<p style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; color: #454545;">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></span></p>

Rob Bradley

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<p>After a slow start to the season tropical activity in the Atlantic is picking up and will likely continue to do so through the end of August. Erin is likely to be the first hurricane of the season in the next few days or by the weekend as it moves west, while a low pressure system west of the Yucatan could bring heavy rain to Texas on Friday.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/pic6-1755197252083.png"></p><h1>Erin</h1><p>Tropical Storm Erin is moving westward across the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen to a major hurricane over the weekend as it moves away from drier air and into warmer waters. Erin is projected to come close to the Leeward Islands Friday into Saturday. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 053412-1755171263247.png"><br><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/PIC 2-1755206113331.jpg">The Northeast Caribbean is now under Tropical Storm Watches. This is based on the lates forecast track, so if there area any changes to the track we will see more areas added to the alerts.</p><h2><strong>Steering Factors</strong></h2><p>Erin is forecasted to track westward, then take a curve to the north. The strength of the ridge of high pressure over the Atlantic will determine when Erin takes this turn northward. While the vast majority of models keep Erin off the East Coast, it's still too early to say with complete confidence.</p><h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 053535-1755171350634.png">Impacts - Rip Currents / Big Waves</h2><p>The strongest winds from Erin are likely to miss the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles to the north, but if Erin is a major hurricane it's tropical storm wind field could expand to include areas like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 053832-1755171544382.png">The certain impact will be increasing wave heights and dangerous currents from the Caribbean this weekend to the U.S. Atlantic Coast next week. Beach goers on the East Coast next week should be very cautious going into the water.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/FORECAST-1755205903671.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>Gulf Low Pressure</h1><p>The National Hurricane Center is also watching an area of low pressure moving through the SW Gulf, known as the Bay of Campeche. The low is poorly organized and won't have much time to gain strength before it moves inland over Mexico/southern Texas on Friday. Heavy rain could spark isolated flooding issues on Friday in Texas.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/PIC 1-1755206061524.jpg"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/PIC 2-1755206068598.jpg"></p><p><em>RELATED ARTICLE: </em><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/csu-issues-final-2025-atlantic-hurricane-season-forecast"><strong><em>CSU, NOAA UPDATE Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast</em></strong></a></p><p>Tropical activity in the Atlantic has been off to a slow start the 2025 season. Before Dexter formed, Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) in the Atlantic was less than 15% of normal. Dexter more than doubled this stat, but it's still less than 30% of a typical year, even though we may be ahead of schedule when it comes to named storms. That being said, the bulk of seasonal activity is still ahead of us, with 88% of the annual energy occurring after the first week of August.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 054732-1755172059923.png"><br>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest tropical updates.</p>

Patrick Crawford

Tropics: Erin Forecast to Become a Hurricane

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Brittany Lockley

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<p>A deepening low-pressure system over Canada will intensify the energy over the northern tier of the country, leading to stormy conditions. This developing system is expected to drive a cold front at the surface level eastward across the Northern Plains, setting the stage for multiple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms over the coming days. Areas from the Northern Plains to the Upper Midwest will experience severe weather on Thursday and Friday.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span>All modes of severe weather will be possible, just like Wednesday evening, when a line of storms continued to push eastward across Nebraska and South Dakota, producing several wind reports over 60-70 mph.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 162256-1755123781531.png">A <strong>Slight </strong>threat for severe weather remains in effect through tonight for portions of the Northern Plains, including South Dakota. The primary threats include damaging wind gusts, isolated significant hail, and tornadoes. Some storms may also bring torrential downpours, leading to localized flash flooding, particularly in low-lying or poorly drained areas.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/PIC 1-1755206219162.jpg">Significantly sized hailstones mean hail 2" in diameter or larger; this threat will be possible along parts of I-29 and I-94.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 071724-1755177462195.png">Storms will weaken throughout the night into Thursday morning. A lull in the severe threat is likely for most of the day before more severe storms get going Thursday night into Friday.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/FORECAST-1755206318278.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p>By Friday, a <strong>Slight to Marginal</strong> threat for strong and severe storms is in place from South Dakota to Wisconsin.</p><p></p><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest updates on the forecast. You can always find your full Central Regional Forecast:30 past the hour on WeatherNation.</p>

Active Pattern: Northern Plains to the Great Lakes

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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/t7PjF9VFI2c" start="0"></iframe></div><p></p><p><em>Title Image Provided By: <span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85)">NOAA/Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)</span></em></p><p>The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recently certified a new "megaflash" as the longest in the world. The flash, which stretched from Eastern Texas to Kansas City, MO occurred in October 2017 during a mesoscale convective system. The flash covered 515 miles across a notorious stormy hot spot within the United States. A distance that would normally take eight or nine hours to drive, was covered in mere seconds. </p><p>The new record surpasses the previous from a 2020 thunderstorm across the Southern United States. So how did a lightning strike from 2017 somehow come out the blue to beat the 2020 record? </p><p>The WMO said this particular flash wasn't identified initially during the 2017 analysis, but was later discovered after re-examination of data.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(15, 23, 42)">“This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment. Additionally, WMO assessment of environmental extremes such as this lightning distance record testify to the significant scientific progress in observing, documenting and evaluating such events. It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time,” said Professor Randall Cerveny, rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes for WMO.</span></p><p>You can learn more about other Weather and Climate Extremes through the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://wmo.int/site/world-weather-and-climate-extremes-archive">World Meteorological Organizations Archive. </a></p>

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

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<p>Numerous wildfires continue to burn across the Western United States including three "Megafires," or fires burning over 100,000 acres: Lee wildfire, Dragon Bravo wildfire, and Gifford wildfire. In addition to the warm weather and dry fuels, fire spread could be accelerated the next few days with more dry thunderstorms and gusty conditions in the Four Corners.</p><h1>GIFFORD FIRE</h1><p>Burning as California's largest wildfire in 2025, the Gifford Fire has torched over 130k acres. The good news has been the containment numbers in recent days. That has increased to 40% as of Thursday morning.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/VON_081125_RSW_SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CA_3 OF 3 BEST ONE CLOSE UP VIDEO OF CREWS WORKING THE GIFFORD FIRE_TW_@SBCFIREINFO_MS_E081225-1755015460725.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><h1>LEE FIRE</h1><p>A large fire erupted on the western slope of the Rockies. The Lee Fire has only been burning for a little over a week, but has burned almost as many acres as the Gifford Fire, 123k acres. Most of the poor air quality has been locked up around Grand Junction, fluctuating at times.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 161023-1755123031361.png"></p><h1>DRAGON BRAVO FIRE</h1><p>One of the largest fires in Arizona history, the Dragon Bravo Fire, has continued to smolder along the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon. It has burned more than 144k acres, making it the 7th largest in state history.</p><div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="1953931727044223408" src="https://x.com/WeatherNation/status/1953931727044223408"></div><p></p><h1></h1><h1>FORECAST</h1><p><strong>Red Flag Warnings</strong> remain in effect through Thursday for some areas. Conditions remain favorable for fires to start and spread.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 161447-1755123303285.png"></p><p>Additionally, lightning will still have the potential to spark more fires. There are isolated to scattered dry thunderstorms possible through Friday.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-14 070416-1755176717754.png"></p><p>Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.</p><p></p>

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

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Chris Tomer

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<p>The long-range temperature trend towards the end of August shows higher confidence that temperatures will remain above average. Even this week, temperatures are feeling the summertime heat. But, there's a sharp cold front moving through with a 20 degree temperature drop for parts of the Pacific Northwest.</p><h1>Relief!</h1><p>A sharp cold front delivered cooler air to the PNW on Wednesday. That will drop temperatures substantially from the low 90's in Seattle on Tuesday to the 70's. Another reinforcing shot of cooler air moves in this weekend, but that one has some rain chances with it. I think we'll take it give how the first part of the week was shaping up.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 164022-1755124826854.png">Although this front in the Northwest won't bring rain to the region, there will be rain in the forecast later in the week with another incoming system.</p><video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/08132-1755125133242.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video><p></p><p>In the Southwest, we had a few record highs on Wednesday. A small cooldown is anticipated for the rest of the week. Although for the desert areas, a small cooldown drop highs to near normal which is still above 100 degrees.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755142014621.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/tomer sw 3 day highs-1755129927501.jpg"></p><h2>Northeast</h2><p>The heat continues (ahead of a cold front) on Wednesday with additional record highs in Maine.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/1-1755142092712.png"></p><p>Temperatures have cooled significantly since Tuesday with some areas 15° cooler compared to the last 24 hours.</p><p><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot 2025-08-13 164216-1755124976442.png">Stay with WeatherNation for the latest.</p>

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

Coast to Coast Heat With Some Relief & Storms

Tropics: Erin Forecast to Become a Hurricane

Active Pattern: Northern Plains to the Great Lakes

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

Coast to Coast Heat With Some Relief & Storms

Tropics: Erin Forecast to Become a Hurricane

Active Pattern: Northern Plains to the Great Lakes

The 2017 Megaflash: The World's Longest Lightning

Several Megafires Burning in the West, More Dry T-Storms Possible

Coast to Coast Heat With Some Relief & Storms