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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Severe weather has returned to parts of the Plains and Midwest as a big western trough cuts into record warmth to the east. As these air masses clash, tropical moisture from Simon will be pulled north, adding fuel for storms and downpours. Some massive hailstones have already been seen across Texas on Tuesday evening reaching 2.75" in diameter. That's the size of a baseball!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185617-1791939383997.png"><h1>Outlook &amp; Timing</h1>The SPC has issued a large marginal risk through Wednesday (level 1 threat) with a slight risk (scattered severe storms) issued from Oklahoma through Texas. All threats are possible. However, damaging winds are the most likely threat, with a few areas that could see significant winds upwards of 75mph+. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible across West Texas through Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792031156342.png">Tonight's storms should weaken early Thursday morning in Central and Southern Oklahoma. However, a second stronger front arrives Thursday leading to more scattered showers and thunderstorms. The severe risk is low but drier air will result in a great weekend for the Southern Plains.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1792031329775.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Flood Threat</h1>With the added moisture from Simon in the Pacific, heavy rainfall rates appear likely at times through Friday. Rain could fall at more than 2 inches per hour in some areas, with totals surpassing six inches in a few locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792031388236.png">There is a moderate threat for heavy rain and flooding across portions of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City already saw a daily rainfall record for Wednesday as more rain is possible into the overnight. Additional rainfall may lead to flooding across the state.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792031440204.png">Tune in to WeatherNation for your top weather headlines. Your full Central Regional Forecast can always be found :30 past the hour.

Jesse Kelley

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

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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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More records were broken across the Midwest and South on Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure continues to dominate! Cities like Wichita, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Little Rock all broke records. The record highs continued on Wednesday. Take a look at all the broken records!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792023073074.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 5-1792023084973.png">While some of us are already getting in on some cooler air, areas in the South and North Eastern U.S. are still feeling some of that heat!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-14 045229-1791975161039.png">Temperatures take a nosedive in the coming days. Kansas City will see temperatures go from the 70s to the 50s in the coming days! Many temperatures will be below average for this part of the country. However, the cooler temperatures won't last super long before warmer air tries to move back by the weekend. Mother Nature doesn't know which direction it wants to go as temps will be swinging up and down through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792010170763.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-14 045438-1791975290473.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792029279836.png">Tune into WeatherNation :30 past the hour for more on your central regional forecast.

Patrick Crawford

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

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Kevin Schneider

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It's getting to be that time of year! Systems are dropping out of Canada with a lot of wind energy. A strong system will deepen, bringing the strongest push of cool air of the season for some but big wind gusts for most.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115344-1791914249422.png">The cold air moving over the warm lake waters could lead to some interesting weather by this weekend. When the contrast between the two temperatures is high enough, lake-enhanced showers or snow could develop in the wake of this passing system.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115442-1791914436190.png">The winds will pick up by Friday and could be breezy this weekend. Some areas could see wind gusts approaching 40-50 mph. That, in turn, will create waves upwards of 15-20 feet over the Great Lakes.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115504-1791914516407.png">Lake-effect snow is notoriously handled poorly by models, but it will be something to watch out for as temperatures drop by Saturday morning. Many models have the moisture departing before the difference can be realized. Often a different wind direction is needed, following more along the body of water instead of across it.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792022896618.png">With some of these low temperatures falling below or near the freezing point, frost and freeze alerts will be widespread at the start of next workweek. There's still plenty of time to work on the fine details of this forecast and fine tune where we'll see the most activity. Stay locked in on WeatherNation!

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

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A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatures and rounds of snow across the Rockies. So far, portions of Montana have seen a foot to two feet of snow! Rounds of snow and rain will continue over the next few days. In fact, parts of Colorado and Utah are under Winter Weather Advisories through Thursday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/montana snow reports -1791912601730.png">As this low-pressure system moves through, expect rounds of rain and snow over the next few days, with things tapering off by Thursday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792023424748.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Our in-house model shows isolated snowfall totals up to a foot of across the higher elevations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792023498486.png">Cool temperatures will continue to be below average as this low-pressure system moves through. Denver normally has a high of 66° and will only see a high of 54° on Thursday afternoon after starting the day with lows in the 30s. Freeze Watches have now been issued for parts of the Rockies and Western Plains into Friday morning!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792009901522.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792009971394.png">For the latest updates on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation.

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

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Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hurricanes in the Atlantic, but how will the rest of the season shape up? Record-breaking wind shear is likely to continue to limit most tropical systems in the Atlantic, but a few more storms are still possible.<h1>Atlantic Basin</h1>The low that the National Hurricane Center was monitoring has already lost that organization. Only serving to be a rainmaker for the Cabo Verde Islands. Any potential development was squashed by upper-level winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792022157888.png"><h1>Pacific Basin</h1>The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season and looks to continue to create additional activity through the next week. Several systems could bring impacts to the United States. Not only do we have Hurricane Simon, but tropical storm Trudy formed on Tuesday.<h2>Simon</h2>Simon is an impressive hurricane, at one point a strong Category 4. It is currently Category 2 and will be riding up the Mexican coastline. Initial forecasts had Simon making landfall as a Category 2. Now, it'll likely make landfall as a tropical storm in the Baja Peninsula.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792022227098.png"><h2>Trudy</h2>With some warm Pacific waters, Trudy is expected to intensify to major hurricane strength, maybe even a category 4! Areas in southwestern Mexico are looking to be the heaviest impacted spots at this point.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 5-1792022235402.png"><h1>El Nino Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 104818-1791478116096.png">The Eastern Pacific has already hit records for the year being so active.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121954-1791829204234.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Nino continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific. El Nino 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 2026-09-28 194202-1790646127358.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: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

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Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico, but the moisture, wind, and coastal hazards have brought impacts across the Southwest. Heavy rain has already prompted flash flooding, with elevated winds reportedly leading to some damaged trees. Remnants of Rachel are also significantly impacting the Southern California coastline.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109372509783232854" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109372509783232854"></div>The California coast remains under Coastal Flood Advisories through Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121608-1791828991428.png"><h1>Rain &amp; Flood Forecast</h1>The Remnants of Rachel brought heavy rainfall. Las Vegas saw 1.08" of rainfall on Sunday, breaking the old record of .78". This ties the all-time wettest October Day!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121715-1791829042950.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109622612250988652" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109622612250988652"></div>More on your Western Regional forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, FL, around 8:30 pm CT as a Category 2 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds were reported at 105 mph with a minimum central pressure of 971 mb.On Wednesday evening, Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. This breaks the decades-old record of the latest to form in the modern, satellite era.The storm got off to a slow start, but quickly strengthened Friday, becoming a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph. Although it weakened slightly as it came ashore, there are widespread reports of wind damage and power outages along the coast. Isaias is now a post-tropical cyclone as it continues moving northward into the Mid-South.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2108724199535919547" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2108724199535919547"></div><h1>Flooding/Storm Surge Recap</h1>Isaias brought heavy rainfall totals across the southeast. Heaviest totals stayed stuck down into Alabama and Florida, with Bellwood getting real close to that 13" mark!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051330-1791803624676.png">The flooding concerns extended down to the coastline. Places like Panama City Beach in Florida, say peak storm surge up to 5.5 feet!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051029-1791803632011.png"><h1>Severe Weather Recap</h1>Isaias made landfall as a strong category 2 hurricane. The max wind gusts definitely reflected that, with some spots across the Sunshine State picking up category 3 level wind gusts!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051502-1791803779120.png">The remnants of Isaias brought flooding and many severe storm reports. North Carolina saw numerous tornado and wind reports. Flash flooding was also a concern as the tropical moisture moved through.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/remnantssss -1791769459868.png">Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation. We'll bring you the details you need, and cut out all the hype.

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

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It’s an amazing sight to see, an alligator nose and mouth sticking through a frozen sheet of ice. The best thing about it is; that this is a natural response to cold conditions by alligators and it helps them survive freezing weather. 

The American Alligator like many other cold blooded reptiles, like it hot, but can survive in cold conditions.  When temperatures fall, alligators will slow activity and lose their appetite.  Even temperatures below 75° can slow down most gators who spend most of the winter in a hibernation-like state called brumation.

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Where alligators roam the waterways, freezing conditions and ice are rare, but when freezing circumstances present themselves the gators can still survive.

Most alligators will opt. to  excavate a den and hibernate until spring but will move to where it is the warmest when needed.  This past week in Brunswick County, North Carolina, as the coldest air moved in alligators took to the water which was warmer than the air.  

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Once in the water, alligators will position themselves with nostrils above the surface as ice forms around them.  Some may even get stuck in the ice for days before the ice melts and they can swim free.  

Alligators have persevered for thousands of years and it was reported that this one in North Carolina survive the cold and ice just fine.

Alligators Frozen in Place

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe weather has returned to parts of the P

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records were broken across the Midwest a

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

It's getting to be that time of year! Systems

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F