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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The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Right now, Hurricane Polo is churning southwest of Mexico (above). Meanwhile, the Atlantic remains mostly quiet, as record wind shear continues to tear apart tropical waves moving off Africa. In fact, there is now a new record for the year since there has not been a hurricane formation. This is the first time in 60 years the Atlantic Basin has not seen a hurricane since the satellite era in 1966.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 190316-1790039051088.png"><h1>Atlantic Basin</h1>Tropical Storm Fay will slowly drift in the open Atlantic before turning back to the southwest and moving away from the Azores. This system won't directly affect landmasses but could send some waves to the Azores or Canary Islands in the coming days. There is a new area of low potential for tropical development.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 190457-1790039103904.png"><h1>Eastern &amp; Central Pacific Basins</h1>Several systems are being monitored in the Pacific, with some impacts to land possible this week. Odalys formed Sunday morning, too, and there is now Hurricane Polo to the south of Mexico. There are two other areas of medium and high chance for tropical development in the next week ahead.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 190550-1790039154173.png">Polo is forecast to become a Category 5 storm! Polo will rapidly intensify and will bring heavy rain and flooding along portions of Mexico's coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 190645-1790039209109.png"><h1>El Niño Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-20 071102-1789909874054.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Niño continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific. El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures across portions of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Those unusually warm waters can influence weather patterns around the globe while also creating an environment that can favor tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-16 073748-1789565873978.png">This year’s El Nino has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-12 063433-1789216512410.png">

Tropics: Tracking Hurricane Polo in the Pacific

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Originally born in Spokane, Washington,  Jackie's Dad was in the Air Force which led her to a life of travel. She has lived in Wichita, Okinawa, Japan, Baltimore, New Jersey, Indiana and South Carolina.  After graduating from Kadena High School, in Okinawa Japan, she got a full basketball scholarship to Coppin State College. On the court she was a 4-year starter and reached over 1000 points in her basketball career. She was also named Athlete of the Year for the whole university in 2002. Off the court, she earned a degree in Broadcast Production/English.

After college, she landed a job as a radio personality. Jackie went on to have a successful career for 12 years working at KXLY broadcast center. While on the radio, she decided to change career. Jackie went back to school, graduating from the Mississippi State Meteorology Broadcast Program. From snow, to tornadoes, to hurricanes, she has had experience forecasting all these events.

Jackie Brown

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<h2>WHAT TO EXPECT</h2>Record rainfall fell this weekend across the Ohio River Valley and the Mid-Atlantic. On Monday, Ohio 24-hour rainfall totals reached almost 4 inches in spots. Xenia, Ohio, saw 3.90 inches in just 24 hours. More rainfall is on the way, increasing the risk of more flooding. Because of this risk, flood watches remain in place over the next few days across OH, PA, and WV for additional rainfall.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/flooding -1790039140245.png">Storms &amp; Timing</h2>A frontal boundary will continue to linger, bringing more rain, with heavy rain embedded in some of the storms that develop. Rounds of rain will continue to develop through Wednesday. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/ovsss-1790039005145.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>RAINFALL TOTALS</h2>There will be local areas of heavy rain! Spots like West Virginia can see upwards of 4 to even 5 inches through Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 060850-1789992545581.png">For more info on your central regional forecast, tune into WeatherNation :30 past the hour every hour.

More Flooding Concerns Out East

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<h1>WHAT TO EXPECT</h1>Severe storms developed this afternoon and evening as a surface cold front combined with instability. Into the overnight hours, there remains a marginal risk for severe storms for cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Jackson. Damaging winds will be the main concern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/overnightssss-1790038493006.png">Strong to severe storms will be possible again on Tuesday across a portion of the south. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 062218-1789993347890.png"><h1>TIMING</h1>As a front continues to linger with its associated frontal boundary, more storms will continue. Things will taper off overnight, but more storms will pick up again on Tuesday afternoon.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/fhshfhsjsjsjs-1790038475770.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Our model data shows most folks seeing around a half-inch of rain or less through Tuesday morning. Raleigh will potentially see some of the heaviest rainfall, with multiple inches possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/HFHFHFSS-1790012095134.png">For more info on your eastern regional forecast, tune into WeatherNation :10 past the hour.

Severe Threat Continues In The Southeast

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Adrian Hernandez

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Looking ahead, the forecast alludes to a strengthening offshore low in the northeast late in the week. A setup we're all too familiar with. Models are showing some slight agreement on the track, but shifting a tad into late week. The European model is taking this low a little further west.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-21 10-33-27-1790001272308.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Regardless of it's track, coastal cities and states are slightly more at risk for heavy rain. Thus, a 3-7 day hazards outlook has been issued for cities along the I-95 corridor from Massachusetts down to North Carolina!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 102847-1790000953175.png">With regard to its strengthening, sea-surface temperatures that far north are still running on the warmer side.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 103639-1790001420895.png">With these kinds of setups, gusty winds are of utmost concern. We could see potential 40 mph gusts or higher along the coastline through the end of the week!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-21 10-37-34-1790001514194.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall totals are also expected to be higher along the coast as well.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-21 103932-1790001582471.png">We spoke to Eric Hoeflich, Meteorologist, NWS Mt. Holly. Here are some of the impacts we are currently expecting.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/SOT_TRT_1.00_LARGE COASTAL IMPACTS AND GIANT WAVES_NWS MT. HOLLY_ERIC HOEFLICH_BD_E092126-1790039480469.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>There's still a way to go in the forecast. Make sure to stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest!

Coastal Low Expected to Impact Northeast Late Week

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Kevin Schneider

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Severe storms and heavy rain have been targeting the Rockies since Thursday, when large hail began battering portions of Utah and Idaho. Two tornadoes were even captured on video in Utah on Friday, including the mountainside twister you see below!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/TORNADOINFRUITHEIGHTSUT-ezgif.com-video-to-gif-converter-1789822080945.gif"><h1></h1><h1>Severe Storms &amp; Timing</h1>Overnight, we have a severe threat in place for portions of CO, KS and OK. Storms fired up today, bringing damaging winds and hail. Any storms that stick around into the overnight hours can see damaging winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado or two will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/sssa-1789954285946.png">A few storms will linger in the overnight hours, with some heavy rain possible embedded in the storms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/overnightss-1789954388198.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Storms Continue to Pummel the Rockies

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It's been a long, hot summer. That might be an understatement, actually, as<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202608"> the U.S. experienced it's hottest summer on record</a>! Areas like the Southwest were especially warm, but even through September the South and Southeast have been scorching! Just in time for fall, a cold front will be cutting across the country to start the week, dropping highs from the 90s to the 60s in some areas! While it won't be completely dry behind the front, many people will feel a significant cool down.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-20 073324-1789911238058.png">Unfortunately, for folks along the Gulf Coast and down into Florida, this front won't be strong enough to reach that far south, but for areas like Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Virginia, this will usher in a major change!Highs will drop 20-30 degrees in many areas from Sunday through Tuesday, including Oklahoma City and Washington D.C.!<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-20 073414-1789911266216.png">Autumnal Equinox</h1>Fall begins on Tuesday, at 8:04 pm ET, which is the exact time the suns rays cross over the equator the southern hemisphere begins to lean more toward the sun.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 093856-1789832359623.png">Both the vernal and autumnal equinox (Latin for equal night) marks the point of the year when the earth gets hit equally by the sun in both hemispheres. This is different from the winter and summer solstice, when the hemispheres reach their point of maximum inclination toward the sun.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 093913-1789832367580.png">

Finally Cooling Down; Cold Front Arrives Just in Time for Fall

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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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The second largest reservoir in the United States now sits at its lowest level on record, following a dismal year for snowfall in the Central Rockies. Images released by NASA (top of page) show the contrast with 2017, which saw heavy snow during the preceding winter and thus, plentiful runoff during the spring and summer. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131721-1789759308683.png">Downstream, Lake Mead and the Parker Dam are both at their lowest levels at to-date over the past 30 years. Both are also fed by the struggling Colorado River. River managers have had to take action to keep water levels above the threshold necessary to generate power, including releasing extra water from upstream basins and cancelling timed releases set to help native species survive on the river.<h1>Snowpack Determines River Levels</h1>While the Southwest Monsoon has had a solid season in 2026, those hit or miss thunderstorms are only a drop in the bucket compared to the water supplied to the Colorado River from melting snow. The river is fed by numerous mountain ranges in the Central and Southern Rockies, though most of the water comes from the mountains west of the continental divide in Colorado.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131656-1789760441419.png"></h2>Snowpack in Colorado got a late surge in the Spring but was still near record lows, especially in Southwestern Colorado. Many ski resorts were forced to shut down a week to a month ahead of normal. The melt-off of the snowpack was the second earliest on record. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 134932-1789760993718.png">The deficit of precipitation is tremendous in many areas, but western Colorado stands out with the bright red colors, indicating at least 2 feet of water missing over the last year. Other mountain ranges that send runoff into the Colorado are also lagging well behind, with deficits of 1-2 feet widespread across the west. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131534-1789761117664.png"><h1>Winter Outlook</h1>The surging El Niño could offer some help in the form of heavy precipitation. Wetter than average conditions are favored across much of the west, with near normal precipitation favored for much of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Unfortunately after many years of below average precipitation, it would likely take many successive seasons to help the river return to normal. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 135826-1789761517713.png">

Lake Powell Drops to Record Low

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Minnesota has air quality concerns for the weekend. An Air Quality Alert has been issued for fine particulate matter across all of the state through midday Sunday.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued this alert due to smoke from wildfires in western Canada continuing to impact the state's air quality.

The <a href="https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&amp;stateid=24&amp;mapcenter=0&amp;tabs=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Air Quality Indices</a> (AQIs) will range from 101 to 150, which is a range where the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups of people - people with lung or heart disease, older adults and children that are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air. These groups should limit their prolonged exertion, especially if outdoors or near a source of pollution.

<img class="wp-image-95266 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/08/AQI-Saturday-1.jpg" alt="Air Quality Concerns for Entire State of Minnesota" width="525" height="400" /> Source: AirNow.Gov

The forecast late Saturday into Sunday does call for improving air quality as wind speeds up and turns southwesterly, helping to clear the smoke out of the region.

For WeatherNation, I am Meteorologist <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/marcus-walter/">Marcus Walter</a>.

&nbsp;

Air Quality Concerns for Entire State of Minnesota

Tropics: Tracking Hurricane Polo in the Pacific

The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active

More Flooding Concerns Out East

WHAT TO EXPECTRecord rainfall fell this weeke

Severe Threat Continues In The Southeast

WHAT TO EXPECTSevere storms developed this af

Coastal Low Expected to Impact Northeast Late Week

Looking ahead, the forecast alludes to a stre

Storms Continue to Pummel the Rockies

Severe storms and heavy rain have been target

Finally Cooling Down; Cold Front Arrives Just in Time for Fall

It's been a long, hot summer. That might be a

Lake Powell Drops to Record Low

The second largest reservoir in the United St