WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Atlantic on Thursday. Former Invest 96-L was able to create a clearly defined center of circulation Thursday morning with robust convection. As quickly as it formed, it is now just remnants. These remnants have a low chance of development but can still bring heavy rain to the Caribbean. The second area is in the Gulf, with slow development possible. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/remnttt-1787954738966.png">Puerto Rico has seen dire drought conditions and is in desperate need of rain. Still, with dry ground and hilly terrain, flash flooding will be a threat. Interests in the Lesser Antilles, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should stay updated on the forecast in the coming days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 063657-1787920639757.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 063703-1787920652176.png">El Niño has been smothering tropical waves in the Atlantic this summer, with four named storms to date but only 12% of average cyclone energy! This doesn't mean the rest of the season will be just as quiet, however, as 66% of all hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs between August 20th and October 10th. The climatological peak of Atlantic Hurricane Season is September 10.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 090839-1787843332378.png">

Jackie Brown

Watching Two Areas In The Atlantic

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Thursday afternoon, two areas of investigation in the Eastern Pacific were determined strong enough and organized enough to be named. Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell are now being tracked as they slowly track west and northwest through the weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/FORECASSSSSS-1787965960932.png">With unseasonably warm ocean waters in the EPAC, both of these storms will likely become hurricanes on Friday or Saturday. We'll have to watch how close they get to one another to see if they have any impact.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/tuesday gfs -1787954944193.png">The good news is they are expected to stay away from land for the short term. We will keep an eye on Hawaii later next week to see if any additional rainfall heads their way.Click here for more on what is happening in the Atlantic Basin:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/atlantic-tropics-watching-several-areas-strong-tropical-wave-next-week"> Atlantic Tropics.</a>

Karina & Lowell Named in the Eastern 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.

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It has been an active summer for portions of the Northern Plains, and this weekend the severe threat remains in place. Damaging winds and large hail will be the biggest threats. The tornado threat will be isolated, but possible. Daytime heating will provide instability, with afternoons and evenings offering the best chance of severe storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/FD-1787965655416.png">Some storms may hold together into the overnight hours, but expect more rounds of severe weather to develop on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/HFH-1787965745009.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Most will see around a quarter of an inch or less of rain, but there will be localized heavier rainfall in the storms that develop over the next few days.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/yhouthdlddd -1787955310419.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/sssfff-1787955340910.png">For the latest updates on these storms, make sure to tune into the central regional forecast:30 past the hour.

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

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Tracey Anthony

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High pressure continues to dominate the Southwest. Extreme Heat Warnings (in pink) have been issued for cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Yuma. Heat Advisories (in orange) have been issued across the Inland Empire of California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 192300-1787793786105.png">We started the week with plenty of triple digits across the Southwest; even Los Angeles has reached 95° or warmer the last 6 days! Most of the Southwest, which is normally hot, will have many cities running above average and breaking records through Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/sat - mon-1787954440332.png">By Sunday, we will start to feel the impacts of the trough that is digging into the PNW and the cooler air associated with it. Los Angeles will see temperatures drop down to the mid to low 80s by midweek.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/LOS ANGELES 22-1787966088092.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest.

Extreme Heat In Los Angeles and the Southwest

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Kevin Schneider

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<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2093066020558872742" src="https://x.com/weathernation/status/2093066020558872742?s=46"></div>Strong storms and flash flooding hammered the I-95 corridor Thursday afternoon. Numerous flash flood warnings were issued to accompany storms with strong downdraft winds. As the front lingers on Friday, expect more storms during the afternoon and evening with potential for strong wind gusts and flash flooding.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 064245-1787920984704.png">While wind is the primary severe weather hazard, a tornado or waterspout is not of the question.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-28 06-46-58-1787921243269.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Some areas received 2-6 inches of rain on Thursday, with more on the way today. That means some areas will be more susceptible for flooding to develop again.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-28 064317-1787921016407.png">We will have more updates and live coverage on this risk all day on Friday, so make sure to tune in to WeatherNation for the latest .

Rob Bradley

East Coast Storm Threat Lingers Friday

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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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During El Nino, temperatures across the Eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer, or above normal. For the hurricane season, this means an increase in tropical activity across the Eastern Pacific.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 160007-1787781615977.png">These warmer sea surface temperatures also mean an increase in shark activity for Southern California beaches. Meteorologist Taban Sharifi spoke to Dr. Christopher Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach on how El Nino brings changes to marine life along the coast.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1FcXy4BQcgA" start="0"></iframe></div>As the waters continue to warm through the Fall, Dr. Lowe talked about the changing species that will be seen across the Southern California waters that are not typically there. This includes hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and even manta rays. This also includes white sharks. The water farther south will get too warm for the white sharks, that are normally off the Baha of California, and they will begin to push north. Dr. Lowe said, "It's going to push those juvenile white sharks that are normally in Mexico into Southern California waters." This is something they have already started to see happen during July and August of this year, and the numbers of these sharks are increasing. Dr. Lowe said the sharks could reach as far north as Santa Cruz, CA.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-26 155905-1787784580682.png">There's a sweet spot for water temperatures for these sharks that sits between 64°-72°. Above 82° is when sharks begin to move north. Currently, water temperatures in the Eastern Pacific are significantly warmer than that 82° threshold.A message to beach goers: "Believe it or not, having all those white sharks off that beach might actually keep people safer. Because they are eating sting rays, there are fewer sting rays that might hurt people," said Dr. Lowe.Watch the full interview for more on how close these sharks get to the coastline and how scientists track their behavior.

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

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A wildfire broke out in the Lone Star State on Monday and has quickly torched 80,000+ acres in the past 2 days. Hot weather has dried out fuels in the area, making explosive fire growth possible. Moderated temperatures and a change of wind direction should allow crews to focus on containment on the western side of the fire. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 093735-1787845069998.png">Crews in the area are prioritizing lives and structures, urging folks in Jack and Palo Pinto Counties to get out of the way of this blaze.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2092982286803177678" src="https://x.com/NWSFortWorth/status/2092982286803177678"></div>Consistent temperatures near 100 for the entire month of August have brought upon flash drought conditions in northern and central Texas. Fire weather will be at the forefront until cooler or wet weather can make a return. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 094031-1787845344031.png">However, the strong area of high pressure baking many in the south doesn't look to budge in the foreseeable future. Temperatures will remain above average, and the feels-like temperature will rise into the 100s for cities like Dallas and Houston this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/08/Screenshot 2026-08-27 094142-1787845355960.png">An additional hazard in central Texas will be wildfire smoke. Poor air quality and low visibility will impact people driving and spending time outside. Residents report being able to see and smell it from Fort Worth.

Administrator

Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

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UPDATE: Jefferson County Police have confirmed that there were no fatalities and no missing people from Wednesday night's storm.

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Jefferson City, Missouri is recovering this morning after a tornado devastated the town. Sunrise revealed extensive damage in the state capital.

https://youtu.be/0LUUInS8HKc

Neighborhoods surrounding downtown Jefferson had extensive damage.

https://youtu.be/2u8QEkM_KsU

At least 9 residents were injured as multiple structures faced partial collapses. Emergency officials worked through the night, responding to a wave of 911 calls.

https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperF/status/1131464150322962433

The storm occurred overnight on Wednesday, startling many. One resident saw the menacing twister as lighting flashes illuminated the funnel.

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At least 31 tornadoes have been reported across Missouri and Oklahoma from Wednesday's storms. One twister turned deadly in Golden City, MO, claiming three lives.

https://twitter.com/MoPublicSafety/status/1131416290470629376

Our field correspondents will be covering the aftermath, bringing <a href="http://twitter.com/weathernation">more information</a> throughout the day.

Devastation in Jefferson City after Direct Tornado Hit

Watching Two Areas In The Atlantic

Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Atlantic o

Karina & Lowell Named in the Eastern Pacific

Thursday afternoon, two areas of investigatio

Days of Severe Weather For The Plains

It has been an active summer for portions of

Extreme Heat In Los Angeles and the Southwest

High pressure continues to dominate the Sout

East Coast Storm Threat Lingers Friday

Strong storms and flash flooding hammered the

El Nino Pushes Sharks into Southern California Beaches

During El Nino, temperatures across the Easte

Ross Fire Burning West of Fort Worth

A wildfire broke out in the Lone Star State o