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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<p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 104741-1736876872707.jpg"></p><h1>Key Messages</h1><ul><li><p>The Palisades Fire continues to burn in Southern California. Evacuation orders are in effect. Evacuation warnings have been extended to students at UCLA who have been told to be ready to evacuate if necessary.</p></li><li><p>Some progress has been made in building containment lines on the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.</p></li><li><p>Palisades and Eaton Fires have been deadly with multiple fatalities reported.</p></li><li><p>Have a go bag ready for quick evacuations!</p></li></ul><p></p><p>The  Eaton and Palisades Fires now rank in the top 5 most destructive fires in California history with over 15,000 structures burned. Officials are urging residents to leave the area if they're issued an evacuation order.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1877040239241224343" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1877040239241224343"></div><p></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-10 053546-1736512590442.jpg"></p><p></p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1878547501739073687" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1878547501739073687"></div><p>The fire danger continues in Southern California Wednesday morning. A troughing pattern across the interior west creates strong offshore winds (Santa Ana Winds). Practice fire safety through the rest of the weekend, and have a go bag ready! Be sure to report any new plume of smoke to your local authorities--don't assume it's already been reported.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 155626-1736895395500.png"></p><p>Tune in to your West Regional forecast at :50 past the hour, every hour on WeatherNation.</p>

Jackie Brown

Extremely Critical Fire Weather Continues in California

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<p>Temperatures will be cold for portions of VA and WV through Wednesday morning. The colder air arrives by the weekend.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Web 4-1736863587000.png">Low temperatures across the Plains and Great Lakes will drop below zero by Sunday and Monday. This is significantly colder than what temperatures should be for this time of the year.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 155853-1736895605162.png">That cold air will continue to funnel east into the beginning of the next work week.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 155901-1736895645517.png">With air this cold, make sure you're taking care of the 4 P's! People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 160117-1736895706678.png">You'll find more watching your top weather headlines on WeatherNation, along with your regional forecasts.</p>

Significantly Colder Air Sinks in This Weekend

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<p>Ice coverage for the Great Lakes had started to increase into the new year after record warm water surface temperatures. As temperatures remain cold this should continue to be the case, but wind, waves, and water currents all play a role. Therefore, with only 9.4% of the Great Lakes covered in ice, the Lake Effect Snow Machine can be set up again.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 160843-1736896130961.png"></p><p>Another few inches of snow remains possible over the Great Lakes, especially downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 160932-1736896180207.png">RELATED: Read more about the cold temperatures <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/arctic-air-returns-behind-clipper-system">HERE</a></p><p>More Lake-Effect Snow Warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect across the Great Lakes as another wave of Arctic air funnels into the region.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/THURSDAY FJFJFJF-1736903641168.png">Make sure to tune into WeatherNation for the latest details.</p>

Low Ice Coverage Means More Lake Effect Snow

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Kevin Schneider

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<p>It's looking like some of the coldest air of the season heading this way. And it could be pretty wide-reaching. But it's still a ways away - here's what we know and don't know so far.</p><h1>SETUP</h1><p>A cut-off low and a larger trough look like they're going to interact later this week. Kinda like the double bounce on a trampoline, this will give some BRUTALLY cold air an added kick.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-13 104631-1736791315147.jpg"></p><h1>COLD</h1><p>Temperatures this far out look like a sure bet to get cooler than average. The question is HOW much colder? Some models have some jaw-dropping possibilities, where some locations could visit the -20°s to -30°s. The Climate Prediction Center has the entire lower 48 below average January 19-23.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-13 104644-1736790892814.jpg">While it's nasty cold, it doesn't appear to be threatening any record lows at the moment. What we do know, these temperatures are going to take a drastic fall this week. Denver, CO drops 60° in 60 hours...</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-14 161517-1736896560872.png"></p><h1>SNOW..?</h1><p>If it's going to be this cold, it might as well snow, right? All we need is a well-placed disturbance and we'll be cooking. With a big trough like this, that will be more than enough to generate some snow. But where and when the best dynamics will be moving through is as clear as mud.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-13 104459-1736791524185.jpg">Here's one model's attempt at things:</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/longrange-1736827619705.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>As always, check back with us throughout the week. Often times what looks like a dramatic cooldown can soften as we get closer to the event. Disturbances slow down and phase better with better ingredients. Time will tell!</p><p></p>

BIG Shakeup in Store Late Week

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WeatherNation Meteorologists

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<p></p><div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IxACeqvHVTo" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p></p><h1>CREDIT: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/temperatures-rising-nasa-confirms-2024-warmest-year-on-record/#:~:text=Global%20temperatures%20in%202024%20were,records%20%E2%80%94%20an%20unprecedented%20heat%20streak">NASA</a>/<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.noaa.gov/news/2024-was-worlds-warmest-year-on-record">NOAA</a></h1><h2><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/global-climate-202413">ASSESSING THE GLOBAL CLIMATE IN 2024</a></h2><p>It’s official: 2024 was the planet’s warmest year on record, according to an analysis by scientists from NASA and NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).</p><p style="text-align: start">Below are highlights from NOAA’s 2024 annual global climate report:</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/2024-global-temperature-anomaly-recap-1736544832901.gif"><strong>CLIMATE BY THE NUMBERS</strong></h2><p style="text-align: start">Earth’s average land and ocean surface temperature in 2024 was 2.32 degrees F (1.29 degrees C)&nbsp;above the 20th-century average — the highest global temperature among all years in NOAA’s 1850-2024 climate record. It was 0.18 of a degree F (0.10 of a degree C) warmer than 2023, which was previously the warmest year on record.&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: start">Regionally, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America (tied with 2023) had their warmest year on record. Asia and the Arctic had their second-warmest year on record.</p><p style="text-align: start">The planet’s 10 warmest years since 1850 have all occurred in the past decade. In 2024, global temperature exceeded the pre-industrial (1850–1900) average by 2.63 degrees F (1.46 degrees C).</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/2-2024-ANNUAL-GLOBAL-SIGNIFICANT-CLIMATE-EVENTS-MAP-1736545204629.png">TROPICAL CYCLONES</h2><p>Eighty-five named storms occurred across the globe in 2024, which was slightly below the 1991–2020 average of 88. Forty-two of those reached tropical cyclone strength (≥74 mph), and 23 reached major tropical cyclone strength (≥111 mph). These also included four storms that reached Category 5 (≥157 mph) on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. The global accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) was about 21% below the 1991–2020 average.</p><p>The North Atlantic had 18 named storms, which was above the 1991–2020 average of 14. Eleven of those were hurricanes, including five major hurricanes. The ACE was about 32% above normal. Most of the damage in the U.S. was attributable to two major hurricanes: Helene in September and Milton in October.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(27, 27, 27)">NASA </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://science.nasa.gov/earth/measuring_global_temperature/"><u>assembles its temperature record</u></a><span style="color: rgb(27, 27, 27)"> using surface air temperature data collected from tens of thousands of meteorological stations, as well as sea surface temperature data acquired by ship- and buoy-based instruments. This data is analyzed using methods that account for the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and for urban heating effects that could skew the calculations.</span></p>

Alana Cameron

NASA/NOAA: 2024 Warmest Year On Record

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Brittany Lockley

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<p>A winter storm moved through the deep South on Friday from Arkansas to the Carolinas impacts were felt. Saturday morning the system races to the East. However, there are freeze fog warnings in place and also the threat for black ice. Plan on slick roads and travel difficulties, as Winter weather alerts continue linger across the Mid-South and Eastern U.S. early Saturday. Plan on slick roads and travel difficulties.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-11 034928-1736592590414.png">The heaviest of the snow will move from west to east northeast into Saturday morning. I-20 will be the main dividing line between the wintry precipitation and rain. Additional 3" or more accumulations are possible in the higher elevations of the southern Appalachians and north of the center of low pressure as it tracks east. A few spots farther south could see flurries with chilly morning temperatures along the cold front. For the most part, when everyone wakes up on Saturday morning, the low will have moved out and any remaining precipitation will be rain.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-11 043504-1736595450760.png">An additional 0.10" to 0.25" of ice is possible in the changeover zone. Anyone looking to hit the roads Saturday morning should proceed with caution as snow and ice will still hamper travel.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-11 043825-1736595521403.png">Here's a look and how the timing of the storms will move through the eastern U.S. into Saturday:</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-11 05-33-12-1736598837056.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>

Snow and Ice Impacts to the Deep South and Mid Atlantic

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<p>Heavy snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain in the Southern Plains and Deep South over the past few days. It was the first time many locations saw this much snow in almost 3 years! The last time Little Rock picked up 3" of snow? March 11, 2022!</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/Screenshot 2025-01-10 141756-1736543909211.png">The panhandle of Texas and Arkansas were the big winners so far, with some spots picking up a foot or more of snow! Plan on dicey roads to linger into Saturday morning until crews have time to fully plow and clear the streets.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1877444846408888724" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1877444846408888724"></div><p></p><p>If you have to travel tonight or Saturday morning, there will be some slick conditions because of black ice and freezing fog across the South. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/1-1736567484591.png"></p><p>It might take a day or two to really tackle the roads since temperatures will be slow to rebound. In Dallas, we'll get back to the 40's tomorrow with the sun returning.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/01/1-1736567383487.png"></p>

Jesse Kelley

Winter Storm Leaves Mess in it's Wake

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After recent warmth across the Great Lakes last weekend and early this week, ice coverage across the Great Lakes has decreased.

As of January 12th, the total ice coverage on the Great Lakes is 17.1%, down from 29.52% on January 7th.

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Even with the recent decrease, the ice coverage is expected to increase over the next week as brutally cold air returns to the Great Lakes region and the surrounding areas.

For WeatherNation, I am <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MarcusDWalter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meteorologist Marcus Walter</a>.

Weekly Check - How Much Ice is Covering the Great Lakes?

Extremely Critical Fire Weather Continues in California

Key MessagesThe Palisades Fire continues to b

Significantly Colder Air Sinks in This Weekend

Temperatures will be cold for portions of VA

Low Ice Coverage Means More Lake Effect Snow

Ice coverage for the Great Lakes had started

BIG Shakeup in Store Late Week

It's looking like some of the coldest air of

NASA/NOAA: 2024 Warmest Year On Record

CREDIT: NASA/NOAAASSESSING THE GLOBAL CLIMATE

Snow and Ice Impacts to the Deep South and Mid Atlantic

A winter storm moved through the deep South o

Winter Storm Leaves Mess in it's Wake

Heavy snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain