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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Severe weather looks to return to parts of the Plains and Midwest this week as a big western trough cuts into record warmth to the east. As these air masses clash, tropical moisture from Simon will be pulled north, adding fuel for storms and downpours. Some massive hailstones have already been seen across Texas on Tuesday evening reaching 2.75" in diameter. That's the size of a baseball!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185617-1791939383997.png"><h1>Outlook &amp; Timing</h1>The SPC has issued a large marginal risk through Tuesday night (level 1 threat) with a slight risk (scattered severe storms) issued from Kansas through the Texas Panhandle. Hail remains a larger threat, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes possible. Storms could develop into storm complexes, with wind threats increasing through evening.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185155-1791939126057.png">With a multi-day storm threat in the area, we can't rule out some more severe storms on Wednesday. A marginal to slight risk for severe weather remains in place for areas in the Southern Plains and West Texas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185321-1791939206818.png"><h1>Flood Threat</h1>With the added moisture from Simon in the Pacific, heavy rainfall rates appear likely at times through Friday morning. Rain could fall at more than 2 inches per hour in some areas, with totals surpassing six inches in a few locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185555-1791939359281.png">The heavy rainfall rates will present a risk for flash flooding. The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has a slight risk for flooding highlighted for the next three days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/10131-1791939292311.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>These outlooks and the timing will change as we inch closer to Tuesday and Wednesday. Be sure to check back in for updates!

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

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A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatures and rounds of snow across the Rockies. So far, portions of Montana have seen a foot to two feet of snow! Rounds of snow and rain will continue over the next few days. In fact, parts of Colorado and Utah are under Winter Weather Advisories through Wednesday and Thursday morning. The alerts through Colorado last through Thursday, while the alerts in Utah last through Wednesday morning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/montana snow reports -1791912601730.png">As this low-pressure system moves through, expect rounds of rain and snow over the next few days, with things tapering off by Thursday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1013-1791939019706.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Our in-house model shows isolated snowfall totals up to a foot of across the higher elevations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185029-1791939034398.png">Cool temperatures will continue to be below average as this low-pressure system moves through. Denver normally has a high of 66° and will only see a high of 49° on Wednesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 185101-1791939065905.png">For the latest updates on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation.

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

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Kevin Schneider

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It's getting to be that time of year! Systems are dropping out of Canada with a lot of wind energy. A strong system will deepen, bringing the strongest push of cool air of the season for some. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115344-1791914249422.png">The cold air moving over the warm lake waters could lead to some interesting weather by this weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115442-1791914436190.png">The winds will pick up by Friday, and could be breezy this weekend. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 115504-1791914516407.png">As strong winds push cooler air that will likely spark lake-effect showers Friday night into Saturday. But as temperatures fall overnight, rain could change over to some snow in upstate New York. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 120133-1791914702973.png">There's still plenty of time to work on the fine details of this forecast and fine tune where we'll see the heaviest.

Jackie Brown

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

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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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More records were broken across the central plains and Midwest on Monday as a ridge of high pressure continues to dominate! Chicago saw a record high of 88°, beating out the old record of 84°. As we look ahead, many records will be challenged in the coming days!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 052939-1791890994450.png">Cooler air dominates the upper plains and Midwest. Bismarck and Rapid City normally see high temperatures in the 60s but will only be the low 50s for afternoon highs. Many other cities, also getting in on those cooler temps. This frontal boundary is definitely bringing that chill!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/TUESDAYYY -1791839817965.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053018-1791891107463.png">The southern plains and southeast will get back to and stay in another round of August-like heat. Temperatures across the southern plains will dig into the 90s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053230-1791891166549.png">The Southeast will remain above average as well! Little Rock averages a high of 76° and will see temperatures in the low 90s into the week. The cooler air will likely get here by the end of the week!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053257-1791891188443.png">

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

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Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hurricanes in the Atlantic, but how will the rest of the season shape up? Record-breaking wind shear is likely to continue to limit most tropical systems in the Atlantic, but a few more storms are still possible. The low that the National Hurricane Center was monitoring has already lost that organization. Only serving to be a rain maker for the Cabo Verde Islands. Any potential development was squashed by upper level winds.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053516-1791891334169.png"><h1>Pacific Basin</h1>The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season and looks to continue to create additional activity through the next week. Several systems could bring impacts to the United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053720-1791891452460.png"><h2>SIMON</h2>We also have Hurricane Simon, which formed Wednesday afternoon off the coast of Acapulco. Simon is an impressive hurricane, at one point a strong Category 4. It is currently Category 1 and will be riding up the Mexican coastline. Initial forecasts had Simon making landfall as a category 2. Now, it'll likely make landfall as a tropical storm.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-13 053833-1791891527864.png"><h1>El Nino Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 104818-1791478116096.png">The Eastern Pacific has already hit records for the year being so active.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121954-1791829204234.png">The surge in tropical activity comes as El Nino continues to strengthen across the equatorial Pacific. El Nino 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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-28 194202-1790646127358.png">This year’s El Nino has already strengthened considerably, and forecasts indicate it could become exceptionally strong later this year.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-12 063433-1789216512410.png">

Adrian Hernandez

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

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Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico, but the moisture, wind, and coastal hazards have brought impacts across the Southwest. Heavy rain has already prompted flash flooding, with elevated winds reportedly leading to some damaged trees. Remnants of Rachel are also significantly impacting the Southern California coastline.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109372509783232854" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109372509783232854"></div>The California coast remains under Coastal Flood Advisories through Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121608-1791828991428.png"><h1>Rain &amp; Flood Forecast</h1>The Remnants of Rachel brought heavy rainfall. Las Vegas saw 1.08" of rainfall on Sunday, breaking the old record of .78". This ties the all-time wettest October Day!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121715-1791829042950.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109622612250988652" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109622612250988652"></div>More on your Western Regional forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, FL, around 8:30 pm CT as a Category 2 hurricane. Maximum sustained winds were reported at 105 mph with a minimum central pressure of 971 mb.On Wednesday evening, Isaias became the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. This breaks the decades-old record of the latest to form in the modern, satellite era.The storm got off to a slow start, but quickly strengthened Friday, becoming a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph. Although it weakened slightly as it came ashore, there are widespread reports of wind damage and power outages along the coast. Isaias is now a post-tropical cyclone as it continues moving northward into the Mid-South.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2108724199535919547" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2108724199535919547"></div><h1>Flooding/Storm Surge Recap</h1>Isaias brought heavy rainfall totals across the southeast. Heaviest totals stayed stuck down into Alabama and Florida, with Bellwood getting real close to that 13" mark!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051330-1791803624676.png">The flooding concerns extended down to the coastline. Places like Panama City Beach in Florida, say peak storm surge up to 5.5 feet!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051029-1791803632011.png"><h1>Severe Weather Recap</h1>Isaias made landfall as a strong category 2 hurricane. The max wind gusts definitely reflected that, with some spots across the Sunshine State picking up category 3 level wind gusts!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051502-1791803779120.png">The remnants of Isaias brought flooding and many severe storm reports. North Carolina saw numerous tornado and wind reports. Flash flooding was also a concern as the tropical moisture moved through.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/remnantssss -1791769459868.png">Stay tuned to the forecast here on WeatherNation. We'll bring you the details you need, and cut out all the hype.

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

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"It was nerve racking, it jolted me. I was kind-of shocked for a second. The umbrella flew out of my hand and I was kind-of disoriented and ran to my car and just tried to get out of harms way," recounts Romulus McNeill after he found himself way too close to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-111518" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2019/08/waterspout.jpg" alt="" width="1708" height="813" />

WeatherNation Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo spoke with Romulus about this video, showing an incredibly-close lightning strike that occurred on Thursday.

"We were having a teacher-parent conference night for back to school and it was 6:42 p.m. and every one had already left the building. I had reservations about going
outside because I didn't want to get struck by lightning. And when I went outside, it just struck. And it was just kind-of shocking. It was nerve racking, it jolted me.
I was kind-of shocked for a second. The umbrella flew out of my hand and I was kind-of disoriented and ran to my car and just tried to get out of harms way," describes Romulus.

Cloud-to-ground lightning strikes happen in an instant. Lightning can strike miles from the base or top of a thunderstorm cloud. Always remember, 'When Thunder Roars, Head Indoors.'

Romulus continues his experience, "I felt like a static shock to my body. Like I said it hit on my right side and it was so quick, I just instantly got nervous and nerve racked. My principal said he
watched it through the inside of the building. He saw it from inside the building. It was thunder and lightning at the same time. What was crazy was that I saw the
lightning strike in front of me across the street by a store, but the lightning actually...I guess may have diverted or it could have been another lightning strike that
came right towards me."

In terms of advice for folks reading/watching this story?

"I'm going to be super careful about going outside in any lightning period...or thunder!"

Our appreciation to Romulus for allowing us to share this weather story to help others truly understand the dangers of lightning!

For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier

Man Describes His Close Encounter With A Lightning Strike

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

Severe weather looks to return to parts of th

Cooler Air & Snow Invades The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

System Late Week Roars into the Northeast

It's getting to be that time of year! Systems

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records were broken across the central p

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

Isaias Makes Landfall as A Category 2, Recapping it's Impacts

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F