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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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 2026-08-19 162427-1787178300218.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 2026-08-19 162506-1787178347970.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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A ridge of high pressure has dominated the southern U.S., with multiple records being broken daily. Miami, Florida, saw a record of 100° Tuesday, which ties 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 tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 163209-1787178735655.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 96° today but a feels-like temperature of 113°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 163227-1787178752289.png">Many cities across the South will be challenging the potential of tying to break records across the South, 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 2026-08-19 163251-1787178775514.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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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Today, there are two areas of a slight risk for severe weather in the Plains. For the mid-south, wind will be the primary concern, but isolated tornadoes will also be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 124748-1787165276249.png"> For more on the Southwest severe and heat: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/heat-returning-to-the-southwest">Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest</a>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 124723-1787165306549.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 143853-1787171937723.png">Watch for areas of isolated to scattered flooding over the next few days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/08191-1787147607763.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>For more on your top weather headlines, watch WeatherNation live on-air or online!

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 2026-08-19 120211-1787162563910.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 120219-1787162574605.png">If you thought the hot temperatures would be a short-term thing, you would be wrong! Hot temperatures are here to stay for the end of August.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-18 191736-1787102330600.png">Storm Threat</h2>With a high pressure system sliding in, we'll manage to pick up some moisture increasing the heat index but also increasing the chance for some storms in Arizona for Wednesday afternoon. The SPC has issued a SLIGHT (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 120233-1787162583032.png">There is a MARGINAL risk for severe weather in the same spots on Thursday as well. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 120238-1787162633640.png">The timing of these storms favors the afternoon hours during peak heating.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/0819-1787147139618.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>A blowing dust advisory has also been issued across portions of Arizona through tonight.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-19 074546-1787147171444.png">For more on this be sure to join us :50 past the hour for your west regional forecast.

Alana Cameron

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

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Kevin Schneider

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MIDWEST - After a week of flooding rains in the Midwest, today we enjoy a break from the relentless rainfall. However, many remain under flood watches and warnings as rivers remain swollen.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2088604118151479464" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2088604118151479464"></div>FLOOD THREATAdditional rainfall could increase the risk of flash flooding across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Appalachian region. As the front works through, some localized flooding will be possible overnight. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/OVERNSSSS-1787016460932.png"><h2>Overnight Severe Threat</h2>The Storm Prediction Center and National Weather Service have issued a severe thunderstorm watch through tonight across the Southern Appalachians. The SPC has us under a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) for severe storms through the overnight hours.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-17 193201-1787016747073.png">

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

Hawaii Cleaning Up After Lala, Another System on its Tail

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East