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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It's been a long, hot summer. That might be an understatement, actually, as<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-202608"> the U.S. experienced it's hottest summer on record</a>! Areas like the Southwest were especially warm, but even through September the South and Southeast have been scorching! Just in time for fall, a cold front will be cutting across the country to start the week, dropping highs from the 90s to the 60s in some areas! While it won't be completely dry behind the front, many people will feel a significant cool down. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-19 09-27-51-1789831686059.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Unfortunately, for folks along the Gulf Coast and down into Florida, this front won't be strong enough to reach that far south, but for areas like Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Virginia, this will usher in a major change!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 092515-1789831701069.png">Highs will drop 20-30 degrees in many areas from Sunday through Tuesday, including Oklahoma City and Washington D.C.!<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 092836-1789831773576.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 092844-1789832303701.png">Autumnal Equinox</h1>Fall begins on Tuesday, at 8:04 pm ET, which is the exact time the suns rays cross over the equator the southern hemisphere begins to lean more toward the sun. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 093856-1789832359623.png">Both the vernal and autumnal equinox (Latin for equal night) marks the point of the year when the earth gets hit equally by the sun in both hemispheres. This is different from the winter and summer solstice, when the hemispheres reach their point of maximum inclination toward the sun.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 093913-1789832367580.png">

Finally Cooling Down; Cold Front Arrives Just in Time for Fall

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The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active so far this hurricane season, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Meanwhile, the Atlantic remains mostly quiet, as record wind shear continues to tear apart tropical waves moving off Africa. While shear is high in the MDR, is hasn't been as robust farther north, where a new tropical depression formed on Saturday.<h1>Atlantic Basin</h1>Tropical depression Six formed Saturday morning to the west of the Azores, otherwise the basin remains quiet, with no additional activity expected over the next 7 days. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 101151-1789834376043.png">This system is not expected to be impactful for the United States, but will continue to create heavy rain and big waves near its path, which is expected to track southwest as it weakens. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 101131-1789834387853.png">The end of September and start of October could get interesting in the Atlantic Basin, as more widespread lift is expected to develop. Wind shear is still at a record high, which should be able to crush any waves coming off of Africa. Tropical development will have better potential in the western Atlantic and Gulf, where shear is much lower.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-17 091009-1789657855421.png"><h1>Eastern &amp; Central Pacific Basins</h1>Several systems are being monitored in the Pacific, with good chances for two of the waves to develop into tropical cyclones. The central wave will meander a bit, while the more easterly wave could stay closer to Mexico.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-19 062902-1789820957204.png">Neither has a clear path toward land yet, but both are worth monitoring for interests in Mexico and Hawaii. Global models develop both systems which could become our next named storms! Here is a snapshot of the model by Wednesday. Next on the list is Odalys and Polo.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/WEB 5-1789739526003.png"><h1>El Niño Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-15 105410-1789491264736.png">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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-16 073748-1789565873978.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">

Topics: Tropical Depression Forms in Eastern Atlantic, Pacific Stays Active

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The second largest reservoir in the United States now sits at its lowest level on record, following a dismal year for snowfall in the Central Rockies. Images released by NASA (top of page) show the contrast with 2017, which saw heavy snow during the preceding winter and thus, plentiful runoff during the spring and summer. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131721-1789759308683.png">Downstream, Lake Mead and the Parker Dam are both at their lowest levels at to-date over the past 30 years. Both are also fed by the struggling Colorado River. River managers have had to take action to keep water levels above the threshold necessary to generate power, including releasing extra water from upstream basins and cancelling timed releases set to help native species survive on the river.<h1>Snowpack Determines River Levels</h1>While the Southwest Monsoon has had a solid season in 2026, those hit or miss thunderstorms are only a drop in the bucket compared to the water supplied to the Colorado River from melting snow. The river is fed by numerous mountain ranges in the Central and Southern Rockies, though most of the water comes from the mountains west of the continental divide in Colorado.<h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131656-1789760441419.png"></h2>Snowpack in Colorado got a late surge in the Spring but was still near record lows, especially in Southwestern Colorado. Many ski resorts were forced to shut down a week to a month ahead of normal. The melt-off of the snowpack was the second earliest on record. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 134932-1789760993718.png">The deficit of precipitation is tremendous in many areas, but western Colorado stands out with the bright red colors, indicating at least 2 feet of water missing over the last year. Other mountain ranges that send runoff into the Colorado are also lagging well behind, with deficits of 1-2 feet widespread across the west. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 131534-1789761117664.png"><h1>Winter Outlook</h1>The surging El Niño could offer some help in the form of heavy precipitation. Wetter than average conditions are favored across much of the west, with near normal precipitation favored for much of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Unfortunately after many years of below average precipitation, it would likely take many successive seasons to help the river return to normal. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-18 135826-1789761517713.png">

Lake Powell Drops to Record Low

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For the first time in the satellite era (since 1966), no hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic Basin to date, breaking the record for the latest date in the season. Two seasons previously held the record, with both Gustav (2002) and Humberto (2013) becoming the first hurricanes of their respective seasons at 8 am on September 11th. For the real nerds and weather historians out there, 1907 and 1914 did not have hurricanes either, but records in these years relied on observations from ships in the ocean or if a hurricane made landfall. Hurricanes could have formed in these years, but may have been missed due to a lack of satellites.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2098422798066798906" src="https://x.com/philklotzbach/status/2098422798066798906"></div>While there have been five named storms to date, they've all been tropical storms, producing limited energy. ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy) measures total energy released by tropical cyclones and can be a good way to compare seasonal activity. So far, the Atlantic has produced less than 10% of its average ACE, while the Pacific has been nearly doubling what's expected.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-14 073312-1789392812595.png"><h1>El Niño Continues to Crush Atlantic Activity, Set To Break Records</h1>It's not surprising the Atlantic has been quiet while activity in the Pacific has been exploding. El Niño continues to break records and is expected to be the strongest on record as it peaks from the fall into the winter. El Niño is a global weather pattern, characterized by a shift in wind direction which pushes warm water east across the equator toward South America. These warmer water temperatures fuel tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific, but the warm water also alters the behavior of trade winds in the Atlantic. The increased wind shear from the trades often tears apart tropical systems as they try to get organized.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-16 074742-1789566465249.png">El Niño is expected to continue to intensify through the end of hurricane season, with a gradual wind down through the late winter and spring months. This should continue to limit tropical activity in the Atlantic, but that doesn't mean additional systems can't form and hit the United States. Remember, while wind shear increases over most of the Atlantic during strong El Niño events, the Gulf and western Atlantic (off the east coast of the US) can have less shear, leading to a better chance of systems forming closer to the coast. We've already experienced that several times this season with tropical storms.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-10 124853-1789066432246.png">

No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

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Tracey Anthony

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No surprise here: More records were broken across the Southern U.S. on Friday (above). The heat paired with very dry conditions, is now leading to brush &amp; wildfire issues for the South Central Plains<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2100336425468387653" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2100336425468387653"></div>Heat Advisories remain in place through Saturday. Temperatures will be hot and the humidity will make it feel even hotter.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/1-1789784154000.png">On Saturday, temperatures will be hot for many. But with the temperatures combined with the humidity, things are going to be hot. With the humidity spots like Little Rock will feel like 106°. New Orleans will have a high of 90°, but will feel like 96°.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/1-1789784197337.png">Weekend Sports games will still have brutal heat.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/WEB 8-1789739906792.png">Some short term relief will be in the cards for some...<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/WEB 9-1789739883665.png">...but the longer-range forecast does not bring much relief in sight. There remains a higher confidence that temperatures will stay above normal through mid-late September.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-16 045119-1789555890283.png">

Jesse Kelley

Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

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An area of low pressure in the Gulf of California is going to streamline moisture into the Four Corners this week. A SLIGHT threat for heavy rainfall and flooding has been issued for the Four Corners region through Friday morning as this increased moisture more rain on areas already dealing with excess water from storms the last few days.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/BARON 5-1789696910447.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2099906097209340139" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2099906097209340139"></div>Rainfall totals could exceed several inches. Do not drive through flooded waters. Be on higher lookout for mudslides and debris flows from recent burn scars.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/1-1789696808960.png">The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has added some Marginal risks for severe storms over the Northern 4 Corners into this weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/PIC 5-1789689038736.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/PIC 4-1789689088585.png">Below is the latest on the timing of these showers and storms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/FORECAST-1789689177972.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>More details can be found during your Western Regional Forecast, :50 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Significant Moisture Increases Flooding Threat for the Southwest This Week

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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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Monday proved to be an active severe weather day for the plains. The significant wind threat definitely materialized across this region, giving us wind reports out of Nebraska, close to 90 mph!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-15 034852-1789466001637.png">Tuesday, another marginal threat for severe weather stretches all the way from Texas to Southern Michigan. Cities in the risk include Kansas City, Chicago, and Indianapolis. Damaging winds will be the main concern on Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-15 034906-1789466030835.png">These storms are expected to form and roll on through around dinnertime. This is also when we'll see the highest likelihood for some of these severe storms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/2026-09-15 03-49-33-1789466093879.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay with WeatherNation TV for the latest forecast, severe weather alerts and updates throughout the weekend.&nbsp;

Adrian Hernandez

Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

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Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service in Seattle have conducted a preliminary storm survey and found the tornado that moved through the town of Port Orchard, WA, was an EF-2.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1075176326699442176

This tornado is the first F2/EF-2 in the state of Washington in 30+ years.

https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1075515281357688832

There were reports of significant tree and home damage along the path.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1075387677841575936

Crews are still surveying the damage as of Wednesday afternoon and we will continue to bring you updates as they come in.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1075175132174331904

For WeatherNation, I'm <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/meredith-garofalo/">Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo</a>

Port Orchard Tornado an EF-2

Finally Cooling Down; Cold Front Arrives Just in Time for Fall

It's been a long, hot summer. That might be a

Topics: Tropical Depression Forms in Eastern Atlantic, Pacific Stays Active

The Pacific Ocean has been incredibly active

Lake Powell Drops to Record Low

The second largest reservoir in the United St

No Hurricanes Yet in the Atlantic, A New Record

For the first time in the satellite era (sinc

Summer Heat Holds it's Grip on the South

No surprise here: More records were broken ac

Significant Moisture Increases Flooding Threat for the Southwest This Week

An area of low pressure in the Gulf of Califo

Active Pattern Takes Shape Across the Plains

Monday proved to be an active severe weather