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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Santa Ana winds helped several fires grow quickly on Thursday and Friday around Southern California, forcing a closure on I-5 near Camp Pendleton. Unfortunately, more fires grew on Friday including two new ones including the Norte Fire near San Juan Capistrano. Santa Ana winds are expected to continue through tonight into Saturday before backing off into Sunday. Warm and dry conditions are also increasing the fire danger.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/VON_101626_RSW_SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA_WILDFIRE BASICALLY RIGHT ON OP'S HOUSE_TW_@IUNKNOWN2010_MS_E101626-1792202251665.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792202277338.png">Power is being shut off to prevent additional fires from getting started, primarily in areas around northern Los Angeles into the Simi Valley and surrounding mountain communities. Northern California is also enacting shut offs in Calaveras County in the Sierra Foothills, as well as surrounding counties and into the mountains around Napa in wine country.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792202315874.png"><h1>FORECAST</h1>Critical fire conditions remain for areas north of Los Angeles tonight, meaning several hours of very dry and gusty conditions are expected to develop. The risk will drop to a level one threat (elevated) on Saturday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/1-1792202385920.png">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/Screenshot 2026-10-16 063744-1792154269719.png"><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/BARON 5-1792202587525.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>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/2026/10/1-1792202639909.png">

Jesse Kelley

Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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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.<h1>Atlantic Basin</h1>The Atlantic remains quiet for now, however, models are favoring development of a coastal low near the coast of the Carolinas into next week, which could gain some tropical characteristics.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792022157888.png"><h1>Pacific Basin</h1>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. Trudy is running into less favorable conditions for tropical intensification. This storm once looked like it could get up to Cat 4 strength, but now the latest forecast keeps it as a Cat 1 Hurricane as it passes Mexico.<h2>Trudy</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 5-1792192411993.png"><h1>El Nino Fueling Pacific Activity</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-16 111954-1792171201698.png">The Eastern Pacific has set a new record for the most energetic season since record keeping began. The ACE has surpassed 318, which was the previous record set in 2018.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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot 2026-09-28 194202-1790646127358.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">

Patrick Crawford

Tropics: Pacific Staying Active, Atlantic Staying Quiet

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<h1>Severe Storm Potential</h1>Severe risk is decreasing into Saturday morning. Some lingering storms still could produce some heavy rain and strong winds as the cold front departs the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792198726852.png"><h1>Timing</h1>You can see the lingering storms through the first half of Saturday into the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast. Some rain could be heavy enough to impact travel and produce some isolated flash flooding.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792198978545.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Cooler Air</h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792198992928.png">Temperatures will drop quickly behind the front, dropping into the 40s for highs this weekend parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes!

Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

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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.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792105981174.png">On Wednesday, a tornado was captured on video near Fort Stockton. Preliminary reports indicate this tornado caused some damage.<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2110471661556498786" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/2110471661556498786"></div><h1>Outlook &amp; Timing</h1>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.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792106185285.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Flood Threat</h1>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 moderate threat for heavy rain and flooding across portions of SW Texas, while the slight risk encompasses much of west Texas into Southern Oklahoma.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/PIC 4-1792106287609.png">Tune in to WeatherNation for your top weather headlines. Your full Central Regional Forecast can always be found :30 past the hour.

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

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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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More records fell on Thursday afternoon and even more record highs could fall on Friday. Check out where the numbers were Thursday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic6-1792115411145.png">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!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/pic5-1792115538505.png">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.<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">Tune into WeatherNation :30 past the hour for more on your central regional forecast.

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

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Brittany Lockley

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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 Winter Weather Advisories through Thursday afternoon.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot 2026-10-15 075003-1792072220461.png"><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.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/10/FORECAST-1792023424748.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Our in-house model shows isolated snowfall totals up to a foot of across the higher elevations.<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">For the latest updates on this forecast, tune into WeatherNation.

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

Rachel Spreading Moisture Across the Southwest

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WeatherNation's Top 5 videos of the week showcase the good, the bad, and the ugly weather of the week.

5) Jaw dropping video of a man narrowly misses a lightning strike in Conway, SC kicks it all off. Thankfully, the man was okay. This video is a good reminder that if you hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike. [<a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/news/man-describes-his-close-encounter-with-a-lightning-strike/">Related article: Man Describes Close Encounter with Lightning Strike</a>]

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https://youtu.be/gHSaTTonRaA

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4) A picturesque tornado caught on camera in Eastern Colorado, gave one community quite the show! Watch as a twister goes through a full lifespan, from a churning tornado... to gone in just minutes. Thankfully, there was no damage reported from this tornado near Joes, Colorado.

3) The Central Plains spawned several mesmerizing storms this past week, including a photogenic supercell that moved through Topeka, Kansas. The video shows development of a severe thunderstorm, as it grows into what looks like a spaceship by the end of the video!

2) The next video was definitely not a sight you want to see before boarding your plane! A lightning bolt created a striking display on an airport runway in Jacksonville, FL, lighting up the night sky. Delays, anyone?

1) And finally, with every storm, a beautiful ending. Mammatus clouds glow under the late day sun, making quite the sight in Denver, Colorado. A time-lapsed video shows how sinking air near a thunderstorm, forms these pouch-like structures.

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Do you think you can top these Top 5?  Be sure to send us your best weather videos!  Share your best weather video with us on social media.  Find @WeatherNation on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeatherNation/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/weathernation/">Instagram</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/WeatherNation">Twitter </a> for a chance to be featured in our weekly top 5.  (<a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/terms/">Read WeatherNation Terms of Service</a>)

&nbsp;

For WeatherNation,  <a href="https://media.weathernationtv.com/team/meredith-garofalo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo</a>

WATCH: Top 5 Videos of the Week

Several Fires Break Out in SoCal Amid Santa Ana Wind Event

Santa Ana winds helped several fires grow qui

Tropics: Pacific Staying Active, Atlantic Staying Quiet

Isaias ended the late-season streak of no hur

Severe Risk Diminishing Saturday Morning for the Northeast

Severe Storm PotentialSevere risk is decreasi

Flooding & Severe Storms Persist in the Southern Plains

Extreme rainfall has been hitting areas of Te

Hot Weather Baking the Heartland This Week, Cooler Air Incoming

More records fell on Thursday afternoon and e

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