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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<p>On Tuesday afternoon, Tropical Depression 9 formed off the Mexico coast in the southern Gulf. We expect this storm to continue to organize and strengthen as it makes its way north. By Thursday, it should reach hurricane status, making it the first one in the Atlantic this year; shattering previous satellite-era records for latest hurricane to form. As it moves north, the National Hurricane Center has its initial landfall forecast between New Orleans and Panama City Beach as a category two. Reminder, category two storms have winds between 96-110 mph. Heavy rain and flooding will be possible along the Gulf Coast states, regardless of the system's strength. For now, that is the biggest impact we're expecting.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 144652-1791319622624.png"></p><p>If you're living along the Gulf Coast, now is definitely the time to really start paying attention to the forecast. There is still some uncertainty in the forecast as there is shear and dry air standing in its way as it moves north. That's why the ensemble forecasts below still don't perfectly line up. Anyone form the Louisiana coast to the Big Bend of Florida should be on alert for changes in the forecast.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 145024-1791319834804.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 043745-1791283113704.png"> <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 043921-1791283176257.png"></p><p>Our in-house BARON model shows nonstop heavy rain associated with a different system we've been tracking this week. The potential impacts are likely going to arrive this weekend.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-06 04-32-38-1791282833711.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>Regardless of strength and intensity, we can count on heavy rainfall across a lot of these Gulf Coast states into the weekend. We're seeing potential totals above 6 inches! The flood threat will definitely be there as a result.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 145001-1791319989532.png"></p><p>Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation. We'll bring you the details you need, and cut out all the hype.</p>

Jackie Brown

BREAKING: Tropical Depression 9 Forms in the Gulf

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>Deep tropical moisture streaming north from the Gulf is combining with a slow-moving front, setting the stage for widespread showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast.  Apalachicola, Florida, saw 7.49 inches of rain on Monday; this was the wettest October day on record! More heavy rainfall and flash flooding remain in place over the next couple of days.</p><h1>Timing</h1><p>After all the heavy rain throughout the Southeast over the weekend, more heavy rain will continue as a frontal boundary lingers. As this front moves south, heavy rain will shift south as well.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/JFJFJFJFSSSSS-1791336230013.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Some localized totals of 5-6 inches of rain will be possible. Watch out for localized flash flooding and ponding on the roads in the usual spots.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 045454-1791284109371.png">The long-term forecast keeps the Gulf Coast very soggy into the middle of October. At least the temperatures are cooling off behind these fronts heading into the month of October.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 045521-1791284133960.png"></p><p>Stay tuned to WeatherNation TV for additional details.</p>

Heavy Rain and Flood Threat Along For The Gulf Coast

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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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<h2>WHAT TO EXPECT</h2><p>Another round of records was broken today across the West as an area of high pressure continues to dominate!  The record warmth will be in place through Friday as temperatures will be running 10-20 degrees above average. Over the next 3 days, many cities will be near, tie, or break the current records.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/fjds-1791335834444.png">Heat alerts remain in place through Friday. Los Angeles is under an extreme heat warning, meaning use caution if working outdoors and make sure to drink plenty of water!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/heat alretssss -1791314866594.png">Check out temperatures in Los Angeles! The average high is normally 80°, but temperatures will flirt with the century mark even in the next few days. Temperatures will remain in the upper 90s for Las Vegas, and Phoenix will dig into the 100s.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/wed friday-1791314750370.png">The NW will also be threatening record high temperatures. High temperatures prove to stay hot in most of the cities in the Northwest. These highs will be anywhere from 10-15° above average.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST HIGH TEMPSSS-1791335964727.png">Tune in to WeatherNation for the latest on this forecast and records that break throughout the days to come.</p>

Record Heat Returns to the West

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<h1>Pacific Basin</h1><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season, with no signs of slowing down. Nolo is now Typhon Nolo. Hurricane Rachel is still churning, and a new area of interest is likely to develop this week.</span></p><h2>Rachel</h2><p>Rachel continues to impact the western Mexico coastline indirectly; it will continue its trek west through the week. At times, this storm will run into some wind shear and weaken somewhat.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/hurricanee -1791336547344.png">There is another area of potential interest we are watching in the Eastern Pacific. This is a <strong>high</strong> chance of development in the next 7 days.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-06 045233-1791283965650.png"></p><h1><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">El Niño Fueling Pacific Activity</span></strong></h1><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-04 082933-1791124216732.png"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Niño continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific. El Niño 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.</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-28 194202-1790646127358.png"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">This year’s El Niño has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-12 063433-1789216512410.png"></p>

Tropical Update: EPAC Remains Active

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Adrian Hernandez

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<p>A noticeable change in the weather is on the way for millions across the Great Lakes and Northeast as some of the coldest air since spring moves into the region.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p>After an unusually warm start to October, a push of Canadian air will send temperatures tumbling over the next several days. The transition could eventually bring the season’s first widespread frost and freeze to portions of the northern United States.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-03 073235-1791034366761.png">Check out how cold the temperatures will be for the Northeast early next week. This cold air could kill temperature sensitive vegetation.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-05 063050-1791203461967.jpg"></p><p>The cooldown marks a dramatic change following the recent stretch of unseasonably warm weather across the eastern United States.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span>October is typically when the first freeze becomes increasingly common across the Midwest and Northeast, although the exact timing varies considerably depending on elevation and location.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-03 073713-1791034643040.png">For many across the Great Lakes and Northeast, the upcoming cold snap could provide the clearest sign yet that the warm days of early fall are beginning to fade.<span style="color: rgb(36, 36, 36)">&nbsp;Stay Tuned for more details in the Eastern Regional forecast on WeatherNation TV :10 past the hour.</span></p>

Fall Temperatures for the Northeast

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Tracey Anthony

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<h2></h2><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2105658995948281901" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2105658995948281901"></div><h2>WHAT TO EXPECT</h2><p>Tropical moisture from the remnants of Polo and the Gulf have surged north and met a frontal boundary. This has equaled a formula of very heavy rainfall. Flood alerts are in place through Thursday across portions of the plains and Midwest. The soils for this part of the country are already very saturated for many. This means adding more rainfall can lead to flooding of rivers, creeks, and streams, and flash flooding is not out of the question.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1790897782083.png"></p><h2>TIMING</h2><p>Rounds of heavy rain will continue on and off. Isolated areas of flooding will be possible. Friday, this low will move east, and we will see drier conditions by the end of the week.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1790897919777.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h2>TOTALS</h2><p>Folks can expect very heavy rainfall, with most seeing around 2"- 4". Some localized areas of a half foot will be possible! Never try to drive through floodwaters, and make sure to take any flood alerts and warnings seriously. If you live in an area prone to flooding, make sure to have an action plan in place if flooding develops! </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 5-1790897796211.png"><br>Make sure to tune into WeatherNation for the latest forecast!</p>

Patrick Crawford

Plains & Midwest: Slow Moving Storms Increase Flood Threat

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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>In the last month, the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona have seen their fair share of monsoon showers and storms.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2103622200872079365" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2103622200872079365"></div><p>This week, tropical moisture is pushing across the Southwest and plains. This tropical moisture, from Hurricane Polo, will bring the potential for significant flooding across the region.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/poloooo-1790728785495.png"></p><p></p><p>The flooding has already been seen across the Southwest, including Nevada.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2104753032432910655" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2104753032432910655"></div><p>A major push of this moisture will continue to move through.. Several more inches on top of what has already come down are expected. This can quickly lead to flash flooding and debris flows, especially over burn scars. The heaviest of the activity, now expected in Colorado and the Central Plains.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-30 054240-1790768613194.png">The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has a <strong>moderate</strong> (level 3 out of 4) flooding threat in place for portions of Colorado and New Mexico. The flooding threat will taper off by late-week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/overnighssss-1790820790763.png">Make sure to tune into Weathernation for the latest updates on the forecast.</p>

Another Round of Flooding Possible for the Southwest

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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.

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A Fall cold front will spark up a few thunderstorms to kick off the new week.  Some of these thunderstorms may reach severe limits, bringing the threat for damaging wind gusts, sizeable hail, and heavy downpours.  A dip in the jet stream will help provide energy for the potential of some thunderstorms on Sunday, but mostly into early Monday morning from northeast Arkansas to western Kentucky.

These thunderstorms will likely bring some isolated gusty winds and frequent lightning, and some elevated instability which could suggest some marginally severe hail.  The severe threat will be focused across northeastern Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and far southern Illinois.
<h1>Monday Severe Outlook</h1>
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The cold front will push east and eventually become stationary, setting the stage for flooding rainfall.
<h1>Severe Storm Risks</h1>
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Heavy rain is expected to continue in the region into Tuesday, extending the risk for flooding.  Southeastern Missouri, western and northern Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southwestern Ohio could potentially accumulate 3 to 5 inches of rain.

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Keep it tuned to WeatherNation in the days ahead for more forecast information.

Isolated Severe Storms for the Lower Mississippi Valley On Monday

Monday Severe Outlook

Severe Storm Risks

BREAKING: Tropical Depression 9 Forms in the Gulf

On Tuesday afternoon, Tropical Depression 9 f

Heavy Rain and Flood Threat Along For The Gulf Coast

Deep tropical moisture streaming north from t

Record Heat Returns to the West

WHAT TO EXPECTAnother round of records was br

Tropical Update: EPAC Remains Active

Pacific BasinThe Pacific Ocean has been incre

Fall Temperatures for the Northeast

A noticeable change in the weather is on the

Plains & Midwest: Slow Moving Storms Increase Flood Threat

WHAT TO EXPECTTropical moisture from the remn

Another Round of Flooding Possible for the Southwest

In the last month, the southwestern states of