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/2025/10/1-1761275117935.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/Screenshot 2025-10-23 055544-1761220550936.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/Screenshot 2025-10-23 052929-1761218989460.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. It is not out of the question this system could still get pulled toward the east coast of the United States, but that currently looks to be an outlier of a possibility, with less than 5% of ensemble models supporting this chance. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/2025-10-24 05-16-11-1761304592971.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Hurricane watches (in pink) and tropical storm warnings have been issued for Jamaica and Haiti. This means that hurricane or tropical storm force conditions are possible within the watch area within 48 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/Screenshot 2025-10-24 051559-1761304607950.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.

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

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Multiple storm system 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 pole-ward 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 2025-10-23 063624-1761223059228.png">Heavy rain and flooding are expected to be the most widespread issues the next few days, with isolated flash flooding expected Friday 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 055258-1761306785630.png">Three systems are lining up, with the first and weakest system moving in on Friday. Heavy rain along a cold front will move inland Friday morning, spreading to the east by the late afternoon. A stronger low-pressure system takes aim at the coast on Saturday, with stronger winds expected, colder temperatures, and heavier rain. This system will increase wind shear and instability, leading to thunderstorms and possibly severe storms. Another system arrives Sunday morning with more rain and snow. The third system doesn't appear as gusty/strong as Saturday's low, but will still bring some of the same impacts.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1761275658999.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/2025/10/1-1761275765609.png">Winter Weather Advisories have been issued for parts of the Cascades but more will be added by the weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-24 055439-1761306887231.png">Be sure to join us LIVE on WeatherNation for the latest forecast!

Another Atmospheric River Late Week

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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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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 persist for the next couple of days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/10-22 east-1761181250450.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With cold temperatures also being ushered in, temperatures will drop into the 30s and 40s across parts of the Central Plains and Mid-Atlantic. Wind chill values will have some spits flirting with the 20s overnight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-23 211812-1761275899146.png">As a result, Frost and Freeze Alerts have been issued through Friday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot20251023211630png-1761275792740.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.

Dave Holder

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

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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/Screenshot 2025-10-22 171632-1761175234819.png">At the surface, moisture will pool along a lifting warm front by the end of the week and into the weekend. The upper-low will provide plenty of lift, creating heavy rainfall with the amount of deep moisture available.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761275471975.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761275503348.png">The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted portions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana on Friday 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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-22 171707-1761175477939.png">This entire area has been unusually dry over the last few weeks. San Antonio, for example, has not measured any amount of rain so far this October! This incoming system will most certainly put an end to that!Check back with Weather Nation for the latest information. You can always get your South-Central regional forecast every 30 past the hour.

Jesse Kelley

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

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An area of low pressure in the Pacific has moved onshore today, bringing showers, a few storms, and sprinkles of high-elevation snowfall. It will continue to bring some beneficial rain and snow to parts of the southwest, including California and Colorado. A few inches of snow will be possible in the Colorado Rockies.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761274595124.png">However, it's where that system ends up by the weekend that is raising some eyebrows. As this system emerges out of the Rockies, it will be moving into notably warmer temperatures, which could be just enough to power storms into the severe threshold.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/Screenshot 2025-10-22 150040-1761166845861.png">But will this system have enough ingredients to talk about another weekend severe weather event? The Storm Prediction Center is already highlighting areas of severe weather from New Mexico from the overnight through Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761274751230.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761274773394.png">There is also a risk for isolated tornadoes in parts of Northwest Texas and southwestern Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761274801349.png">Rainfall is another big component of this system. Our in-house weather models indicate the potential for widespread 2-3" of rain. Some areas look to see 5"+ of rainfall into the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/1-1761274844043.png">Below is the latest on the forecast timing of the heavy rainfall and storms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/10/New Baron Video 3-1761274973818.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.

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

Cut-Off Low Brings Rain, Snow, & Strong Storms Late-Week

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

Another Atmospheric River Late Week

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

Cut-Off Low Brings Rain, Snow, & Strong Storms Late-Week

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

Another Atmospheric River Late Week

Great Lakes Storms, High Plains Winds, and Cooler Air

Growing Flooding Concern in Texas on Friday and Saturday

Cut-Off Low Brings Rain, Snow, & Strong Storms Late-Week