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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<h1>TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO-C</h1>Just days after Hurricane Lala impacted Hawaii, another system has formed in the Central Pacific. Tropical Depression Two-C is currently about 900 miles east southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. It is gaining in organization as it heads west northwest. A ridge of high pressure will continue to steer it west. It will gradually strengthen through the weekend, before likely passing south of Hawaii. Still, high surf, gusty winds and heavy rain are possible. Interests in Hawaii should watch model track trends in the coming days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 113314-1787247448045.png">Early forecasts expect the earliest arrival of tropical storm force winds Saturday afternoon into Sunday. The probabilities remain low with the track likely staying south. Heavy rainfall is a more likely threat. The Big Island could see 6"+ of rainfall. These are early forecasts, so please continue to check in for more details. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 123200-1787250807395.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 123150-1787250807397.png"><h1>HURRICANE LALA</h1>Lala did not make a direct landfall on the Hawaiian Islands but it still brought 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. It will steadily weaken in the coming days.Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.

Administrator

NEW: Tropical Depression Two-C Heading For Hawaii

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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;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;Tune into WeatherNation TV for more details.

Severe Storms and Heavy Rain Across the East Coast

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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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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 2026-08-20 082155-1787235725825.png">Significant hailstones will be possible for portions of Nebraska on Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-20 082222-1787235757534.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 2026-08-20 082310-1787235802546.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!

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.

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">

Alana Cameron

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2087625672491721115" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2087625672491721115"></div>Get ready for one of the most spectacular displays of the cosmos visible on earth - a total solar eclipse! Totality will only cover a small portion of the globe, however, while many others will see a partial solar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. There's a small "hard shadow" where the total solar eclipse occurs, where the sun is completely obscured by the moon, leaving only the outer ring, or corona, of the sun visible. The larger "soft shadow" covers a larger portion of the globe, but only a section of the sun will be obscured. Even though both are eclipses, the experience in the path of totality is completely different than in the partial zone. Totality ushers in darkness and massive changes, including temperature drops, changes in animal behavior, and more. If you have the chance to see a total solar eclipse, it is highly recommended you take advantage of the opportunity.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124538-1786128790332.png"><h1>Path of Totality</h1>People in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and an incredibly small piece of Portugal, will be able to experience totality if skies are clear enough. The eclipse will begin in the arctic circle before dropping south to cruise over the North Atlantic and eventually western Europe. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124037-1786128740977.png"> Western Iceland, including Reykjavik, will get to experience totality for a about 60 seconds in the late afternoon on Wednesday, August 12th. This will occur around 5:45 - 5:50 GMT from north to south.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-07 13-00-09-1786129629600.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some lucky folks in Spain will have nearly two minutes of totality (toward the middle of the path), while folks closer to the outside of the path will only get about 20-30 seconds of magic. The sun will be approaching the western horizon, or sunset, as totality occurs, making for a truly incredible sight. Totality begins on the northern coast around 8:26 pm local time (CEST) and will end as it moves south of Mallorca in the Mediterranean around 8:33 pm.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-07 13-00-28-1786129642319.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Partial Solar Eclipse</h1>In the United States, only a partial eclipse will be visible and only for a portion of the country. A partial eclipse will be visible in the early afternoon, peaking around 2:00 pm ET, from portions of Montana to eastern North Carolina. Only a small sliver of the sun will be obscured for many, with about a fifth of the sun obscured in northern New England, mostly in Maine. All of Alaska (expect the far western Aleutians) will experience a partial solar eclipse as well. Southern Alaska will see a quarter of the sun obscured, peaking around 8:15 - 8:30 am Alaskan Daylight Time, while northern Alaska will see about half of the sun covered by the moon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124624-1786128804207.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124629-1786131371992.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-08 103029-1786206678322.png"><h1>Next Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S.</h1>A total solar eclipse will cover portions of the United States in 2044, mostly moving through Canada, but parts of western North Dakota and Montana will get a view. In 2045, a large section of the United States will be able to experience a total solar eclipse. The path of totality runs from Northern California through Salt Lake City and Denver, before moving across the South from Little Rock to Miami, FL. It's never too early to make plans...<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-07 124638-1786131683080.png"><h2>NASA's Research:</h2>Through this eclipse, NASA will have multiple scientific experiments on-going related to the eclipse to help us better understand these celestial events. We spoke with NASA to learn more.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EyvkXNZBrYk" start="0"></iframe></div>

Tracey Anthony

What to Know About the Total Solar Eclipse on August 12th

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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

NEW: Tropical Depression Two-C Heading For Hawaii

TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO-CJust days after Hurr

Severe Storms and Heavy Rain Across the East Coast

A stormy end to the week is taking shape for

Stifling Heat Holds Steady for Southern U.S.

A ridge of high pressure has dominated the so

Severe Storms Stick Around the Country This Week

Severe weather outlooks remain possible in th

Heat, Some Humidity, and Storms Return to the Southwest

As we get through the work week, high pressur

Front That Caused Flooding Heading East

MIDWEST - After a week of flooding rains in t

What to Know About the Total Solar Eclipse on August 12th

Get ready for one of the most spectacular dis