<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a></span></p>

Rob Bradley

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<p>After a slow start, tropical activity in the Atlantic is picking up!<strong> Erin</strong> became the first hurricane of the Atlantic on Friday the 15th. On average, the first hurricane in the Atlantic forms on the 11th of August. Erin rapidly intensified after becoming a hurricane, going from a tropical storm Friday morning to a category 4 hurricane by Saturday morning. The view above is of Erin's impressive eye during sunrise Saturday morning. Note the stadium effect and the hot towers, signs on an intense hurricane.</p><h1>Hurricane Erin</h1><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 083558-1755354970036.png">Erin is moving west-northwestward across the Atlantic and is expected maintain its strength as a major hurricane over the weekend as it moves through warmer waters. While the Caribbean is avoiding a direct hit, big swells, gusty winds, and flooding will still be possible. Flood watches are in effect in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands into Monday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 083635-1755355005088.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 051246-1755342778330.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 051250-1755342811582.png"></p><h2><strong>Steering Factors</strong></h2><p>Erin is forecast to track westward, then take a curve to the north. The strength of the ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic will determine when Erin takes this turn northward. While the vast majority of models keep Erin off the East Coast, it's still too early to say with complete confidence.</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 051314-1755342801199.png">Impacts - Rip Currents / Big Waves</h2><p>The strongest winds from Erin are likely to miss the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles to the north, but if Erin is a major hurricane it's tropical storm wind field could expand to include areas like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 051344-1755342891487.png">The certain impact will be increasing wave heights and dangerous currents from the Caribbean this weekend to the U.S. Atlantic Coast next week. Beach goers on the East Coast next week should be very cautious going into the water.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-16 05-14-15-1755342900526.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p><em>RELATED ARTICLE: </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/csu-issues-final-2025-atlantic-hurricane-season-forecast"><strong><em>CSU, NOAA UPDATE Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast</em></strong></a></p><p>Tropical activity in the Atlantic has been off to a slow start the 2025 season. Before Dexter formed, Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) in the Atlantic was less than 15% of normal. Dexter more than doubled this stat, but it's still less than 30% of a typical year, even though we may be ahead of schedule when it comes to named storms. That being said, the bulk of seasonal activity is still ahead of us, with 88% of the annual energy occurring after the first week of August.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 054732-1755172059923.png"><br>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest tropical updates.</p>

Tropics: Hurricane Erin Rapidly Intensifies, Nearly Category 5

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<p>The summer pattern across the Midwest has yet to break, with several more days of ridge riding storms in the forecast! Several troughs moving through Canada will help spur storms across the northern tier of the country as the ride around the ridge of high pressure to the south. This is sometimes known as a "ring of fire" pattern, which can lead to multiple storms moving over the same locations, leading to an increased risk for flooding.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 061827-1755346715991.png"></p><h2>Severe Weather Outlooks</h2><p>The SPC has issued severe weather outlooks for the next 3 days for many of the same locations between eastern Montana and Indiana. Saturday's risk includes a level 2 threat in South Dakota for damaging winds and hail. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 062241-1755347270717.png">While wind and hail are expected to be the primary hazards, isolated tornadoes are possible as well near the Upper Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 062322-1755347300113.png">The risk for at least isolated severe storms will continue Sunday into Monday as storms continue to ride around the ridge of high pressure. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 062545-1755347277196.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 062550-1755347283691.png"></p><h2>Forecast</h2><p>Storms look to initiate in the afternoons, but also potentially overnight. With the threat for overnight storms, be sure to have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts that can wake you up so you can quickly go to your shelter/safe place.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/New Baron Video 3-1755312967212.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Heavy rain will be an issue with the repeated rounds of severe storms. Through the next few days, rainfall amounts between 3-8" can be found across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 061745-1755347161751.png">Elevated flooding potential will start on Friday, persisting in the Upper Mississippi Valley region through the weekend.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-16 06-31-39-1755347524189.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest updates on the forecast. You can always find your full Central Regional Forecast:30 past the hour.</p>

Rounds of Storms: Northern Plains to the Great Lakes

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Brittany Lockley

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<p>The heat dome that affected the southwest for a while has moved over to the plains. Low pressure has shifted over the west, and the flow around the high pressure out east is pulling monsoonal moisture into the Four Corners, leading to showers and thunderstorms. Friday brought some monsoon storms and a daily maximum rainfall record for Prescott, AZ where over a half inch of rain fell down. More storms are expected this weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-16 052858-1755343754239.jpg">The best chance for showers and storms will come during the afternoon and evening hours. It is possible for a few overnight storms in the Desert Southwest. The main threats from the storms will be some gusty winds and heavy rainfall.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/New Baron Video 3-1755313388483.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Over the next seven days, we are forecasting approximately one to two inches of rain in some locations. Some isolated flooding could be possible, especially if heavy rain falls over burn scar areas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755313439177.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755313475552.png"></p><p>Tune into WeatherNation TV for more details.</p>

Monsoonal Moisture Returns to the Southwest

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<p>Numerous wildfires continue to burn across the Western United States, including three "Megafires," or fires burning over 100,000 acres: The Lee wildfire, Dragon Bravo wildfire, and Gifford wildfire. In addition to the warm weather and dry fuels, fire spread could be accelerated in the next few days with more dry thunderstorms and gusty conditions.</p><h1>GIFFORD FIRE</h1><p>Burning as California's largest wildfire in 2025, the Gifford Fire has torched over 130k acres. The good news has been the containment numbers in recent days. That has increased to 62% as of Friday afternoon.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/VON_081125_RSW_SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CA_3 OF 3 BEST ONE CLOSE UP VIDEO OF CREWS WORKING THE GIFFORD FIRE_TW_@SBCFIREINFO_MS_E081225-1755015460725.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>LEE FIRE</h1><p>A large fire erupted on the western slope of the Rockies, named the Lee Fire. It has only been burning for a little over a week, but it has already burned as much acreage as the Gifford Fire, 132,000 acres. Most of the poor air quality has been locked up in western Colorado, fluctuating at times. </p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-15 182807-1755304097873.png"></p><p>The Lee Fire is likely to soon become Colorado's third-largest wildfire in state history, needing fewer than 6k additional acres to top the size of the Pine Gulch Fire, which burned during the historic 2020 season in the Centennial State.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-15 083821-1755268710453.png"></p><h1>DRAGON BRAVO FIRE</h1><p>One of the largest fires in Arizona history, the Dragon Bravo Fire, has continued to smolder along the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. It has burned more than 144k acres, making it the 7th largest in state history.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1953931727044223408" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1953931727044223408"></div><p></p><h1></h1><h1>FORECAST</h1><p>Dry and gusty conditions will still have the potential to lead to rapid rates of fire spread through Saturday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-15 183117-1755304289428.png"></p><p>Lightning will still have the potential to spark more fires. Isolated dry thunderstorms are possible into the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-15 183210-1755304341108.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.</p>

Jesse Kelley

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t7PjF9VFI2c" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p><em>Title Image Provided By: <span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85)">NOAA/Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)</span></em></p><p>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recently certified a new "megaflash" as the longest in the world. The flash, which stretched from Eastern Texas to Kansas City, MO occurred in October 2017 during a mesoscale convective system. The flash covered 515 miles across a notorious stormy hot spot within the United States. A distance that would normally take eight or nine hours to drive, was covered in mere seconds. </p><p>The new record surpasses the previous from a 2020 thunderstorm across the Southern United States. So how did a lightning strike from 2017 somehow come out the blue to beat the 2020 record? </p><p>The WMO said this particular flash wasn't identified initially during the 2017 analysis, but was later discovered after re-examination of data.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(15, 23, 42)">“This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment. Additionally, WMO assessment of environmental extremes such as this lightning distance record testify to the significant scientific progress in observing, documenting and evaluating such events. It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time,” said Professor Randall Cerveny, rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes for WMO.</span></p><p>You can learn more about other Weather and Climate Extremes through the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wmo.int/site/world-weather-and-climate-extremes-archive">World Meteorological Organizations Archive. </a></p>

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

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Chris Tomer

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<p>The long-range temperature trend towards the end of August shows higher confidence that temperatures will remain above average. Even this week, temperatures are feeling the summertime heat. But, there's a sharp cold front moving through with a 20 degree temperature drop for parts of the Pacific Northwest.</p><h1>Relief!</h1><p>A sharp cold front delivered cooler air to the PNW on Wednesday. That will drop temperatures substantially from the low 90's in Seattle on Tuesday to the 70's. Another reinforcing shot of cooler air moves in this weekend, but that one has some rain chances with it. I think we'll take it give how the first part of the week was shaping up.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 164022-1755124826854.png">Although this front in the Northwest won't bring rain to the region, there will be rain in the forecast later in the week with another incoming system.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/08132-1755125133242.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>In the Southwest, we had a few record highs on Wednesday. A small cooldown is anticipated for the rest of the week. Although for the desert areas, a small cooldown drop highs to near normal which is still above 100 degrees.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755142014621.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/tomer sw 3 day highs-1755129927501.jpg"></p><h2>Northeast</h2><p>The heat continues (ahead of a cold front) on Wednesday with additional record highs in Maine.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755142092712.png"></p><p>Temperatures have cooled significantly since Tuesday with some areas 15° cooler compared to the last 24 hours.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 164216-1755124976442.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.</p>

Coast to Coast Heat With Some Relief & Storms

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<p>Get a blanket and find some dark skies! One of the most prolific meteor showers of the year will peak during the upcoming week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/TOMER PERSEID-1754872084317.jpg"></p><p>The Perseid Meteor Shower typically reaches a peak during the second week of August as the Earth moves through the debris field left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which makes a trip through the solar system once every 133 years, last visiting the inner-solar system in 1992. Debris left by the comet dives through the Earth's atmosphere to create the beautiful meteor shower we expect. <br><br>2025 isn't expected to be the best year to see the meteors, unfortunately, as the waning gibbous moon will rise in the evening, washing out any faint meteors that may have been seen under a new moon. Ideal conditions can produce 50-100 meteors per hour, but with the brightness from the moon, expect 20-50 under dark skies away from city lights.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-10 052401-1754829026071.png"></p><h2>A Pair of Planets</h2><p>Another fun astronomical event will be gracing the morning skies through much of this week - the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/TOMER PERSIED 2-1754872142561.jpg"></p><p>These planets will appear to be right next to each other in the morning sky, even through they're still millions of miles apart! They will appear closest together Tuesday morning, with only about 1° of separation between them.</p><h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-10 052347-1754829006824.png">WILL THE WEATHER COOPERATE</h1><p>Clouds could hinder many in the east Tuesday night. But many will have a decent shot at seeing the skies.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/tomer perseid sat-1755045274886.jpg"></p>

La Nina Possible By Autumn - What It Changes For Peak Hurricane Season

Tropics: Hurricane Erin Rapidly Intensifies, Nearly Category 5

After a slow start, tropical activity in the

Rounds of Storms: Northern Plains to the Great Lakes

The summer pattern across the Midwest has yet

Monsoonal Moisture Returns to the Southwest

The heat dome that affected the southwest for

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

Numerous wildfires continue to burn across th

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

Title Image Provided By: NOAA/Cooperative Ins

Coast to Coast Heat With Some Relief & Storms

The long-range temperature trend towards the

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week - How to Watch

Get a blanket and find some dark skies! One o