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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The severe storm threat shifts into Iowa and the Midwest with another ENHANCED risk (level 3 out of 5) for severe weather. Hail has already reached up to 1.75" in size for parts of Missouri. A significant tornado threat stretches from Cedar Rapids, IA to Quincy, MO on Tuesday. This means we could see an EF-2 tornado or stronger spin-up. We also run the risk of large, damaging hail. There's a possibility of seeing over 2" in diameter, or larger, hailstones. 2" in diameter is about the size of a hen's egg. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/sigs 2 day-1713297760712.jpg">Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/looking-ahead-thursdays-severe-threat">Looking Ahead: Thursday's Severe Threat</a>Scattered severe thunderstorms continue across the Midwest and Mid-Mississippi Valley through tonight. A warm sector (region between the warm front and cold front) has been promoting large upscale growth which means storms continue to grow and produce all severe weather hazards as they mature. This surface boundary has been paired with an upper-level low to create more shear in the atmosphere to help with rotating storms.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04163-1713305900473.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The severe threat pushes eastward with a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) on Wednesday in the Midwest and Midsouth. A few non-severe thunderstorms will be ongoing early Wednesday morning but the cold front arrives Wednesday afternoon providing the lift necessary for storm development across the Ohio River Valley. Storms then move into New England on Thursday, with a low-end severe weather threat.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-16_wed-1713296770094.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The heaviest rain will fall in the Upper Midwest with this system, and isolated areas of flooding are possible. Although it might come in a little heavy at times, this is needed rainfall. Most of the Midwest has seen dry conditions, but the drought is much worse in eastern Iowa which will impact the agriculture season there.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-16 161924-1713305971510.png">Stay with WeatherNation as we cover the latest severe weather threats across the U.S.

Over 4 Million Under Tornado Watch through Tonight

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Alana Cameron was born and raised in Canada in the city of Mississauga, just outside of Toronto. Alana is the oldest of 4 siblings, all close in age, and grew up playing outside with them in all types of weather. After graduating high school, Alana moved to study at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna for a year before transferring to Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Atmospheric Science. Upon completion, Alana moved back to Toronto where she completed a post-grad degree in Meteorology at York University. After her post-grad, she went on to complete another post-grad in Broadcast Journalism - TV News at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. During her final year of studies she had the privilege of interning with the best in the business in Canada at The Weather Network. Once she finished her internship, she got the call from small-town Denison, Texas where she accepted a job as an on-air meteorologist at KTEN-TV, right in tornado alley, covering severe weather from Sherman/Denison (North Texas) to Ada (Southern Oklahoma). After the most active tornado season Oklahoma had seen in May 2019 (105 tornadoes!) Alana is excited to join WeatherNation to cover weather all across the nation. If you're interested in following her on social media she can be found @alanacameronwx!

Alana Cameron

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Snow is falling in the northern and central Rockies through the middle of this week with accumulations close to 18" for the highest elevations of Colorado, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming! As a result, winter alerts remain in effect for portions of Wyoming and Montana.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-04-16 162044-1713306055449.png">Snowfall totals for portions of Wyoming, the Tetons, Idaho, and Montana could still reach up to an additional foot through the next day or so.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-16_rnw_snow-1713296319478.png">Snowfall will continue in the high terrain off and on for the next few days as northwesterly winds combined with low pressure development leads to orographic (terrain lift) producing snow showers for the highest peaks.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04126-1713306163524.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>If you're thinking it's pretty late in the season to see snowfall, you may be surprised to learn that many cities in the northern Rockies see their average last snowfall in April and May, and we are right on track!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/avg last snow-1713189992904.jpg">

Spring Snow in the Rocky Mountain States

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As we have observed in the past few days the atmosphere has been primed for severe weather this month. As we continue our multi-day severe weather event, with an outlook in place in Kansas on Wednesday. These are the same areas that were hit hard by severe storms Monday night and Tuesday morning with another round of overnight severe weather possible this week.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-16_rnc svr wed-1713296820546.png">The severe potential is more widespread on Thursday: we have a slight risk (level 2 out of 5) issued in the Southern Plains and into the Midwest. There will be two areas of focus, one in the Midwest leftover from Wednesday's storms and additional storm development in the heat of the day through the Deep South and southern Plains.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/spc-1713286326381.jpg">A piece of energy slides out of the Rockies Wednesday night into Thursday with widespread heavy rain. A few isolated storm cells develop south of I-70 through the overnight developing into a cluster of storms along I-70 in Missouri Thursday morning. Later in the day, the cold front will produce isolated showers and thunderstorms through the Mississippi Delta and Deep South while an isolated cluster of storms will be ongoing in the Midwest.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/0416-1713306978554.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay with WeatherNation for all of your severe weather needs.

Looking Ahead: Midweek Severe Threat

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Caitlin Connell

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Fire Danger often comes around on the back-side of severe weather set-ups this dry air is often the reason for the severe weather set-up. The Storm Prediction Center has kept elevated fire concerns through Wednesday for portions of New Mexico, Colorado, and West Texas.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1780325290084098523" src="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation/status/1780325290084098523"></div>Anyone who has to drive high-profile vehicles today, pay attention to the wind alerts in your area and be prepared to make stops.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/WIND-1713270440473.jpg">Gusty winds will peak during the afternoon hours of Tuesday. Gusts can reach up to 70 mph with isolated stronger gusts possible.A reminder: 80% of wildfires are human-caused. Do everything you can to prevent a spark or a flame heading into Tuesday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Wildfire prevention-1713096778880.jpg">

Elevated Fire Danger Next Few Days

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Kevin Schneider

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It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s noisemakers are set to return in a big way this year as not one, but two sets of periodical cicadas will emerge in the Midwest and Southeast. It is the first time these two specific broods have surfaced together since 1803! This is the first time since 2015 that a 13 year cycle brood emerges at the same year as a 17 year brood.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5jJPrP5rfE" start="0"></iframe></div>The southern brood emerges every 13 years and is known as the Brood XIX, the largest brood in the U.S.. The Northern Illinois brood has a period of 17 years, making these two broods overlap uncommon. They will only overlap in central Illinois, where is expected to be the noisest!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Closer look at Illinois locations overlap.mp4_snapshot_00.01.232-1713196589008.jpg"><blockquote>Katie Dana, a researcher with the Illinois Natural History Survey who studies the cicadas says, “We have broods emerging across the U.S. almost every year, but we don’t often have broods emerging at the same time. Just like how birds have different songs, cicadas have different songs...we have over 3,000 different species of cicadas so we have so many different songs.”</blockquote>Periodical Cicadas are large, loud insects with bright red eyes. They live underground for years. Once the cicadas take to the skies, they will be in the air for about 3-4 weeks, mating before laying eggs and reburying themselves for another 13 or 17 years.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Slow zoom east coast brood locations.mp4_snapshot_00.06.391-1713196589005.jpg">Depending on where you live, the double brood emergence could start as soon as April but will happen whenever the ground temperatures reach 64°. According to Katie, “It’s those warm soils that push them out of the ground, but they’re also looking for some moisture. If you have really dry soil, it’s going to make it hard for them to dig out.” Given that we've had some of our warmest winters on record in the Midwest we are looking at the opportunity for earlier emergence of the broods.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Warmest Winter on Record.mp4_snapshot_00.05.538-1713196589007.jpg">If you’re less than thrilled about these beaty-eyed bugs, focus on the positives. They provide extra nutrition for birds and animals and spark a reset for oak trees allowing them to produce more acorns a few years after they emerge. If that’s not enough to get you through... the next time these two broods will be out at the same time won't be for another 221 years, which will give you plenty of time to learn to appreciate the cicada screams.

Lucy Bergemann

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Multiple records were tied and broken across the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast on Monday. Norfolk, VA set a new record of 90°, breaking the old one by 1° dating back to 1941! Louisville and Cincinnati also broke records. We could even break records this afternoon across portions of the Mid-South.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/pot recorxcd highs-1713297371718.png">The heat will continue over the next few days as an upper-level high-pressure system over the Gulf responsible for the hit is parked over the Southeast.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-16_rse set up-1713297389400.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Temperatures will near records for cities such as Tampa, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Fort Myers all with the opportunity to tie or break records. Heat should wane in the mid-Atlantic as cooler air and wetter weather arrive through Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-16_rse wed to sat-1713297397649.png">The record for Tampa to beat is 89° and the forecast high for Wednesday is 91°!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot 2024-02-26 113946-1713271245179.jpg">Make sure to tune into WeatherNation for the Central and East Regional forecasts at :30 and :10 minutes past the hour to learn more about what your city highs will be this week.

Potential Record Heat from the Plains to Southeast

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The Storm Prediction Center has maintained an enhanced risk (level 3 out of 5) of severe storms through the overnight hours across Nebraska, Kansas, and southern South Dakota. A slight risk (level 2 out of 5) extends from South Dakota through Texas. Severe weather threats include several tornadoes, very large hail, and damaging winds. Storms continue into Tuesday and Wednesday as the area of low pressure responsible for the storms moves east.Related article: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/looking-ahead-severe-weather-tuesday-through-wednesday">Looking Ahead: Severe Weather Tuesday Through Wednesday</a>Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue developing overnight across the Great Plains. A dryline working through the western Plains will be responsible for overnight convection across these areas encouraging upscale growth through the overnight timeframe.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-15_ovn wide-1713236069384.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Highlighted below, there's a significant hail threat overnight from portions of southern South Dakota, reaching through Nebraska and into central Kansas. And there's a separate bullseye from the Red River Valley and through Abilene, TX. This means there's a possibility of seeing hailstones 2" in diameter or larger. A few isolated tornadoes can spin up with the first few isolated supercells, some of which have the potential to be EF-2 or greater for the areas in brown.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2024/04/04-15-overnight sig-1713236193126.png">Be prepared for another multi-day severe weather event and stay with WeatherNation for all your weather needs.

Overnight Storms Target the Great Plains

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Here are some of our top weather stories for the nation.

Severe Weather

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A severe weather is in place for today and Saturday across the South and Southeast. Across the south today numerous severe storms are likely with damaging winds expected especially overnight. This active weather could have implication for the Master's golf tournament taking place this weekend.

Winter Weather

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Winter weather continues across the High Plains, Great Lakes and eventually Mid-Atlantic from today through Sunday. Some areas in around the nation's capitol could pick up measurable snow. Very cold air is expected push far south into Kansas and Oklahoma this weekend, potentially leading to record low temps across the nation.

Western Rain

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Heavy rain continues to pour into the western United States, with flooding concerns from California to Idaho. By the end of the weekend, some areas could measure several inches of rain.

Fire Threat

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Increased fire concerns are in place across parts of New Mexico and Texas today and through the weekend as warmth, wind and drought lingers across this region.

For WeatherNation, I am <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MarcusDWalter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Marcus Walter</a>.

Top Weather Stories for Friday, April 6th, 2018

Over 4 Million Under Tornado Watch through Tonight

The severe storm threat shifts into Iowa and

Spring Snow in the Rocky Mountain States

Snow is falling in the northern and central R

Looking Ahead: Midweek Severe Threat

As we have observed in the past few days the

Elevated Fire Danger Next Few Days

Fire Danger often comes around on the back-si

Double Trouble: Cicadas Take to the Skies this Spring

It’s the soundtrack to the summer. Nature’s n

Potential Record Heat from the Plains to Southeast

Multiple records were tied and broken across

Overnight Storms Target the Great Plains

The Storm Prediction Center has maintained an