Meteorologist Jesse Kelley is excited to join the talented staff at Weather Nation. Jesse spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama. The state of Alabama is prone to seeing various types of weather from severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and winter weather. For college, Jesse attended the University of South Alabama where he received his degree in Broadcast Meteorology along with minors in Math and Geography. From Alabama, Jesse started his broadcast television working three years at KAVU-TV in Victoria. Recently, he finished a stint in Shreveport, LA. Jesse and his wife are looking forward to making the Rocky Mountains and Colorado home. If you would like to follow me, you can follow me on Twitter @JesseKelleywx and on Facebook at Meteorologist Jesse Kelley.

Jesse Kelley

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<p>Friday and Saturday's weather pattern is favoring off shore winds for Southern California which is increasing the fire danger. Thursday, several fires did start across parts of Southern California near Los Angeles and San Diego! Near San Diego, the Henderson Fire started near Camp Pendleton and it has already grown over 1,000 acres and prompted a closure of Interstate 5!</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/VO_101526_RSW_OCEANSIDE, CA_I-5 SHUTDOW AS FIRE OVER 1K ACRES_CALTRANS_MS_E101526-1792116625441.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>North of Los Angeles, the Bryson Fire started Thursday which has prompted evacuation warnings and orders just north of Malibu! The fire has grown over 100 acres.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/VO_101526_RSW_LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA_BRYSON FIRE NORTH A MALIBU 100 ACRES_ALERTCALIFORNIA_MS_E101526-1792116726391.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h1>FORECAST</h1><p>The fire danger remains elevated to critical in California for Friday and Saturday. The strongest of the winds will likely be on Friday with gusts that could be as high as 60-70 mph. For this reason, High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories have been issued into Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792116999549.png"></p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1792117069498.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>In addition, the strong down sloping winds are drying out and heating up the Pacific Coast. Heat Advisories are in effect into Saturday. Temperatures could approach record territory for parts of Southern California with highs in the middle and upper 90s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792117229461.png"></p>

Fire Danger Increasing for Southern California

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<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>Extreme rainfall has been hitting areas of Texas and Oklahoma over the past 3 days. This is tropical moisture out of the Eastern Pacific that is feeding into this heavy rain set-up. Heavy rain will stay a factor into Friday for many of these same areas. Flash flooding and ponding will be likely.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792105981174.png"></p><p>On Wednesday, a tornado was captured on video near Fort Stockton. Preliminary reports indicate this tornado caused some damage.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2110471661556498786" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2110471661556498786"></div><p></p><h1>Outlook &amp; Timing</h1><p>Even though there were no outlooks for severe, intense thunderstorms will be possible overnight into Friday morning for areas of West Texas. Rainfall rates could get over 1" per hour and lead to flooding conditions.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792106185285.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Flood Threat</h1><p>With the added moisture from Simon in the Pacific, heavy rainfall rates appear likely at times through Friday. Rain could fall at more than 2 inches per hour in some areas overnight, with totals surpassing 3 inches in a few locations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-15 063540-1792068465522.png">There is a <strong>moderate</strong> threat for heavy rain and flooding across portions of SW Texas, while the slight risk encompasses much of west Texas into Southern Oklahoma.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792106287609.png"></p><p>Tune in to WeatherNation for your top weather headlines. Your full Central Regional Forecast can always be found :30 past the hour.</p>

Patrick Crawford

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

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<p>A pair of low pressure systems will combine to bring stormy conditions to the Northeast to end the work week, ushering in cooler and drier air for the weekend. Severe storms are possible in the warmer areas (south of the Great Lakes) while areas farther north could see a little bit of snow! The clashing air masses and quick pressure changes will also lead to strong and gusty winds.</p><h1>Severe Storm Potential</h1><p>In the warm sector, severe storms are possible Thursday and Friday as back-to-back fronts tap into sufficiently warm and moist air. Damaging winds are the primary hazard, which could down trees and power lines, but an isolated tornado or two will also be possible each day.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792112212733.png"></p><p>Tornado potential will shift east to end the week, starting on Thursday around I-70 in Illinois and Indiana. On Friday, the threat covers parts of the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia through D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792115691129.png"></p><p></p><h1>Timing</h1><p>As the southerly low moves east, a clipper system from Canada will be moving east as well, bringing moderate to heavy rain to parts of the Midwest and Great Lakes. Severe storms are possible east of the southerly low, where warmer temperatures can still provide enough storm fuel. By Friday, the two fronts combine into one larger system, bringing heavy rain across New York and New England, while severe storms are possible by the afternoon around the Mid-Atlantic.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1792115867211.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><h1>Winds &amp; Cooler Air</h1><p>Gusty winds will accompany the frontal passage, with widespread gusts of 20-25 mph. Gusts over 40 mph are possible across the Northeast on Friday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1792116014371.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Temperatures will drop quickly behind the front, dropping into the 40s for highs this weekend parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792115909814.png"></p>

Severe Storms to Snow, Big Changes for the Midwest and 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.

Jackie Brown

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<p>More records fell on Thursday afternoon and even more record highs could fall on Friday. Check out where the numbers were Thursday afternoon.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic6-1792115411145.png"></p><p>While some of us are already getting in on some cooler air, areas in the South and Northeastern U.S. are still feeling some of that heat!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic5-1792115538505.png"></p><p>Temperatures take a nosedive in the coming days. Kansas City will see temperatures go from the 70s to the 50s in the coming days! Many temperatures will be below average for this part of the country. However, the cooler temperatures won't last super long before warmer air tries to move back by the weekend. Mother Nature doesn't know which direction it wants to go as temps will be swinging up and down through the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic4-1792115731884.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic6-1792115885129.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic3-1792115638268.png"></p><p>Tune into WeatherNation :30 past the hour for more on your central regional forecast.</p>

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p>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.</p><h1>Atlantic Basin</h1><p>The low that the National Hurricane Center was monitoring has already lost that organization. Only serving to be a rainmaker for the Cabo Verde Islands. Any potential development was squashed by upper-level winds.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792022157888.png"></p><h1>Pacific Basin</h1><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">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. Not only do we have Hurricane Simon, but tropical storm Trudy formed on Tuesday.</span></p><h2>Simon</h2><p>Simon is an impressive hurricane, at one point a strong Category 4. It is currently Category 2 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 in the Baja Peninsula.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792105712382.png"></p><h2>Trudy</h2><p>With some warm Pacific waters, Trudy is expected to intensify to major hurricane strength, maybe even a category 4! Areas in southwestern Mexico are looking to be the heaviest impacted spots at this point. Check out how quickly Trudy will strengthen in the next few days.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 5-1792105743302.png"></p><h1><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">El Nino Fueling Pacific Activity</span></strong></h1><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-08 104818-1791478116096.png"></p><p>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"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">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.</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 Nino 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>

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

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Brittany Lockley

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<p>A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatures and rounds of snow across the Rockies. So far, portions of Montana have seen 1 to 2 feet of snow. Snow is still lingering in Wyoming and Colorado. In fact, parts of these states are under <strong>Winter Weather Advisories </strong>through Thursday afternoon.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-15 075003-1792072220461.png"></p><p><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.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792023424748.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>Our in-house model shows isolated snowfall totals up to a foot of across the higher elevations.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792023498486.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 54° on Thursday afternoon after starting the day with lows in the 30s. Freeze Watches have now been issued for parts of the Rockies and Western Plains into Friday morning!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-15 075157-1792072328421.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-15 075100-1792072300854.png"></p><p>For the latest updates on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation.</p>

Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

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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>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.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109372509783232854" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109372509783232854"></div><p></p><p>The California coast remains under <strong>Coastal Flood Advisories </strong>through Tuesday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121608-1791828991428.png"></p><h1>Rain &amp; Flood Forecast</h1><p>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!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-12 121715-1791829042950.png"></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2109622612250988652" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2109622612250988652"></div><p></p><p>More on your Western Regional forecast can be found :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.</p>

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

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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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Olaf formed Wednesday morning off the coast of Mexico with sustained winds at 40 mph. The storm increased to a Category 2 Hurricane before making landfall in Baja of California. Strong winds, surge and dangerous surf are impacting Cabo San Lucas as Olaf churns along.

https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1436056821417005063

At the latest update, Olaf has weakened to Tropical Storm strength, but is still impacting Baja California.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155784" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2021/09/olaf-2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" />

&nbsp;

Tropical alerts have been downgraded slightly to Tropical Storm Warnings the southern/central portions of the Baja Peninsula as tropical storm &amp; hurricane force wind gusts are likely along with high surf.

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&nbsp;

The current path of Olaf moves it slowly away from Baja California as a Tropical Storm. Expect impacts to the peninsula through Saturday morning. The storm will then move over open waters this weekend, moving west-southwestward and weakening.

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Olaf is the fifteenth named storm of the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season. There is another area of interest off the coast of Mexico which could become our 16th named storm, Patricia. Development with this system is possible later this weekend or next week.

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Stay with us as we bring you updates to the tropics on WeatherNation.

Olaf Weakens After Baja California Landfall

Fire Danger Increasing for Southern California

Friday and Saturday's weather pattern is favo

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Extreme rainfall has been hitting areas of Te

Severe Storms to Snow, Big Changes for the Midwest and Northeast

A pair of low pressure systems will combine t

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records fell on Thursday afternoon and e

Tropics: Pacific Stays Hyperactive, Atlantic Quiets Down

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

Cooler Air & Lingering Snow for The Rockies

A digging trough is bringing cooler temperatu

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

Rachel came ashore in far northwestern Mexico