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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Here comes the warmth again across the West! A ridge of high pressure and downsloping winds will be key factors to help bring warm air across the Northwest and Southwest this week. Records can be seen all across the Northwest through Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 105018-1768240241508.png">Temperatures on Tuesday will range from 20°- 30° above average! Downslope warming will help cities like Billings and Missoula potentially break multiple records this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Billings, Montana, will be in the low 60s! This is almost 30 degrees above average! <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 105024-1768240247192.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 105029-1768240251088.png">The southwest will be above average as well. Most cities will be around 10-15 degrees above average. On Wednesday, Los Angeles will reach a high of 84°, almost 20° above the normal! The warmth will stick around for most of the week across the southwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 105100-1768240265643.png">There remains high confidence that temperatures will remain above average across the west from January 18 - 22. The highest confidence is across California and Nevada.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 105128-1768240299660.png">For more information on your Western Regional forecast, tune into WeatherNation at :50 past the hour.

Alana Cameron

Record Warmth in Store For the West

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Kevin Schneider

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<h1>Forecast Timing</h1>A trough of low pressure is expected to combine with a cold Arctic air mass, bringing the potential for snow, gusty winds, and wind chills in the teens across the mid-south and southeast. Wednesday night, a frontal boundary will drop down from the north, bringing snow chances across this portion of the country through Friday. This could impact travel, so make sure to stay with us for the latest updates.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/SNOWWWYYY-1768178020306.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Snowfall Totals</h1>We are still a ways out, and the models are showing disagreement regarding snowfall totals. Our in-house model has come in notably drier overnight, with little in the way of accumulating snow in the Volunteer State. Higher elevations could see a few inches, however.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 061553-1768223763799.jpg">With the most recent run, the GFS model is following suit with some light numbers. When models start agreeing that's always a good sign, but a complex forecast means this bears watching trends.<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 061814-1768223904561.jpg">Temperatures</h1>Gusty winds can create some cold wind chills on Friday morning, with the feel-like temperatures in the teens! Keep that in mind for your morning commute on Friday and grab the jacket heading out the door.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 155244-1768171968859.png">The Climate Prediction Center is leaning heavily toward below-average temperatures from January 17 - 21. The highest confidence is evident in cities like Jacksonville, FL.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 155305-1768171992387.png">For the latest updates on this forecast, you can tune into WeatherNation :10 past the hour for your eastern regional forecast.

Jackie Brown

Flakes Could Fly as Far South as Tennessee This Week

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Most of the lower 48 has been missing out on a lot of Winter. Areas along the West Coast and Great Lakes have had an active Winter, but other than them, many along or east of the Rockies have been quiet so far. Not Alaska.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 100656-1767805655200.png">Heavy snowfall towards the end of 2025 was enough to sink boats around Juneau. By the end of the month, the airport in Juneau had measured more snow than any December prior, and it wasn't even close! Over 80 inches of snow fell throughout the month, with multiple daily records sprinkled in.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 100846-1767805743282.png">We spoke with the National Weather Service office in Juneau, Alaska to learn more about this historic snowfall.UPDATE: January 11th, 2026<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3FsdYGphtqE" start="0"></iframe></div><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zhaLChRQkac" start="0"></iframe></div>Since 2026 has rolled around, it has only kept snowing. Areas from Anchorage to Haines have picked up close to 20 more inches of snow has fallen. Not to mention it's been coming in with limited visibility with some blizzard conditions. Another system moving in threatens to bring warmer temperatures along with additional precipitation.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 101334-1767806446476.png">Residents have been asked to clear any clogged storm drain nearby, with officials giving the okay to dump "clean" snow into nearby bodies of water. The weight of the snow has caved in roofs in addition to sinking boats in local harbors.<h1>WHY ARE WARM TEMPERATURES BAD</h1>You would think a nice thawing out would help ease problems in Alaska but it could actually cause more harm. If temperatures warm enough to end the week, rain falling on top of snow will help rapidly melt the pack. Then, everything is running off, not just the rain. This could lead to significant flooding in the area.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-12 073534-1768228678077.jpg"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-12 07-37-04-1768228685920.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Record Snowfall Sinking Boats in Alaska

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The Northeastern U.S. has been one of the more active regions of the country so far this winter in terms of ice and snow, with plenty piling up around the Great Lakes and into New England. A warmer system brought rain and gusty winds to the Northeast on Friday, but another wet and colder system keeps some snow around through tonight. Winter Weather Alerts (above) have been issued for parts of New England. <h1>Looking Ahead This Week</h1>Another wave of rain, snow, and cool air will keep the Northeast active this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 154414-1768171512872.png">Moisture will start out over the Great Lakes and move into the Northeast. Areas across the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley will also see some rain and snow out of this next wave midweek.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/0111-1768171578207.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Accumulations will not be impactful, but this is still something to be on the lookout<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 200410-1768187056067.png"> for this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 154722-1768171648552.png"> Longer-range, the precipitation outlook for the Northeast has a drier than normal pattern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-11 154814-1768171724103.png">Get the latest in the Northeast in the East Regional Forecast anytime with the WeatherNation app - or tune in live at :10 past the hour!

Snow Squalls In The Northeast

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Brittany Lockley

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It has been one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires burned through local communities in Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025. The lasting impacts are still being felt across the region, both on the ground and in the atmosphere. The fires took 31 lives and burned down 18,000 buildings and homes.&nbsp;The fires ignited during a period of extreme fire weather, fueled by prolonged drought, critically low humidity, and strong offshore winds. The Palisades&nbsp;fire initially started with an open flame in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Firefighters were able to contain&nbsp;the flames above ground, but the fire continued to burn underground. At the time of ignition, relative humidity values dropped into the single digits, while wind gusts frequently exceeded 40 to 60 mph, creating ideal conditions for the rapid spread of the fire. The National Weather Service even issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation for these fires. These factors allowed flames to move miles in just hours, overwhelming containment efforts during the initial stages. The Palisades fire grew to 23,707 acres.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 041825-1767784832298.png">The Eaton Fire ignited in Altadena shortly after the Palisades Fire. In this fire, close to 10,000 homes were destroyed and 19 lives were lost, as the fire ravaged 14,021 acres by the time of its containment on January 31, 2024.&nbsp;<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-07 04-18-40-1767784809714.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Rainfall deficits leading up to the fires played a major role in their intensity. Many areas had received less than 50 percent of their average precipitation over the previous 6 to 12 months, resulting in exceptionally dry vegetation. Live fuel moisture levels were near record lows for late season, and energy release components, an index used to measure potential fire intensity, were well above climatological averages. &nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 040748-1767784265056.png">Once the fires were established, towering smoke plumes injected particulates high into the atmosphere, degrading air quality across hundreds of miles and prompting repeated air quality alerts as fine particulate concentrations surged well above health-based thresholds.&nbsp;<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2025-12_2025-01-09_g18_abi_meso_geocolor-fires-1767898580832.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>In the aftermath, the weather continued to complicate recovery. The first significant rain events following the fires produced short bursts of heavy rainfall, falling on soils unable to absorb water efficiently. Rainfall rates of just a half inch per hour were enough to trigger runoff, mudslides, and debris flows within burn scars. Damaging roads and infrastructure months after the flames were extinguished. Emergency managers were forced to pivot from wildfire response to managing the floods, highlighting the compound risks associated with extreme weather.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 091018-1767802242571.png">A year later, both fires are on California's most destructive fires list. Weather and climate data show early signs of ecological recovery, but also ongoing vulnerability. Native grasses and shrubs have begun to return, aided by winter&nbsp;rainfall.&nbsp;The Palisades and Eaton fires now serve as a stark example of how weather extremes, heat, wind, drought, and heavy rainfall are reshaping wildfire behavior. &nbsp;

Jesse Kelley

One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

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Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

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<h1>Outlooks &amp; Timing</h1>Friday night and Saturday morning was active tracking severe weather and flash flooding. We do have some good news as the severe weather threat has ended! The National Weather Service crews will be out surveying a few areas where tornadoes did touchdown across the South. Check out some of the damage Saturday morning as strong winds moved through Central Alabama.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/VO_011026_RSE_DALLAS COUNTY, AL_2 OF 3 DOWNED TREES AFTER TORNADO SWEPT THOGH SAT AM_FB_MS_E011026-1768076721260.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening hours, the showers and few embedded storms will continue to work their way east towards the Atlantic coast. The forecast will be drier and windier for Sunday across the South. It is possible the remaining storms could produced an additional half an inch to an inch of rain. The Flood Watch across Alabama and Georgia will expire later this afternoon.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1768076980959.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1768076918937.png">Catch updates during our top weather headlines (:00, :20, :40 past the hour) or get the latest regional update for the East and Central U.S. at :10 and :30 past the hour.

Severe Threat Has Ended in the South

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

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It's been a slow start to the ski season for a lot of our resorts out west, so any snow in the forecast should bring a little hope to the skiers and boarders out there. Winter weather alerts have been issued across the Four Corners through Friday. Totals will vary based on elevation.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174402-1767833193610.png">Across Arizona and New Mexico, we've been getting rainfall, and that will continue overnight. In the meantime, snow will start to pile up in Colorado, Utah, and the higher elevations of the southern Four Corners.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/01-07 rsw rsc-1767833203813.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Through Friday, some of our ski resorts could max out around a foot. For the Colorado Rockies and resorts of Utah, we'll be fortunate enough if we see around 9" to one foot for resorts like Vail and Steamboat Springs.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174409-1767833222196.png"><h2>Denver Area</h2>Models are starting to get better correlated on what the outcome for Thursday's snowfall is. Temperatures look to be a bit cooler, cool enough to support upwards of 1-5" of snow in the Denver area.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 154256-1767825841035.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174716-1767833250369.png"><h2>Salt Lake City</h2>SLC has seen barely any snow this season. So far, we've only had 0.1" of snow downtown. The forecast from the National Weather Service has a forecast of 1-2" in the city.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 154348-1767825872371.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-07 174723-1767833255996.png">Whether you're hopeful or skeptical of this forecast, be sure to join us on WeatherNation live for the latest breakdown of these forecasts!

Snow Returns to Ski Country

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A tornado caused four injuries and major damage to downtown Wetumpka, Alabama on Friday afternoon. Wetumpka is a small town that sits just north of Montgomery.

https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1086732980481998848

The tornado struck around 4:30 pm where the first report of an injury came out. Extensive damaged was reported on the west side of the city where the First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church were totally destroyed.

https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1086745673091842048

According to WeatherNation's Field Meteorologist Brett Adair who was on the scene moments after the twister struck, emergency crews were going door to door conducting search and rescue operations.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-102668 size-large" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/01/Capture3-728x408.jpg" alt="" width="728" height="408" />

There were a total report of four injuries. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham, AL sent two crews to conduct storm surveys Saturday morning. The results indicated the Wetumpka tornado was a strong EF-2 tornado with winds around 130 mph. It remained on the ground for nearly 18 miles.

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Below is reaction from a witness moments after the tornado struck.

https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1086773815491710976

Several tornadoes struck southeast Alabama on Friday afternoon. A tornado watch was in effect for much of the afternoon and a tornado warning was issued for Wetumpka at the time of the storm.

https://twitter.com/NWSBirmingham/status/1087020535350026240

For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Nick Merianos

Four Injured In Wetumpka, AL Tornado

Record Warmth in Store For the West

Here comes the warmth again across the West!

Flakes Could Fly as Far South as Tennessee This Week

Forecast TimingA trough of low pressure is ex

Record Snowfall Sinking Boats in Alaska

Most of the lower 48 has been missing out on

Snow Squalls In The Northeast

The Northeastern U.S. has been one of the mor

One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

It has been one year since the Palisades and

Severe Threat Has Ended in the South

Outlooks & TimingFriday night and Saturda

Snow Returns to Ski Country

It's been a slow start to the ski season for

Four Injured In Wetumpka, AL Tornado

Record Warmth in Store For the West

Here comes the warmth again across the West!

Flakes Could Fly as Far South as Tennessee This Week

Forecast TimingA trough of low pressure is ex

Record Snowfall Sinking Boats in Alaska

Most of the lower 48 has been missing out on

Snow Squalls In The Northeast

The Northeastern U.S. has been one of the mor

One Year Later: Palisades and Eaton Fires

It has been one year since the Palisades and

Severe Threat Has Ended in the South

Outlooks &amp; TimingFriday night and Saturda

Snow Returns to Ski Country

It's been a slow start to the ski season for

Outlooks & TimingFriday night and Saturda