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>

Rob Bradley

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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.<h1>Outlook &amp; Timing</h1>The fronts begin to clash Tuesday afternoon from Texas through Illinois. The SPC has issued a large marginal risk for Tuesday (level 1 threat) with a slight risk (scattered severe storms) issued from western Kansas through the Texas Panhandle. Hail will likely be a bigger threat early in the day with a few tornadoes possible. Storms could grow into storm complexes with an increasing wind threat by the evening.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 053625-1791804992923.png">Scattered showers will kick the day off but will gain enough energy by the afternoon for severe storms to form. Storm coverage will likely increase gradually before bigger clusters of storms take over during the evening and overnight hours. Additional rounds of severe storms and heavy look to persist in the Plains and Midwest through at least Thursday.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-12 05-37-19-1791805067158.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>With a multi-day storm threat in the area, we can't rule out some more severe come Wednesday. A MARGINAL (level 1 out of 5) risk for severe weather remains in place for areas in the Southern Plains and Texas.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 053858-1791805147711.png"><h1>Flood Threat</h1>With the added moisture from Simon in the Pacific, heavy rainfall rates appear likely at times Tuesday 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 2026-10-12 053941-1791805195883.png">The heavy rainfall rates will present a risk for flash flooding/ The WPC is highlighting areas from central Missouri through west Texas with a level 2 risk (slight) for flash flooding for multiple days in a row!<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-12 05-40-36-1791805254874.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!

Adrian Hernandez

Severe Storms and Flooding Return to the Plains & Midwest

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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 National Hurricane Center is monitoring a low-pressure system near the Cabo Verde Islands, giving it a low chance to develop as it moves NNW. This system is not a threat to the United States.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 052652-1791804423820.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 2026-10-12 052735-1791804468565.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 3 and will be riding up the coast, bringing major impacts to Mexico. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 052809-1791804500147.png">Simon is expected to weaken considerably after moving over the state of Jalisco, before making another landfall as a Category 1 Hurricane near Culiacan.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 052850-1791804540673.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 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">

Tropics: Another Blob in the Atlantic, Pacific Stays Hyperactive

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Kevin Schneider

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A strong upper-level trough digging south from the Gulf of Alaska will bring some noticeable changes to the weather pattern. Wind, snow, and fire weather are possible, and this pattern will last into early this week.<h1>Upper-Level Trough</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 051918-1791803974115.png"><h1>Snowfall Totals</h1>After this weekend, Montana picked up quite a bit of snow with this system! Elk Peak got up to 19"!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 052056-1791804157531.png"><h1>Forecast Snowfall</h1>Our in-house model is showing significant snowfall further south through Thursday. In combination with some tropical moisture, a lot of what ends up in higher elevations, will fall as snow. As for now, we could see totals above a foot across the Rockies by the end of the week!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 052333-1791804294029.png">Stay tuned to WeatherNation at :50 past the hour for your full Western U.S. breakdown!

Digging Trough Brings Wind and Snow to the Rockies this Week

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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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More records were broken across the central plains and Midwest on Sunday as a ridge of high pressure continues to dominate! St. Joseph, Mo and Twin Cities, MN, reached 90°, breaking previous records. As we look ahead, many records will be challenged in the coming days!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 045742-1791802674049.png">For folks in the upper Midwest, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A front dropping through will break the heat, but farther south will take a little longer. We're already seeing those impacts in Bismarck and Rapid City!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 045849-1791802743931.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 2026-10-12 050248-1791802979903.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 050315-1791803010391.png">

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week

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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.

Jackie Brown

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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><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/overnigh racehsssll-1791768492215.png">Some areas across the Southwest saw multiple inches of rain, with Rachel's remnants prompting numerous flash flood warnings on Sunday. The flood alerts remain in place through Monday as additional rainfall totals of 1-2 inches will be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 045246-1791802386261.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 045330-1791802426284.png">Numerous and significant flash floods are possible for areas like Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, St. George, and Cedar City. There is a SLIGHT threat of heavy rainfall and flooding through Monday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 045502-1791802513170.png">More on your Western Regional forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Rachel Spreading Moisture into the Southwest

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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 are possible Thursday into Friday, along with an isolated tornado or two. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2107561532381090282" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2107561532381090282"></div>A stalled front is taking the moisture from Isaias and pulling it across Central and Northern Florida. For more info on Isaias and its impacts, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/Gulf-Braces-For-Tropical-Impact">read here</a>.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-08 09-10-32-1791472273083.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 085923-1791472325822.png">In addition to heavy rain, extra rotational energy from Isaias could spawn a few tornadoes on Thursday. Stay tuned to WeatherNation TV for additional details and live coverage.

Flooding, Tornadoes Target Central Florida Thursday

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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

Tropics: Another Blob in the Atlantic, Pacific Stays Hyperactive

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

Digging Trough Brings Wind and Snow to the Rockies this Week

A strong upper-level trough digging south fro

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

Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin, F

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week

More records were broken across the central p

Rachel Spreading Moisture into the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico

Flooding, Tornadoes Target Central Florida Thursday

Deep tropical moisture streaming north from t