Patrick Crawford has always been a huge weather buff! He grew up in Plano, Texas, and it was there that he experienced what Mother Nature was capable of doing. He would always turn on the television to see what local meteorologists were saying about the weather. That's when he realized he wanted to be a meteorologist.

Patrick graduated from Northern Illinois University (’04) with a degree in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Geography. Broadcast Meteorology has been great to him and he has been able to work in television markets all across the country. Some of his stops have included New Orleans, Green Bay and even Yuma, Arizona. He is so excited to be part of the WeatherNation team.

He has been awarded the prestigious CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) weather seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Feel free to catch up with Patrick Crawford on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistPC/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeteorologistPC">Twitter</a> pages.

Patrick Crawford

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<p>TEXAS: Check out the tornado-warned storm that moved through Commerce, Texas late Sunday afternoon/evening.</p><blockquote><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/VO_092423_RSC_COMMERCE, TX_COOL TIME LAPSE APPROACHING THE ROTATING TORNADO WARNED STORM_TW_@ONLYNADERS_DW_E092423-1695610708228.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video></blockquote><p></p><h1>Severe Outlook (Monday)</h1><p>As the front drops even farther south on Monday, the severe risk will become draped through central and southern Texas roughly between I-20 and I-10. Hail, wind and heavy rain will be the main weather risks.</p><h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/PIC 1-1695636347548.jpg">Forecast Timing</h1><p>Some parts of Texas have been hit with strong storms already this morning, but more storms will be possible this afternoon and evening.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/FORECAST-1695636361274.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h1>Severe Outlook (Tuesday)</h1><p>Daytime heating will bring the chance for strong storms to far west Texas and southeastern New Mexico through the afternoon on Tuesday. An isolated threat for damaging winds and large hail will be possible.</p><h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/PIC 2-1695637253554.jpg">Forecast Timing</h1><p>This severe risk will be driven by the heating of the day, so the window for severe will be during the afternoon hours.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/FORECAST-1695637336591.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h1>Rainfall</h1><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot 2023-09-24 124410-1695581055541.png">Be sure to move any valuable property to safety before the storms arrive, because some thunderstorms may bring flooding rain and damaging wind and/or hail. Have multiple ways to get weather warnings and know where to go in the event of severe weather!</p>

Another Round of Severe for Texas Monday

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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!

Alana Cameron

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<p>Now that Ophelia's impacts are winding down, we turn to what's next in the Atlantic. We currently have two tropical waves and a named storm: Philippe (pronounced: <em>fee - LEEP</em>). Tropical Storm Philippe is moving west at 12 mph, with current sustained winds increasing to 50 mph. It is forecast to strengthen but remain a tropical storm, but not make any impacts to land. Slow strengthening is expected over the next few days.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_ts philippe 9pm-1695611042650.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/ts philippe-1695611610028.jpg">We are also watching an area of low pressure that has formed several hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands. Gradual development is likely and we could see a tropical depression form by midweek. This system is moving north/northwestward.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_al 91-1695611618160.jpg">Since the National Hurricane Center is investigating this wave, spaghetti plots have been released on this potential storm. Invest 91L is the identifier of this system.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_al 91 spag-1695598182836.jpg"></p><p>We have about 30% of the Atlantic hurricane season left. The rest of September and October can be busy months, tropically speaking.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/9-20 we r here-1695264590131.png"></p><h2>Eastern Pacific</h2><p>Meanwhile, in the Eastern Pacific, we have Fourteen is now a post-tropical system. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/post tropical-1695611926338.jpg"></p>

Tropics: Philippe in the Atlantic, Two Waves to Watch

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<p>After a stormy weekend that produced big hail in the Plains, more heavy rain and storms are in the forecast into the upcoming work week. This rainfall is desperately needed - there is significant drought through eastern Nebraska, northern North Dakota, and Iowa that has been worsening this summer under hot and dry conditions.</p><h1>Overnight - Monday</h1><p>An upper-level low-pressure system continues to bring in unsettled weather for the northern U.S. including the upper Midwest. There is no severe weather outlook through Monday but thunderstorms and heavy rain are still expected.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnc 18z-1695611996588.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Tuesday</h1><p>On Tuesday, as storms move into a slightly more favorable environment, the Storm Prediction Center posted a <strong>MARGINAL</strong> (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe thunderstorms across Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. As a cold front moves through, storms may gain enough strength to pose a risk of hail and a few strong wind gusts.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnc_svr tue-1695585779640.jpg">The greatest chance of strong to severe thunderstorms is when the front moves through these spots during peak heating. The atmosphere is most unstable during this time, and this could support stronger storms.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/9-24_rnc_tue 12z-1695585857775.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h1>Rainfall &amp; WPC Outlooks</h1><p>The Weather Prediction Center has upgraded Monday's excessive rainfall risk for the Twin Cities and into Wisconsin to a level 2, <strong>SLIGHT</strong>, risk of flash flooding. This is due to the fact that training rain is expected along this corridor from now through tomorrow which will heighten the risk of flooding.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnc_ex rain through mon 18z-1695612062601.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>For more on this top weather headline be sure to join us live for the latest details. And if you're starting to see the foliage turn in these spots be sure to tag us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @weathernation for a chance for your weather to be shared on national television!</p>

More Storms & Rain for the High Plains

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<p><strong>WEST COAST: </strong>An early-season atmospheric river has been bringing in rainy days to the west coast of Washington, Oregon, and California. In fact, on the atmospheric river scale, this event is forecast to become an AR4. These forecasts are released by the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/iwv-and-ivt-forecasts/">Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes</a> from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnw_ar-1695599033299.jpg">The AR Scale can be complicated to understand, but the bottom line is that it is based on the duration of the event and the amount of water these systems hold.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/r scale-1695599361864.jpg">Flood alerts have been issued for coastal Oregon and northern California for flooding through Monday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnw_flood alerts-1695599392937.jpg">Timing out the rounds of rain, we expect heavy rain overnight into Monday along the west coast and then again as we head into our next system late Tuesday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnw_atm river 12z-1695599431503.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>Rainfall totals will be heaviest along the Pacific Coast, with isolated pockets of half a foot of rainfall through Wednesday!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnw_rain 12z-1695599512712.jpg">In addition to the heavy amounts of moisture, winds will be gusty too. Alerts have been issued for Oregon, Nevada and California so expect a raw forecast ahead.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09-24_rnw_wind alerts-1695599543883.jpg"></p>

Atmospheric River for Coastal Washington, Oregon & California

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<p style="text-align: center"><em>Above - the first images of the landing of the OSIRIS-REx sample returning capsule containing rock and dust from asteroid Bennu at the Department of Defense's Utah Test and Training Range (Credit: NASA, OSIRIS-REx Project)</em></p><p>On Sunday morning, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft safely returned a capsule containing the 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu in Utah. This sample will be heading to Houston, according to NASA. According to NASA:</p><blockquote><p><em><span>At 12:37 a.m. EDT (10:37 a.m. MDT), a helicopter gently placed NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample capsule, attached to the end of a 100-foot cable, on the ground outside a hangar on the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range. Two technicians on the ground helped guide the capsule down.&nbsp;</span></em></p><p style="text-align: start"><em><span>Once the helicopter line was detached and the helicopter had departed, the clean room team removed the capsule from its metal transport cradle. They loaded the capsule onto a cart and wheeled it into the hangar where a temporary clean room had been set up. In the hangar, the capsule was fully unwrapped and cleaned, and then taken into the clean room for disassembly.   &nbsp;</span></em></p><p style="text-align: start"><em><span>To protect the clean room from contaminants, only six people are allowed inside. Covered from head to toe in bunny suits, hoods, nitrile gloves, shoe covers, plus hair and beard covers, their job is to disassemble the capsule and remove the unopened sample canister inside. They will package all the parts for transport by aircraft to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday morning.&nbsp;</span></em><span>&nbsp;</span></p></blockquote><h2>History</h2><p>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex">OSIRIS-REx</a> (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer) project launched in September of 2016, putting a spacecraft on the asteroid Bennu to collect rocks and dust from the surface. The goal of the mission is to "investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth" according to NASA.</p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/OSIRIS-REx_Touchdown_on_Bennu-1695312747690.gif"></p><p style="text-align: center"><em><span style="color: rgb(90, 100, 112)">Captured on Oct. 20, 2020, during the OSIRIS-REx mission’s Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection event, this series of images shows the SamCam imager’s field of view as the NASA spacecraft approaches and touches down on asteroid Bennu’s surface. (credit: NASA)</span></em></p><p>The samples collected from Bennu are from October 2020. <span style="color: rgb(58, 58, 58)">According to NASA, the spacecraft collected enough samples in two days to start the journey back to Earth.</span><em> </em><span style="color: rgb(58, 58, 58)">During the departure, "OSIRIS-REx imaged Bennu for 5.9 hours, covering more than a full rotation of the asteroid. It flew within 2.1 miles (3.5 kilometers) of Bennu's surface". Despite moving at 600 mph, the journey back to Earth still took OSIRIS-REx roughly 2.5 years to make!</span></p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/bennuola1-1695313273805.gif"></p><p style="text-align: center"><em>This three-dimensional view of asteroid Bennu was created by the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), contributed by the Canadian Space Agency, on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. (credit: NASA)</em></p><p>The spacecraft's next mission will take it into the orbit of the near-Earth asteroid <span style="color: rgb(58, 58, 58)">Apophis in 2029. Apophis is about 1,200 feet in diameter and is expected to come within 20,000 miles of Earth in 2029. The asteroid is an "S-type", made up of Silica materials and is remnants of our early solar system.</span></p><p>OSIRIS-REx is the third of four missions in NASA's New Frontier program to explore our solar system with medium sized spacecraft. Other missions in the program include: New Horizons (exploring Pluto since 2006), Juno (exploring Jupiter since 2011) and Dragonfly (Saturn's Moon Titan, set to launch in 2026).</p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O8R2hsoIgTc" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p>

NASA OSIRIS-REx: Asteroid Sample Returned to Earth

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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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<p>Ophelia made landfall around 6:15 a.m. ET on Saturday, near Emerald Isle, North Carolina as a strong tropical storm. Maximum sustained winds reached 70 mph, with a minimum pressure of 981 mb. Even though Ophelia has now weakened into a Post-Tropical Cyclone, it will continue to bring gusty winds, storm surge, high surf, and heavy rain to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through the rest of this weekend. Power outages have been isolated in some communities, but utility crews have been fast-acting in getting power restored.</p><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/1001927184348846" data-width="500" src="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/videos/1001927184348846" style="display: flex; justify-content: center"></div><p>The heaviest rain will favor Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey going forward into Sunday. Ophelia will slowly nudge up the I-95 corridor, and continue to weaken as it moves north. Even as a remnant low, it will bring rain and wind impacts Sunday and Monday to the Northeast.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/0924-1695577066510.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>Flood Threat</h2><p>Heavy rainfall could lead to flooding, especially in areas that are prone to gathering high water. This includes coastal communities along with inland areas. Upwards of 6" of rain already fell since Ophelia's impacts began and an additional 1-2" of rain is possible through Monday morning as Ophelia makes its way up the Eastern Seaboard. Localized heavier amounts of up to 3 inches may be possible. Heavy rain in the urban corridors of the Northeast could lead to flash flooding, especially in areas of New England that have been soggy over the last few weeks.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot 2023-09-24 113817-1695577103492.png">Coastal flood alerts have been issued through the Mid-Atlantic coast from New Jersey to Virginia for the push of seawater moving on shore due to Ophelia's wind field. This is where we expect freshwater rainfall flooding and the rise of rivers and oceans to create flooding on low-lying areas.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/Screenshot 2023-09-24 113838-1695577123655.png">The Weather Prediction center has issued a marginal and slight risk for heavy rain as this system moves north. Please do not drive through flooded roadways and limit travel.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/ophelia-1695562731437.jpg"></p><h2>Wind</h2><p>Winds will gust in the range of 20- 35 mph for coastal communities and 10-20 mph for inland areas. The wind will stir up the ocean and onshore flooding will create issues for barrier islands and east-facing beaches.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/09241-1695577183538.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>Continue to monitor the latest weather hazards, including any alerts, with regard to Ophelia. Be safe venturing out into the conditions this weekend!</p>

Ophelia Makes Landfall in North Carolina, Now Post-Tropical

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<div>Lucy is originally from the Boston area but has spent the last four years forecasting and living in Colorado! She stayed in the northeast for her education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Oswego with a B.S. in Meteorology. Just a few days after graduation, she made the cross country move to Colorado Springs, CO to begin her career at KKTV, the CBS affiliate. Lucy has covered historic blizzards, tornadoes, windstorms, the largest wildfires in Colorado state history and dust storms ... they truly "get it all" in Colorado! Lucy is excited to forecast on a national level and continue her passion of explaining the science behind the weather!</div>
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Lucy Bergemann

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<p>Have the leaves started changing where you live? We are now into Meteorological Fall, with the Autumnal Equinox just around the corner. We will continue to notice the changing leaves in the coming weeks.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/PKG_092920_TRT 1.52_WHEN LEAVES CHANGE_ROB BRADLEY_CM_E092920-1694870877324.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>But why and how do leaves change color? It is due to Chlorophyll in the leaves decaying into the cooler weather of the season. We've still been quite warm so the changeover has been slow for many.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/why they change-1694871127699.jpg">In fact, the majority of the country (outside of mountains over 10k feet) hasn't dropped below freezing or close to it yet this fall - we are roughly two weeks behind schedule for the Rockies, Bitterroots, and Cascades which could be contributing to the slow to develop colors. The colder air is arriving though, which should speed up the color changes.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1704911375175393467" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1704911375175393467"></div><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/first freeze-1694871125678.jpg">Right now much of the fall foliage is seen in the Rockies where cooler air is starting to make an influence. We want to avoid a quick freeze though, as that could cause the leaves to wilt and die before they reach their true potential! Colors should start to explode in the coming days across Colorado when the Aspens turn. In addition, cooler air moving into the Northwest should create further color across the Cascades!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2023/09/forecast-1695474270804.jpg"></p><p>Have fall foliage photos to share? Tag us on social media @weathernation</p>

First Day of Fall: Where to Leaf Peep

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Drought conditions, low humidity and strong winds will lead to a Critical Fire Risk for cities like El Paso, TX and Roswell, NM today and tonight.  Here is the very latest.
<h1>Drought Monitor</h1>
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Drought conditions continue to take shape across the 4 Corners Region.  This means theses areas under dry and moderate drought conditions could easily see a wildfire today.
<h1>Wind Forecast</h1>
<img class="alignnone wp-image-102675 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/01/7day-9.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

<img class="alignnone wp-image-102676 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/01/7day1-12.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

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Areas being monitored for a critical fire risk could feel winds of 20-30 mph with gusts over 50 mph.  This means if a fire starts it will easily strengthen and spread with wind speeds this strong.
<h1>Wildfire  Prevention</h1>
Here are some helpful hints on how to prevent wildfires.  I would definitely avoid any outdoor activities that involve sparks or flames.

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Keep checking back with WeatherNation for more updates.

Increasing Wildfire Risk for West Texas and Southern New Mexico Today

Drought Monitor

Wind Forecast

Wildfire Prevention

Another Round of Severe for Texas Monday

TEXAS: Check out the tornado-warned storm tha

Tropics: Philippe in the Atlantic, Two Waves to Watch

Now that Ophelia's impacts are winding down,

More Storms & Rain for the High Plains

After a stormy weekend that produced big hail

Atmospheric River for Coastal Washington, Oregon & California

WEST COAST: An early-season atmospheric river

NASA OSIRIS-REx: Asteroid Sample Returned to Earth

Above - the first images of the landing of th

Ophelia Makes Landfall in North Carolina, Now Post-Tropical

Ophelia made landfall around 6:15 a.m. ET on

First Day of Fall: Where to Leaf Peep

Have the leaves started changing where you li