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 Southwest is getting active once again with chances of flash flooding and river flooding. Friday, Las Vegas experienced some strong storms resulting in flooding and large hail falling across downtown. This was only the first of three low pressure system moving through the region this weekend, with the final two expected to deliver even heavier rain and mountain snow.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/VO_103026_RSW_HENDERSON, NV_GREAT VIDEO OF FLOODING WITH CAR STUCK_FB_MS_E103026-1793411988779.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>The next low will be pulled north from the Pacific by a developing trough and cold front from the Northwest. As these systems combine, intense rainfall, gusty winds, severe storms, and heavy snow are expected.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2116621232905101602" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2116621232905101602"></div>Flood watches have been issued and the WPC (Weather Prediction Center) has issued outlooks for scattered to numerous flash flooding events through Sunday. A PDS Flood Warning was even issued in southwest Colorado with expected river levels.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182333-1793582624272.png">Severe weather remains in the forecast through Sunday night. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182419-1793582662681.png">Significant winds and significant tornadoes will also be possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182520-1793582724542.png">

Catastrophic Flooding in the Southwest Possible Again

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Secondary severe weather season is getting started now that cold air masses are diving into the south, meeting warm and moist air from the Gulf. A strong trough will move out of the Rockies on Monday, leading to the development of a surface low and cold front, which will help focus strong and severe storms in the Plains and Midwest to start the week.<h1>Forecast</h1>Severe storm chances ramp up from Oklahoma City to Kansas City through the afternoon, shifting slightly east into the evening. Storms could develop farther south into Texas late in the evening, with a squall line that could drop across Texas into the morning hours on Tuesday. Heavy rain and strong storms continue to shift east Tuesday, toward the South and Central Gulf.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/1101-1793582327322.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Outlooks</h1>A Slight risk has been issued into the Central and Southern Plains, with a marginal risk draped down to the Rio Grande in the Big Bend region. All threats of severe weather (hail, wind, tornadoes) are possible.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 181638-1793582204545.png">A Marginal risk for severe weather remains through Tuesday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 181933-1793582376831.png">Heavy rain could lead to isolated or scattered flash flooding. Areas around the Lower Mississippi Valley certainly need some rainfall, as extreme and exceptional drought have expanded recently, but rainfall rates could lead to drainage systems getting overwhelmed.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182112-1793582477603.png">More on your Central Regional forecast can always be found :30 past the hour on WeatherNation.

Severe Storms Target the Plains & South to Start the Week

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Time to wax the skis and grab the winter gear, skiing is back for the season in the United States. Arapahoe Basin became the first major ski area in the country to open for the season on October 28th, with Keystone just behind, opening on Friday the 30th.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 103324-1793554416103.jpg"> Snow moved across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, dropping 9" for Mammoth Mountain in California.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182656-1793582843471.png"> That energy is pushing farther east. Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings remain in place through the Rockies Monday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182807-1793582891472.png"> Thankfully for the ski areas open this weekend, they have very high base elevations, with Keystone around 9,300 feet, but A-Basin and Wolf Creek are even higher, over 10,000 feet! Snow will start coming down heavily through Sunday morning, persisting well into Monday. Gusty winds could cause issues, however, with gusts over 40-50 mph possible at higher elevations. Chair lifts may need to be shut down for the gustiest of times.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/11011-1793582989822.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Heavy snow will fall where ski resorts and areas have yet to open, but it will provide a nice base for higher elevation areas. Mountain travel could be difficult at times this weekend, especially in higher elevations.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/11/Screenshot 2026-11-01 182835-1793582932730.png">

Skiing Opens in the Rockies, Heavy Snow on the Way

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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Hopefully the costume's picked out by now, the candy receptacle is made or purchased, and physical conditioning is in peak form! It's the week of Halloween, which has all of the spooky lovers in a good mood. The only thing that might get in the way is Mother Nature.<h1>TREATS</h1>Here is how temperatures are shaping up as kids are heading out for some goodies. Jackets will likely be needed with costumes across the Northeast and the Northwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic6-1793394324970.png">Roughly, a line from the Front Range into the High Plains should be good to go if the timing/placement of this ridge is nailed down. That means we just have to prepare for the festivities, with some help from the Red Cross<h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-26 080023-1793024061010.png">TRICKS</h1>This is where things get...tricky. Right now, the two different areas that are of some concern are the Southern Plains and the West. Another strong trough will pour onshore late in the week, keeping things out west pretty active. Ahead of that trough, plenty of moisture will get pulled north out of the Gulf, which could help fuel stronger storms, depending on how things come together.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/10313-1793484418419.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Along and downstream of that feature rippling through the Midwest and eventually the Mid-Atlantic might want to watch the timing on things, just to be sure an umbrella doesn't need to become a part of the costume too. It's too soon to know if it'll be a washout that affects plans all day or splash-n-dash storms that pick on a particular timeframe.<h1>FALL BACK</h1>Also, remember to set the clocks back an hour going into Sunday. Otherwise, you'll be waking up an hour early when you could have been sleeping off the candy coma instead. Might be a good weekend to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors and weather radios, too!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-31 154707-1793484346746.png">Or maybe take the day to ease into a new way of life, with sunsets closer to 5:00. Although latitude has something to do with it, location within your timezone has a lot to say too.

HALLOWEEN 2026: Is the weather a Trick or a Treat?

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Brittany Lockley

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A surge of tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Vance (EPAC) is increasing the threat of heavy rainfall and flash flooding across portions of Texas as the state prepares for Halloween.&nbsp;Even a tornado near Uvalde, TX Thursday gave locals a scary sight.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2115960860254642544" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2115960860254642544"></div>Moisture streaming northward from the remnant tropical system is expected to interact with Gulf moisture, creating favorable conditions for widespread showers and thunderstorms. Some communities could experience repeated rounds of heavy rain, increasing the potential for flooding in vulnerable areas.&nbsp;Flood watches are in effect for the western half of Texas.Keep up with WeatherNation LIVE for the latest on Flash Flood Warnings: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dDyjHc8DkA">YouTube LIVE STREAM</a><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-30 070255-1793365386255.png">Most of the storms will move from West to East Texas by Friday night. After a brief break, a wave of energy from the Four Corners will sweep through early Saturday. Trick-or-Treating should be fine for much of West Texas, as it should all move out by Saturday night. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/tx-1793365981551.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Additional rainfall totals of up to an inch are possible across parts of the region, with locally higher amounts where thunderstorms repeatedly develop over the same locations. These heavier downpours could overwhelm drainage systems and cause rapid rises in creeks, streams and low-lying roadways.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-30 070850-1793365759127.png">Flash flooding remains one of the most dangerous weather-related threats because water levels can rise quickly, sometimes with little warning. Motorists should never attempt to cross water-covered roads, as even relatively shallow moving water can sweep vehicles away.&nbsp;

Patrick Crawford

Flash Flood Concerns Across Texas Ahead of Halloween

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NEW HOME, JAMAICA - October 28, 2025, will be remembered as the day the island of Jamaica changed forever. Hurricane Melissa slammed into the western side of the island with 185 mph sustained winds, flattening areas of the island. Agencies have been reporting that insurance payments have been slow over the past year, leaving a shortfall of capital heading into what is the peak season for tourism there.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-28 065457-1793192735289.png">Hurricane Melissa devastated islands in the Caribbean in late October in 2025. Four months later, the National Hurricane Center has completed the post-storm analysis of Melissa, finding that the winds reached 190 mph, tying it with Hurricane Allen for the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin's history.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-28 070552-1793192770453.png">The folks at the National Hurricane Center concluded that Melissa reached a central pressure of 892 mb at its strongest, which lashed the western side of Jamaica with high winds, incredible storm surge, and prolonged rainfall. All of these factors contributed to 95 known fatalities as of the report, released February 26, 2026.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-25 095044-1772038470377.png">The origins trace back to a tropical wave emerging off of the western coast of Africa on October 13th. By midnight on the 26th, Melissa had rapidly developed into a major hurricane. With weak steering, the forecast track was HIGHLY uncertain. Even with this uncertainty, the forecast track was incredibly accurate by the National Hurricane Center (below)<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot 2026-02-25 095418-1772038476153.png">What's going to gain more attention is the upgrade to 190 mph winds. According to the National Hurricane Center, even though they didn't directly observe the winds specifically:<blockquote>"Based on a blend of satellite estimates, flight-level wind and dropsonde data"</blockquote>This ties it with Hurricane Allen from 1980, which was the previous strongest hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Basin.In March, the World Meteorological Organization <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/wmo-retires-the-name-melissa-following-devastating-impacts-last-fall">announced they were</a> retiring the name in the wake of the devastation. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-28 065440-1793193323670.png">The storm also produced the strongest wind gust ever recorded: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/hurricane-melissa-produces-strongest-gust-recorded-in-a-hurricane">Watch Here</a>Official Report from the National Hurricane Center: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL132025_Melissa.pdf">READ IT HERE</a> Josh Morgerman reliving Melissa: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/iCyclone/status/2009330402310381611?s=20">WATCH IT HERE</a>

Rob Bradley

Anniversary: Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Jamaica

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Kevin Schneider

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This week, the ocean is coming to low-lying areas near you! King tides are back for the next several months, which will lead to sunny day ocean water flooding for vulnerable areas at times. <div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2115058432051126377" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2115058432051126377"></div> The exact highest tide will vary for different locations, but through the end of the next several months, when the moon is nearly full, high and low tides will be elevated. In 2026 into 2027, this will occur during the end of the month, through January.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2115783209619210352" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2115783209619210352"></div><h1>What Causes King Tides?</h1>The Earth's orbit around the Sun is offset a bit, meaning the distance to the Sun varies throughout the year. The Earth's closest point to the Sun occurs in early January, meaning the gravitational effects of the Sun on the oceans increase through early January. When the moon is full and closer to the Earth (perigee), this adds another pull of gravity and increases the tides further. This will occur toward the end of October, November, December, and January, increasing the range of tides.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 053902-1792843085873.png">In October, the full moon occurs on the 26th while the moon's closest point to Earth happens just a few days later. This will help create some of the highest tides of the year for many areas along the U.S. East Coast.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 054717-1792843101424.png"><h1>East Coast</h1><h2>Florida</h2>Coastal flood alerts are in effect for the Atlantic Coast of Florida, all the way up into Virginia. High tide flooding could leave vulnerable areas under a foot or two of water at times, leading to various impacts, including closed roads.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/WEB 1-1793279864445.png"><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2115171683250344379" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2115171683250344379"></div>Florida's highest tide cycles of the fall season will occur in October and November, with the highest tides of October's cycle happened Tuesday morning. Low-lying areas will have several rounds of flooding this week, so it's best to avoid low-lying areas during high tide times.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/WEB 2-1793279914610.png"><h2>Carolinas</h2>The latest forecast is showing the tides are decreasing in height over the next few days. While this is good news, if you are traveling along the coast stay vigilant driving through flood waters!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/WEB 3-1793279979406.png"><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 055652-1792844169803.png">Mid-Atlantic &amp; Northeast</h2>Minor coastal flooding is expected in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the October cycle of king tides. Low-lying areas could see flooding inundate areas with about a foot of water. In New England, the highest tides should occur during the November and December cycles.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 061926-1792844685757.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 061930-1792844699823.png"><h1>West Coast</h1><h2>California</h2>California is already experiencing elevated tides due to El Niño and a surge of warm water up the coast, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/incoming-kelvin-wave-to-southern-california-one-piece-of-the-el-nino-puzzle">known as a Marine Kelvin Wave</a>. Several large wave events this fall have damaged numerous homes along the coast as well. As a result, King Tide impacts in California could be more significant this season compared to past years. Alerts have been issued from San Diego up past the Bay Area.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/WEB 5-1793280107889.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 063244-1792845194824.png">The highest tides of the October cycle occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, though the highest tides of the year are expected in December.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/WEB 4-1793280080491.png"><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 061945-1792844713149.png">Oregon &amp; Washington</h2>The highest tides of the year for Washington and Oregon are expected later this year as well, during the December high tide cycle. A full "supermoon" will aid in making these tides quite impactful.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-24 063406-1792845257233.png">

Tracey Anthony

Sunny Day Flooding; King Tides Surge This Week

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The U.S. Forest Service is getting creative when it comes to wildfire mitigation. You might even say they came up with the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) idea!

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https://twitter.com/ClevelandNF/status/1032406265576615936

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The Cleveland National Forest in southern California has taken on goats to manage potential fire risk. 1,200 hungry goats were brought in to eat away at hundreds of pounds of dried vegetation!

Dry grass and brush are key to generating wildfires. With exposure to open flames, dry vegetation catches fire more easily than healthy, water rich vegetation.

The Cleveland National Forest is where the <a href="https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6106/">Holy Fire</a> sparked up in early August, destroying at least 18 homes, and causing evacuations in the area. After having almost full containment on the burn, the fire reignited briefly on Tuesday, Aug 27, flaring up an additional 150 acres of wildfire. Local officials are working to contain the flames.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-96138 size-full" src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2018/08/ezgif.com-video-to-gif-2.gif" alt="Using Goats in Wildfire Prevention" width="600" height="338" />