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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WEST - Get ready for a heatwave, especially if you live in the southwestern U.S. A surge of unusually warm air is spreading across large parts of the United States, bringing temperatures that feel more like late spring than early March. Temperatures will be in the 90s and 100s at times during the next seven days. Daily and all-time March records will be challenged. More records were broken in California. Indi set a new record of 104°. The heat continues this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/RECORSS-1773800468273.png">The heat is only beginning. The peak of the warmth happens mid to late week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-17 164005-1773787211749.png">Afternoon highs in several locations are expected to climb into the 90s and even 100s, shattering daily temperature records and creating a dramatic contrast from the colder conditions that typically dominate early March. In some areas, temperatures are running 20 to 30 degrees above seasonal averages, leaving residents reaching for short sleeves rather than winter coats.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/WEB 1-1773835197367.png">Heat alerts are in effect next week across portions of California and Arizona. Now is the time to get mentally ready for the upcoming heatwave, where records will be challenged. Los Angeles is under an Extreme Heat Warning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-17 124426-1773773073161.png">The all-time March record high for Downtown Los Angeles is 99 degrees. Many other locations across California, Nevada, and Arizona are expected to get dangerously close or hit their all-time records for March this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1773455828667.png">The warmth will likely persist for several days across many areas before temperatures gradually trend closer to seasonal averages as the pattern shifts again.&nbsp;The Climate Prediction Center has a high confidence that temperatures will stay above normal through the end of March.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/web4-1773742124182.png">More on your Western Regional Forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Tracey Anthony

Record Smashing Heat Builds Out West

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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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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033702354504323511" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033702354504323511"></div>It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashioned blizzard. The Upper-Midwest experienced intense blizzard conditions over the weekend and while the blizzard has cleared, additional rain and snow makers are on the way. While additional snow is in the forecast these systems are not expected to be as impactful.<h1>Timing</h1>Clipper systems with limited precipitation and impacts are expected to phase through the Great Lakes and Northeast Wednesday and Thursday. Stronger systems begin taking shape this weekend, with heavier precipitation and gusty winds. Friday into Saturday can expected heavier rain and snow in New York and New England, while the Upper-Midwest gets a new round of moderate snowfall from the trailing system.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-18 06-36-57-1773837640518.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Rain and Snow Totals</h1>I-95 and the Central Appalachians look to stay on the rainy side of these systems, but higher elevations in the Northeast, along with areas that see lake enhanced precipitation, will get some snowfall. Mountain areas could see some 6"+ totals. The Midwest will see more impactful snow by Saturday, with the potential for over 3-5 inches in northern Wisconsin. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 063536-1773837608506.png">Make sure to check in with us here on WeatherNation! We'll be covering these clipper systems all week so follow along to stay updated on the latest!

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes & Northeast Gusty, Cooler

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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!

Alana Cameron

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NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetation fire broke out with visible heat signatures detectable on satellite. As winds shifted and the fire headed south quickly, mandatory evacuations were prompted near the town of Oshkosh, NE. Since then, the fire has continued to grow, becoming the largest in state history for the state of Nebraska, named the Morrill Fire.<ul><li>Acres: 543,361</li><li>Containment: 16%</li><li>Status: Active</li><li>Counties involved: Keith, Arthur, Garden, and Morrill</li></ul>Additional fires broke out across the state on this critical fire risk day, including the Cottonwood Fire, which has now burned over 130,000 acres with 40% containment. This fire broke southeast of North Platte in Dawson, Lincoln, and Frontier counties. Evacuations were ordered last week but lifted on Saturday, March 14th.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033022876803281258" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033022876803281258"></div>The governor of Nebraska Jim Pillen issued an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/WildFiresCentralNebraska.pdf">emergency proclamation</a> to unlock state resources and support the response to multiple wildfires in central and Western Nebraska. The fires include:<ul><li>The Road 203 Fire (within the Nebraska National Forest) - 35,912 acres | 76% contained</li><li>Cottonwood Fire (near Brady and Gothenburg) - 131,259 acres | 40% contained</li><li>Morrill County Fire - 543,361 acres | 16% contained</li><li>Anderson Bridge Fire (west of Valentine) - 17,400 acres | 60% contained</li></ul><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-17 130319-1773774205657.png">Fire Outlooks and Forecast</h2>Fire weather outlooks show elevated and critical conditions in the Central Rockies into the Western Great Plains. Warm, dry, and gusty conditions are expected to persist in these areas for the next several days, making for difficult firefighting conditions.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 061652-1773836242203.png">Humidity will remain exceedingly low under the dry and hot ridge of high pressure. Flow around the high, with low pressure moving through the Midwest, will lead to gusty NW winds in the afternoons.<h3><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 061703-1773836256788.png"></h3>Fire danger will remain critical on Thursday with elevated conditions shifting from the Front Range of Colorado to southwestern Wyoming.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 061658-1773836269033.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-18 061707-1773836280230.png">Please stay aware of smoke plumes in your area and do not undertake activities where a spark or flame could start a new fire.

Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

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Kevin Schneider

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High pressure is calling the shots, once again, out west. That's going to bring searing heat to parts of California and Arizona, but it's helping do something else: soak Seattle.A stubborn area of high pressure is going to sit on top of the West Coast for the remainder of the week. That will help pump more tropical moisture up and over it, focusing it along the Pacific Northwest (above). That will bring rounds of rain, sometimes heavy, to areas surrounding Seattle. Rounds of rain will add up to multiple inches of rainfall, even into the Cascades. Flood watches cover the area until Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-17 110122-1773766902713.png">The threat of rain will be persistent, soaking many plans for the rest of the week. Notice that most of this is coming down in the liquid form, with very high snow levels. That could help melt additional snow, leading to runoff issues in some of the area creeks and streams.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/wasss-1773800758581.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Flood alerts remain in place this week across portions of the Northwest<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/floddsss-1773800825295.png">For more on your western regional forecast, tune into WeatherNation :50 past the hour.

Jackie Brown

Atmospheric River Aims at the Northwest

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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is fast approaching, and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080027-1772810872599.png">On Thursday, March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026. The peak is expected around late March into early April (between the 31st and 2nd). Still, the forecast for the peak is generally difficult to make beyond ten days, as blossoms will be impacted by weather conditions. Check back in for updates!<h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

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Our intense storm system continues to wreak havoc with severe weather in the warm sector and blizzard conditions in the cold sector, which you can read more about here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/old-man-winter-roars-in-this-week">MIDWEST SNOW STORM.</a><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033523139255435518" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033523139255435518"></div>Widespread wind damage reports spread from Texas north to Illinois and east into the Carolinas. With multiple severe/tornado watches and warnings in effect, stay up to date LIVE with WeatherNation as the threat heads to the East Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-16 072500-1773667595860.png">Some of these areas are still picking up the pieces from the last storm system that brought severe weather to Illinois and Indiana on Tuesday. Read more about those storms by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/destructive-tornadoes-hail-rip-through-central-us">clicking here</a>.The strongest winds were recorded out of Minturn, AR and Radcliff, KY with speeds of 77 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-16 160200-1773698531372.png">There were also large hailstones across the south. The largest recorded was 2.50".<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-16 160301-1773698586918.png"><h1>Through Tonight</h1>The risk for intense severe weather continues to the East Coast and increases with an enhanced risk for severe storms (Level 3 out of 5). Once again, multiple squall lines packing intense winds and a few intense tornadoes will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/sssvvv-1773708020216.png"><h1>Latest Timing</h1>The front will continue to move offshore through the overnight hours. Expect drier and colder conditions on Tuesday morning.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/jfkaaa-1773706446631.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>This forecast and the outlooks will be updated as warranted, so be sure to check back in!

East Coast Under Risk of Damaging Winds & Tornadoes

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As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Severe-Storms-Return-Sunday-Monday">severe storms are marching from the central U.S. to east Coast</a>, intense wind and extremely heavy snowfall are charging through the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. On Sunday, blizzard conditions halted traffic in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033160449479557502" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033160449479557502?s=20"></div>Blizzard Warnings are still in effect for portions of Michigan. As a reminder, a blizzard is primarily about wind! Strong winds will create low visibility as snow blows around. Very difficult travel, if not impossible travel, can be expected in these areas over the next few days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/through tue am-1773699841853.png">Snowfall totals across the Great Lakes have reached up to three feet!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/great lakes snow-1773700082803.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2033530667309597069" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2033530667309597069"></div><h1>TONIGHT </h1>Even as new snow winds down, blowing and drifting snow will remain an issue. So watch out for slick spots on the roads and pockets of limited visibility into Tuesday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/blsaa-1773706575366.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Parts of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan still have the potential for significant totals. Lake effect snow will stick around into Tuesday, adding an additional 6-12".<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/tue additional snowwwww-1773700237673.png">Arctic air will be dragged south behind this storm system with wind chills well below zero for many areas by into Tuesday! Bundle up and make sure your skin is covered to prevent frostbite. Be sure to check back for updates as we fine-tune this forecast!

Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow Slamming the Midwest & Northeast

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Karissa is the Director of On-Air Operations at WeatherNation. Karissa grew up loving math and science, but really fell in love with Meteorology while attending the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. After two summers of storm chasing in the central plains, she knew that it was the career path for her. Standing in front of a thunderstorm and feeling the cool outflow knock her over was an experience she will never forget. After two years at COD, she transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver. Karissa graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology. Her high school and college speech and meteorology professors were extremely supportive and pushed her to succeed. Before joining the WeatherNation team, she previously worked as the Morning Meteorologist at KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa and at WMBD-TV in Peoria, IL. She recently was part of a National Edward R. Murrow award winning team for breaking news for their coverage of the EF-4 tornado in Washington, Illinois. In her free time, Karissa enjoys cooking and trying new foods. She is a self proclaimed 'TV Junkie' who can get into just about any show. She is a die hard Chicago sports fan who loves attending professional sporting events.

Karissa Klos

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<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EWgkKevPiLY" start="0"></iframe></div>Would you believe there were 459 million lightning pulses in the U.S. during 2024? <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://aem.eco/">AEM</a> released its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://aem.eco/2024-united-states-lightning-report/">2024 U.S. Lightning Report</a>, showcasing a changing lightning landscape for America.Key Findings:<ul><li>The 80 million lightning flashes across the U.S. was a 17.7% decrease from the previous year.</li><li>After an particularly active severe storm season, Midwestern states recorded lightning activity more like the Southeast, including Iowa and Illinois making their way into the top ten states with the highest lightning density.</li><li>Florida retained its top position with 76 flashes per square mile, followed by Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas.</li><li>St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, led with a flash density of 266 flashes per square mile, significantly surpassing other counties nationwide.</li></ul><blockquote>"The appearance of Illinois and Iowa among the states with the highest annual flash density represents one of the most interesting shifts in lightning activity we've seen in years," said Dr. Elizabeth DiGangi, a lightning scientist at AEM. "While the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions traditionally dominate our annual rankings, 2024's data indicates another way severe weather patterns are evolving in the U.S."</blockquote>

AEM 2024 Lightning Report Shows Shifting Lightning Landscape

Record Smashing Heat Builds Out West

WEST - Get ready for a heatwave, especially i

Clippers Keep the Great Lakes & Northeast Gusty, Cooler

It wouldn't be March without a good ol' fashi

Morrill Fire - Largest in Nebraska State History

NEBRASKA - On Thursday, March 12th, a vegetat

Atmospheric River Aims at the Northwest

High pressure is calling the shots, once agai

Peak Cherry Blossom Forecast Released for 2026

Top Image Credit: National Parks ServiceSprin

East Coast Under Risk of Damaging Winds & Tornadoes

Our intense storm system continues to wreak h

Blizzard Conditions, Heavy Snow Slamming the Midwest & Northeast

As severe storms are marching from the centra