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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A Parade of weather waves will work on-shore for the West for the middle of the week through the weekend.Winter alerts are in effect for the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range through Thursday with Excessive Rainfall outlooks issued for Friday through Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 074131-1733928137881.png">Right now, Northern California should monitor for isolated flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 074137-1733928151683.png">The first wave moves through Wednesday night. The next wave follows closely behind. Heavy rain and snowfall will be present with these waves. This could lead to impacts in travel, especially going to the higher elevations.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/1211-1733928254439.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals increase more significantly with the second wave.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 074616-1733928385069.png">Coastal areas will see the highest rainfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 074653-1733928419830.png">More on your Western Regional Forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Active Weather Returns to the West Through the Weekend

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Winds have been whipping overnight, and a PDS Red Flag Warning continues through Wednesday in Southern California.Related Article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/particularly-dangerous-situation-developing-in-southern-california">Fire Concerns Continue in California</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 032329-1733912618932.png">These, along with the dry conditions, are leading to explosive fire growth. Last night, a spark ignited close to Malibu, quickly growing into thousands of acres burned. Evacuations are underway. There are road closures along portions of Pacific Coast Highway. Nearby shelters for those evacuating include Palisades Recreation Center and Santa Monica Unified School District. The fire is over 3,500 acres and has has started to see some containment.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 072139-1733926908543.png">The Franklin Fire started near Malibu after 10:00 PM Monday. Flames are close to Pepperdine University in Malibu, with some students seeing flames from campus! Those students at Pepperdine had been told to shelter in place.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1866437712162787812" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1866437712162787812"></div>The Pacific Coast Highway has been closed for many locations aside from those evacuating.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1866425100117151886" src="https://x.com/CaltransDist7/status/1866425100117151886"></div>

Franklin Fire Erupts Continues to Grow Near Malibu, CA

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The infamous Santa Ana winds stick around through today. With the setup expected, the NWS office in Los Angeles has issued a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION RED FLAG WARNING, the highest order of fire weather warnings.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 072746-1733927271216.png">The last time a PDS Red Flag Warning was last month before the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/fire-danger-in-california">Mountain Fire</a> burned 19k acres. Prior to that, it was 2020 when the NWS office in Los Angeles issued one.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/SOT_TRT .23_ SHORTENED VERSION OF WHAT IS A PDS FIRE WARNING_MS_E110624-1733752027892.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Elevated fire danger remains for Southern California through today.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 032559-1733912765100.png">Explosive wildfire growth will be possible with any grass fire that erupts. Do anything and everything to prevent a spark or a flame these next 3 days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-09 062926-1733750973516.jpg">

Fire Concerns Continue in California Today

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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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Heavy rain continues to the South and Southeast this week. A slow-moving cold front will combine with Gulf moisture, bringing heavy rain and flooding concerns. Rainfall got over 4.50" in Alabama on Tuesday. Heavy rain continues again for Wednesday, but it is just one element with these storms, as a severe threat will be there into the evening. Right now, the Storm Prediction Center has issue a slight risk for the North Carolina. However, a marginal risk stretches down into the state of Florida. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 072321-1733927014296.png">Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms will follow the frontal boundary through Wednesday. Rainfall amounts of up to 5 inches will be possible for the heavier totals.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/2024-12-11 07-25-45-1733927211328.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>As this system moves east we can see strong to severe storms on Wednesday. Cities like Tallahassee, Wilmington, and Charleston have the potential for damaging winds and tornadoes. The best timing for the strong storms will be in the afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070357-1733927128250.png">As the front moves eastward, the severe threat follows it, largely lining up in the Carolinas. Stay tuned to the forecast for any additional changes. Catch your East Regional Forecasts at :10 past the hour or your Central Regional Forecast at :30 past the hour, every hour.

Brittany Lockley

Severe & Flood Threat For The Southeast

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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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Winter alerts have been issued yet again off of the Great Lakes as another round of lake-effect snow is likely for the second half of the week. A series of energetic low-pressure systems at the surface navigating a digging upper-level trough with bring soggy conditions to the northeast and east coast. The cold air and strong winds on the back side of these lows will establish the lake-effect set-up through Friday.RELATED ARTICLE: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/next-system-brings-more-snow-to-the-northeast">Northeast Stays Active This Week</a>Lake effect snow happens when relatively colder air moves over the unfrozen water of lakes. The colder air picks up moisture from the lakes, making it less dense and causing it to rise. Clouds and precipitation begin to form and efficiently start producing snow. Because the Great Lakes still have water temperatures in the 40s, any lake effect events will be prolific producers (as we have seen this season).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-10 075322-1733842962777.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 071513-1733926523061.png">Cities off of Lakes Erie and Ontario will see potential for rain as the main lows move through Wednesday. Winds will shift out of the west and northwest in Michigan on Wednesday morning. Snowfall rates will pick up by the afternoon and evening. Winds will shift and temperatures will drop late Wednesday in New York state. The lake-effect machine will crank out snow all day Thursday and Friday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/2024-12-11 07-15-38-1733926577959.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Potential Snowfall Totals and Impacts</h1>In New York, the heaviest bands off of Lakes Erie and Ontario could accumulate 2-3 feet of snow. Wind gusts upwards of 40 mph will limit visibility to near zero.In Michigan, widespread totals in the lower peninsula will reach 3-8". However, where the isolated bands set up, localized areas of 12-18" of accumulation are likely. In the upper peninsula, Winter Storm Warnings are in place for 4-14". Gusts here will also reach 40+ mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 071850-1733926743090.png">Tune into Weather Nation for more details.

Lake Effect Returns Through Late Week

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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The waves keep rolling in the northeast. This time, a slow-moving trough will keep the unsettled weather nearby. A cold front will aid in the severe weather threat on Wednesday. The Storm Prediction Center has issue a level 2 out of 3 for severe thunderstorms. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070349-1733926016033.png">A few tornadoes and damaging wind will be the primary threats. Timing will play a key role in a few different ways. Not only will there be a threat of severe storms that depends on the timing, but snow could develop by Thursday morning too.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070357-1733926047999.png"><h1>SEVERE</h1>Right now, expect a strong line of storms to bring the threat of damaging winds to the area on Wednesday afternoon. This will affect travel along I-95. Another concerning factor with these storms is the heavy rainfall that will lead to flooding in the Northeast.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/2024-12-11 07-05-14-1733925952619.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>A widespread swath of 2-4 inches in New England will be more than enough to lead to flooding issues.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070602-1733925983617.png">High winds will also be possible, with wind gusts up to 60 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070430-1733926420474.png"><h2>SNOWY SIDE</h2>With a strong trough, there will be strong temperature changes. As temperatures plummet behind this front, the cold air will catch up to some of the moisture. That will turn some of the rain over to snow late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Right now, this doesn't look like a big snow, until the lake effect machine ramps back up on Thursday and Friday. But an inch or two will be possible from eastern Kentucky up through New England<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot 2024-12-11 070442-1733925998112.png">The latest forecast for the eastern region can be accessed anytime on the WeatherNation app, or streaming at :10 past the hour.

Severe Weather Headed to the Northeast

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The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season left a mark on the southeastern U.S. that will take years to recover from.&nbsp;18 named storms.&nbsp;11 hurricanes. 5 Gulf Coast landfalls.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/12/GeIFF6dWQAA-sfk-1733505376130.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot 2024-11-26 133950-1732653804564.png">An above average year was all but a certainty, with record setting ocean warmth and the eventual return of La Nina.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The impactful and deadly 2024 hurricane season started off intensely, then relaxed a bit before roaring back,” said Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Several possible factors contributed to the peak season lull in the Atlantic region. The particularly intense winds and rains over Western Africa created an environment that was less hospitable for storm development.”Twelve named storms formed after the climatological peak of the season in early September. Seven hurricanes formed in the Atlantic since September 25 — the most on record for this period. (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/atlantic-hurricane-season-races-to-finish-within-range-of-predicted-number-of-named-storms">Courtesy: NOAA</a>)<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2RO-HrmdaZg" start="0"></iframe></div>Tropical storms Alberto and Chris quickly formed and fizzled into the gulf coast of Mexico, but the season will be remembered for the five systems that came ashore in the United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot 2024-11-26 134015-1732654751810.png">Hurricane Beryl became the first ever category 4 in the month of June, and the Atlantic's earliest category 5 on record. After heavily damaging Caribbean islands and the Yucatan, Beryl weakened before making landfall in Matagorda, Texas as a category 1 on July 8th.&nbsp;Localized rainfall amounts topped 15”.&nbsp; At the height of the storm, 2.7 million customers in Texas were without power.&nbsp;The remnants of Beryl broke record for most tornado warnings issued in a day for multiple NWS offices across the country, including Shreveport and Lake Charles, Louisiana and as far north as Buffalo, New York!&nbsp;In all, Beryl did at least $7.2 billion dollars in damage in the U.S. And is attributed to 45 fatalities.&nbsp;After a quiet July, category 1 Hurricane Debby made landfall in the big bend of Florida in August, ringing flooding rain to the state’s nature coast.&nbsp;Parts of Manatee and Sarasota County measured nearly 20 inches of rainfall.&nbsp;Totals went on to be even higher farther north as Debby exited Georgia, and made a second landfall in Bulls Bay, South Carolina.&nbsp;As Debby crawled its way north, tornado reports went on for four straight days from South Carolina to Pennsylvania.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hurricane Ernesto rounded out August bringing destructive flooding to Puerto Rico. Before Francine became the third hurricane of 2024 to make landfall in the U.S., coming ashore in Terrebonne Parrish, Louisiana as a category 2 on September 11th. Close to a foot of rain fell in the greater New Orleans area.&nbsp;Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 spun up soon after, with just enough time to bring 20 inches of rainfall and flood the Carolina coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/11/NOAA Hurr Season-1732652765846.jpg">Hurricane Helene was not only the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in Florida's big bend, but its torrential rains caused catastrophic damage in eight states.&nbsp;Hurricane Helene first made landfall 10 miles from Perry, Florida as a category four with winds of 140 mph.&nbsp;Cedar Key, Florida witnessed its highest storm surge on record, rising to at least ten feet.&nbsp;Helene’s fast movement spread hurricane force winds and tropical moisture north.&nbsp;Atlanta experienced its first ever flash flood emergency. The first of many in the southeast as southern Appalachia recorded nearly three feet of rain.&nbsp;Most of the mountain communities in western North Carolina were cut off.&nbsp; Floods swept away entire communities, closed over 400 roads, and led to countless landslides.&nbsp;Less than two weeks later, battered and bruised, residents of Florida watched as Milton became a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico.&nbsp;Milton not only rapidly intensified, it dramatically escalated into a category 5. Its central pressure dropping to a near record low.&nbsp;As Milton's outer bands started to come ashore, a tornado outbreak tore through Florida.&nbsp;Hurricane Milton then made landfall October 9th as a category three near Siesta Key, Florida with winds of 120 mph.&nbsp;Tropicana Field was supposed to house first responders and power crews. That changed when its roof was ripped to shreds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot 2024-11-26 134008-1732654774617.png">As we look back on the 2024 season, we remember the lives lost and those who have lost everything.&nbsp;

Patrick Crawford

Looking Back: The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season

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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>.

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