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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While the Midwest has finally seen a break from a cold and snowy pattern, warmer air and increasing moisture could lead to numerous severe storms on Thursday. A Pacific low is now strengthening in the lee of the Rockies and will continue moving east, bringing lift and wind shear to the region. At the surface, moisture from the Gulf is pulled north into mild winter temperatures. These parameters should allow for numerous severe storms Thursday afternoon, including the chance for strong tornadoes. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 062108-1771508366847.png">The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued an Enhanced Risk (level 3 out of 5) for portions of Illinois and Indiana for Thursday. Scattered damaging wind and large hail are expected to be the most widespread hazards, but several tornadoes are possible, including strong tornadoes for the areas in orange (above).<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 062113-1771509322747.png">The tornado potential is expected to be elevated, with a few tornadoes possible for the region in brown (above). Several intense tornadoes are possible for the areas in the yellow hatched region. Intense tornadoes can destroy or damage well built structures, so please have multiple ways to get alerts and know where your tornado safe place is. A basement or storm shelter is ideal, but if those aren't options heading to a room in the interior of your home/building is recommended, putting as many walls between you and the outside.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-19 06-35-05-1771509339844.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Storms are expected to intensify through the early afternoon, persisting through the evening as they move to the northeast. By around midnight most storms should lose the energy needed to produce damage.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 065559-1771509392275.png">Rainfall could be briefly intense, but flash flooding is not expected. Areas that see multiple thunderstorms could pick up 1-3" of rain.

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

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Brittany Lockley

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CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been impacted by the first of several frontal boundaries, which prompted severe warnings, flash flood warnings, heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds since Tuesday morning. Another Pacific system is bringing heavy snowfall and rain to California on Thursday. Strong damaging winds will be another primary concern to watch out for across the state, especially with saturated soils from the rain.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2023502650579284209" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2023502650579284209"></div>Snow totals have already exceeded 6 ft. for Homewood Mountain. Some areas could still see another foot of snowfall.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 152111-1771453280925.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2024232039315296461" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2024232039315296461"></div><h1>Timing &amp; Accumulation</h1>Another quick-moving system arrives late into Thursday, delivering another round of rain and mountain snow before tapering off late Thursday afternoon and evening. Several inches of additional snow are expected in the mountains, particularly above 5,000 feet. Snow levels could drop to around 4,000 feet Thursday morning and again Thursday night into early Friday, which means portions of Interstate 5, especially near the Grapevine, could see accumulating snow and lingering slick conditions into Friday morning. Check for road closures and delays as heavy snow will be very impactful across the higher elevations and passes.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-18 rsw-1771466048678.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Winter weather alerts remain much of California through Thursday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185426-1771466081261.png">Travel could be impossible in some spots with the high snowfall rates and winds. Another foot or more is likely across the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. For the mountains in Southern California, another half a foot still looks likely.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185450-1771466110061.png"><h1>Rain</h1>Rainfall totals with this next system are expected to range from about a quarter to a half inch across the coast and valleys, with up to an inch possible in the mountains. Areas north of Point Conception may see slightly higher totals due to persistent northwest flow keeping showers around longer. Behind the storm, Friday looks dry but chilly. Depending on how quickly skies clear and winds calm overnight, some valleys could experience patchy frost or even freeze conditions early Friday morning.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-19 044904-1771501755089.png"><h1>Winds</h1>Strong winds will remain a hazard across the state. Especially across Southern California, some wind speeds could reach gusts above 70 mph.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185601-1771466167682.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 152932-1771453780073.png">The weekend brings some improvement. Saturday is shaping up to be the nicest day of the next seven as a weak ridge builds overhead. Expect mostly sunny skies, dry conditions, and a modest warm-up with highs climbing into the 60s.&nbsp;However, the quiet weather will not last long. Another system is forecast to move into the Pacific Northwest on Sunday, bringing renewed moisture and unsettled conditions back into Southern California. While forecast models vary on timing and coverage, current projections show a 30 - 40% chance of rain Sunday through Tuesday. At this point, the system does not appear particularly moisture-rich, and rainfall amounts look relatively light.&nbsp;

Patrick Crawford

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

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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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PLAINS - Multiple active fires broke out on Tuesday across the Plains of Kansas and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Fire danger continues through the end of the week with red flag warnings and fire weather watches in place until then.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184211-1771465376648.png">The fires that began on Tuesday have burned a large amount of real estate, estimates show over 310,000 acres of wildfires burned since Tuesday afternoon causing low visibility and evacuation orders issued.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 165212-1771458739592.png">In the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, the Ranger Road Fire has burned nearly 300,000 acres since Tuesday with little to no containment.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184244-1771465478593.png">As our front has been moving through, a critical fire weather outlook risk is in place. Wind gusts up to 60 mph will be possible. Fire weather outlooks continue into Thursday and through the end of the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184515-1771465538007.png">Some winds were clocked close to triple digits. The winds prompted a blowing dust advisory to be issued on Tuesday afternoon, and a 30+-vehicle pileup resulted from brownout conditions along I-25 in southern Colorado.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Web 9-1771425927888.png">

Tracey Anthony

Alana Cameron

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

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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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ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in place across the four corners, with additional snowfall expected for the region. Some parts of Utah and Colorado have already seen over a foot of snowfall. More is on the way!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 182901-1771464572475.png">On and off rain and snow showers are expected to continue through much of the week, dropping feet of snow for some areas in the Rockies.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-18_rsw four corners-1771465292517.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snowfall totals could reach 1 to 3 feet in the higher elevations through Thursday. The system's track from the Southwest will favor upslope snow in SW Utah and Colorado, increasing totals there, such as Telluride.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 182910-1771465300619.png">Most ski resorts can expect at least 6-12" through Thursday morning, with some seeing up to two feet!Stay tuned to WeatherNation for the latest updates.

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

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Kevin Schneider

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More record high temperatures were broken across the northern U.S. on Tuesday. Some highs hit nearly 80° in Nebraska. Meanwhile, areas in Texas were in the upper 80s.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 051939-1771417181267.png">The ridge of high pressure will continue to push east, bringing the heat east through the week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 113242-1771439569480.png">More record high temperatures will be possible through Saturday as the heat builds east.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184923-1771465793558.png">Temperatures to the south will push into the 80s again on Thursday<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184911-1771465801711.png">The warmest temperatures this week will be on Thursday across the Southeast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 184940-1771465806630.png">Southern Plains anomalous warmth will help to increase the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/active-weather-weekend-ahead">severe weather threat</a> over the next couple of days. Confidence is very high in spring-like warmth sticking around as we wrap up the month and head into March. The chance for thunderstorms in a more spring-like pattern will continue along with it!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-18 185013-1771465823044.png">

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

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Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi this weekend. Leaving behind strong damaging winds and tornadoes. Two reports have been confirmed out of Mississippi from Sunday, both rating EF-1.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160500-1771196706661.png">Strong and severe storms have developed across the south and will continue through tonight. The threat continues across portions of Florida and Georgia. Damaging winds and tornadoes will be the primary concern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-15 160628-1771196792439.png">Be sure to join us on WeatherNation as we track this system's development!

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

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NORTHEAST - As this next clipper system continues through, we can see snow and some lake-effect snow. A high-pressure system will move in, and things will taper off on Thursday night.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/02-11_rne-1770838643023.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>When all is said and done, the heaviest snow ends up in upstate New York and most of the New England area. With a few of these lake effect bands cranking well into late week, we can see some totals top out at 6"!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-11 123841-1770838732760.png">But what about those temps after the fact? Well, judging by the Climate Prediction Center's (CPC) 6-10 day outlook, we're likely to continue with these above-average temperatures even after Valentine's Day weekend. It'll also do a good job thawing out some of that snow left behind by this week's clipper!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/web5-1770808056886.png">Make sure to stay locked in on WeatherNation! We'll cover this system for you all day, as well as break it down in depth in your east regional every :10 past the hour!

Lingering Snow in the Northeast

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Patrick Crawford has always been a huge weather buff! He grew up in Plano, Texas, and it was there that he experienced what Mother Nature was capable of doing. He would always turn on the television to see what local meteorologists were saying about the weather. That's when he realized he wanted to be a meteorologist.

Patrick graduated from Northern Illinois University (’04) with a degree in Meteorology and a double minor in Mathematics and Geography. Broadcast Meteorology has been great to him and he has been able to work in television markets all across the country. Some of his stops have included New Orleans, Green Bay and even Yuma, Arizona. He is so excited to be part of the WeatherNation team.

He has been awarded the prestigious CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) weather seal from the American Meteorological Society.

Feel free to catch up with Patrick Crawford on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistPC/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/MeteorologistPC">Twitter</a> pages.

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A cold front is sweeping itself through the Plains today bringing along cooling temperatures and the potential for some wintry weather. A surface low is expected to develop and enhance snowfall. Alongside this surface front, an upper level trough is sending in some cooler temperatures from the north to also help with snowfall chances.
<h1>Forecast</h1>
Morning snow is likely across the Dakotas and down into Nebraska through the morning. Then the snow chances keep dropping south through the afternoon and evening.  Some heavy snow will be possible in Missouri and Arkansas where winter alerts are in place.

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<h1>Accumulation Forecast</h1>
Here is the latest accumulation forecast. The Dakotas see the first of the snowfall with a couple inches expected before the low quickly dives south towards the Ozarks. For Arkansas and southern Missouri we could see up to 3-5" of snow.

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&nbsp;
<h1>Winter Alerts</h1>
Winter weather alerts are in place today for South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.  Snowfall of 1-4" will be possible with some ice mixing in as well.

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For the Ozarks, Arkansas has Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories for Wednesday into Thursday for 3-5" of snow.  This will likely create some hazardous travel conditons.

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Stay with WeatherNation to keep you updated!

Snow Expected Across The Plains Through The Ozarks Wednesday and Thursday

Forecast

Accumulation Forecast

Winter Alerts

Strong Tornadoes Possible in the Midwest, Ohio Valley on Thursday

While the Midwest has finally seen a break fr

Stormy Pattern Continues With More Rain, Mountain Snow for California

CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been

Wildfire Danger: Critical Conditions

PLAINS - Multiple active fires broke out on T

Rocky Mountains Receive Much Needed Snow

ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

More record high temperatures were broken acr

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mis

Lingering Snow in the Northeast

NORTHEAST - As this next clipper system cont