across the northern Plains as our next front moves in.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 184912-1787186966236.png">Significant hailstones will be possible for portions of Nebraska on Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 143955-1787172019391.png">Storms stick around through Friday across the Plains and the Southeast. There is a slight risk of severe weather in Nebraska.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 184917-1787186982025.png">Watch for areas of isolated to scattered flooding over the next few days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/nat wpcx-1787187022208.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For more on your top weather headlines, watch WeatherNation live on-air or online!

Jackie Brown

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

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As we get through the work week, high pressure returns westward to the Desert Southwest. Extreme Heat Warnings (in pink) have been issued for cities including Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Yuma. Heat Advisories (in orange) have been issued across the Valley of California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071601-1787231840394.png">We started the week with plenty of triple digits across the Southwest, and the heat will continue through the end of this week. Temperatures will run a tad above average for folks across an already hot Southwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 163300-1787178803819.png"><h2>Storm Threat</h2>With a high-pressure system sliding in, we'll manage to pick up some moisture, increasing the heat index and the chance for some storms in Arizona on Thursday afternoon. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 071739-1787231880367.png">For more on this be sure to join us :50 past the hour for your west regional forecast.

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

Heavy Rain and Strong Storms Could Disrupt Travel Across the East Coast

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

Heavy Rain and Strong Storms Could Disrupt Travel Across the East Coast

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest