Monday, May 26, 2008

Kansas City MetroRegion Weather: Flash Flood Watch Until Late Tuesday

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A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the green areas indicated on the image (click to enlarge) that includes all but far northern areas of the Kansas City MetroRegion.

The watches are in effect through Tuesday afternoon & evening.
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Preliminary Parkersburg-New Harmony Tornado Assessment By NWS-Des Moines

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PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DES MOINES IA
408 PM CDT MON MAY 26 2008

.TIME.. ..EVENT.. ..CITY LOCATION.. ..LAT.LON.. ..DATE.. ..MAG... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ..SOURCE.. ..REMARKS..

0448 PM TORNADO 2 S APLINGTON 42.55N 92.88W 05/25/2008 GRUNDY IA NWS STORM SURVEY

*** 6 FATAL, 70 INJ ***
THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 2 MILES SOUTH OF APLINGTON- THEN TRACKED EAST THROUGH PARKERSBURG AND JUST NORTH OF NEW HARTFORD- THEN ACROSS NORTHERN BLACKHAWK COUNTY BEFORE LIFTING NEAR THE BLACKHAWK BUCHANAN COUNTY LINE.

THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY INDICATES POTENTIAL TORNADO INTENSITY OF GREATER THAN EF3- WITH POTENTIAL WINDS GREATER THAN 165 MPH.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS WILL BE ADDED TUESDAY ALONG WITH FINAL EF SCALE RATING RESULTS.

FATALITY AND INJURY TOTALS ARE PRELIMINARY.


&&
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...SEE PRODUCT DSMPNSDMX /PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT/. MORE INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WEBSITE THIS EVENING AT:

WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/DMX

FURTHER ASSESSMENT WILL BE CONDUCTED TUESDAY. ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND THE FINAL EF SCALE RATING WILL BE AVAILABLE BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

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BREAKING WEATHER-NEWS: Greensburg-KS In Peril Again

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Parkersburg-IA Joins Picher-OK As 2008 Tornado Victim

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Survivors in Parkersburg-IA are cleaning up today after what may have been an EF-4 tornado slammed into that small north-central Iowa community of about 1900 people late Sunday afternoon.


Seven people reportedly died- 5 in Parkersburg and 2 in nearby New Harmony-IA.. Another tornado in Hugo-MN killed a child.

KCCI-TV in Des Moines has video of the tornado itself- as well as the incredible damage left by the storm.

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING WEATHER: Tornado Watch No. 369 Continues - Radar Update

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STATUS REPORT FOR WT 369

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

KSC003-015-017-019-031-035-045-049-059-073-077-079-091-103-107-
111-113-115-121-127-139-159-173-191-205-207-209-260440-

KS
. KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ANDERSON BUTLER CHASE
CHAUTAUQUA COFFEY COWLEY
DOUGLAS ELK FRANKLIN
GREENWOOD HARPER HARVEY
JOHNSON LEAVENWORTH LINN
LYON MCPHERSON MARION
MIAMI MORRIS OSAGE
RICE SEDGWICK SUMNER
WILSON WOODSON WYANDOTTE
$$


MOC001-013-025-033-037-041-047-049-053-061-079-081-083-089-095-
101-107-115-117-121-129-159-165-171-175-177-195-197-211-
260440-

MO
. MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAIR BATES CALDWELL
CARROLL CASS CHARITON
CLAY CLINTON COOPER
DAVIESS GRUNDY HARRISON
HENRY HOWARD JACKSON
JOHNSON LAFAYETTE LINN
LIVINGSTON MACON MERCER
PETTIS PLATTE PUTNAM
RANDOLPH RAY SALINE
SCHUYLER SULLIVAN

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Information For Northeast- Eastern Iowa Tornado Survivors

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From KCRG-TV's Web site:


"(WATERLOO) - The American Red Cross Hawkeye Chapter is assisting residents of Parkersburg, Dunkerton, Hazelton and New Hampton due to this evening’s tornados.

The American Red Cross has set up shelters in the following areas:

Aplington Middle School

Dunkerton Community School

Hazelton First Presbyterian Church
100 3rd St. Hazelton, IA

The Red Cross is also asking for time, money, and blood donations. For more information and to learn how you can donate, contact the Hawkeye Chapter at 319-234-6831 or visit www.hawkeyechapter.org.

The American Red Cross is also urging people in disaster areas to register as "safe and well" on their web site. That means family members from outside the affected areas can find out if you're okay and where you're staying.

Register as "Safe and Well" with American Red Cross by going to www.RedCross.org."


WHO-TV - Des Moines - Parkersburg-Iowa "Flattened" By A Tornado - New Tornado Watch

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This is from Des Moines TV station WHO - links to their news chopper footage- of damage produced by a tornado late Sunday afternoon.


WHO-TV reports "2 dead" and at least "14 injured" in Parkersburg.

Here in the Kansas City MetroRegion- Tornado Watch No. 369 is in effect until 4am Monday morning including Metro K.C. and virtually all the MetroRegion.

UPDATE: WHO-TV in Des Moines now reports "7 dead" in a massive- probable EF-4 tornado in Parkersburg-IA just after 5:30pm Sunday afternoon.


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Kansas City MetroRegion Weather: NWS-SPC- Upgraded To "Moderate Risk" Of Severe Storms

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The National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has upgraded the slight risk of severe thunderstorms in and to the west and northwest of Kansas City to "a moderate risk" area.

As you can see by this graphic (click on all images here for full size) - the red or moderate risk area runs from about the K.C. Metro west and northwest into extreme northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas.

In addition- the K.C. MetroRegion is virtually surrounded by Tornado watches- as you can see by this NWS-SPC graphic.

Thus far- only light activity currently exists over the eastern side of the Metro- the tornado-producing storms shown on this Topeka NWS radar image should move eastward across eastern Kansas over the evening.

Will keep you informed....

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Kansas City's BREAKING NEWS: At Least 2 Dead In KC-MO Crash

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A rollover accident in southeastern Kansas City-MO has killed at least 2 people and injured several.


The wreck was reported to authorities just after 4am Sunday morning: Bannister and Stark.
When the Fire department arrived- a rollover crash and a sheared-off power pole is reported- along with at least 1 person ejected..


KC-MO Fire also said there was another wreck about 500 yards east of the rollover- not known if that was a cause or result of the rollover crash.

Two persons reportedly died at the scene. Two of the most critical injuries transported by MAST-EMS were: an about 20-year-old female- with grave injuries- and an 18-year-old male. Both taken to separate trauma centers.

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KansasCity'sBreaking News Leader - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.








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Saturday, May 24, 2008

KANSAS CITY MetroRegion BREAKING WEATHER: NWS- Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Osage- Lyon Counties KS

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Information In Image - Click All Images To Enlarge.
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Kansas City MetroRegion Weather: NWS-SPC "Slight Risk" Of Severe Weather Through Sunday Morning

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Referring
to the graphics (click for full size) - about the northwestern half of the Kansas City MetroRegion - including the immediate Metro- is inside of a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms later today through just after sunrise Sunday.

The severe storm threat will continue for the Metro- as well as the north west and north MetroRegion Sunday- then over the entire Kansas City MetroRegion on Memorial Day Monday.

Heavy rainfall is- or will be a concern with this repeat pattern of heavy rain-producing thunderstorms.


Most of Metro Kansas City got between one-half and one and one-half inches of rain this morning.

The next graphic is rainfall so far this May at stations in the Johnson County- KS "Stormwatch" network. Gauges are located in JoCo or Overland Park (OP) KS unless otherwise indicated.


EDIT: 0950CDT --- Current Doppler radar image from NWS-Topeka-KS and Central States visible satellite image from NASA.


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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion BREAKING WEATHER: NWS Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 345- Kansas Counties

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A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is currently in effect for Douglas county KS- including the city of Lawrence until 4:30am..

The Storm Prediction Center- according to the latest watch images on their Web site- has apparently extended ST Watch No. 345 to include the MetroRegion Kansas counties of Jefferson- Douglas and Franklin until 5am..
Here's the current radar image (click to enlarge) indicating the line of severe thunderstorms- capable of producing winds of 60 m.p.h. or greater- bearing down on eastern Kansas- and the K.C. Metro..
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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: Line Of Severe Thunderstorms Approaching

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A line of thunderstorms- part of the same system that produced damaging tornadoes in central and western Kansas Friday- is now entering the extreme western & southwestern portions of the Kansas City MetroRegion.


Strong straight-line winds and hail are the current threats.

This line is accelerating toward the K.C. Metro and will possibly produced damaging winds in Lawrence-KS by 4am- and into the Metro itself by 5am.

More as monitored here at the All-Night Weather Station

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

KANSAS CITY MetroRegion WEATHER: Severe-Storm Memorial Day Weekend In Store

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The National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman-OK has the K.C. MetroRegion- as well as Metro Kansas City- in forecasted areas of severe thunderstorms tomorrow (Friday) through Memorial Day (Monday) into early next Wednesday (see images- click on them for full size).


At this time- it appears K.C.'s best chances for storms until at least the first of next week are in late-night- early-morning periods.

In addition- heavy rains in the MetroRegion this morning have already produced Flash Flood warnings for Kansas counties west and northwest of K.C.- as indicated by this radar-indicated precipitation image from the NWS radar in Pleasant Hill-MO. (color code to inches of rainfall on left of image).

Heavy rains over the next 5 days seem to be the greater concern right now- as indicated by this forecast map of precipitation amounts issued by the NWS' Hydro Prediction Center (HPC).

If the HPC's forecast comes to fruition- MetroRegion rain totals of anywhere from 2 to 5-inches are expected through next Tuesday.

As usual- I'll keep you posted here at CSW....

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KC-MO City Council Wants 10-Cent Property Tax Increase Funding For Museums

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While the City of Leawood-KS has a problem with coyotes- KC-MO has a problem with vultures- the elected variety.




With fuel & food costs soaring daily- with the whole American economy in DEEP- DEEP trouble- KC-MO's City Council wants to increase our property tax a dime per every $100 valuation to fund the city's museums and other touristy attactions.



Hell- that's ONLY "$40 on a $200000 house"- according to tax cheerleaders at The KANSAS CITY STAR.



It's your Captain's opinion that Deb Hermann and the rest of the council who approves this incredible venture have taken leave of their senses.



ANYONE approving ANY tax INCREASE at this so-terrible time needs to take a drug AND sanity test!!!



What are you people thinking (or not)???

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

AP: Money Concerns Led To Minneapolis I-35 Bridge Collapse

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THEN tell me you think suspending the Federal fuel tax is a good idea (Clinton & McCain)....
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Kansas City MetroRegion Memorial Day Forecast

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The first major holiday of the warm season is next Monday- and as usual this time of year- rain & storms are in the forecast.


The best days for outdoor activities looks to be Saturday and especially Sunday. Those 2 days have the lesser chances of precipitation.

Thunderstorms are possible overnight tonight- again overnight tomorrow into Friday morning- and another good chance for storms- possibly severe- Monday (Memorial Day) afternoon and evening.

The latest graphic of 5-Day precipitation amounts from the NWS' Hydro Prediction Center (HPC) indicates some copious rain amounts near K.C. over the 5-day time period.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: Senator Ted Kennedy Has A Brain Tumor

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John McCain's Morality Questioned By The Company He Keeps

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McCain's chief advisor is Charlie Black.

Black heads a political lobbying business.

Some of Charlie Black's lobbying firm clients?

1. Ferdinand Marcos, who executed thousands of his own citizens in the Philippines,

2. Zaire's Mobutu, who publicly hanged his opponents and looted his country's vast mineral wealth, and

3. Rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, a mass murderer, who covered Angola with landmines.


Black said in a TV news interview nobody cares about his firm's ties to tyrants and mass-murderers.

John McCain "stands by" his good buddy Charlie Black.

Do we really want someone who associates himself with such an immoral person as president?

If this guy's elected- it will prove once and for all how "moral" America really is.

Your serve- citizen....

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Fifty-One Years Ago Today - F-5 Terror In Hickman Mills

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I can still remember the night of May 20- 1957 like it was last week.


I was only 4-1/2-years-old at the time when an F-5 tornado tore through Hickman Mills and Ruskin Heights in what is now south Kansas City-MO..


I spent most of that evening in a dining room coat closet while the voice of KC broadcasting icon Walt Bodine warned of the impending disaster.


Still- 39 people died in what is still the Kansas City MetroRegion's deadliest tornado.


That tornado left an indelible mark on it's survivors and it left me with a lifelong passion for weather and later on- the world of television news.


This rememberance is dedicated to the victims- as well as the survivors of The Ruskin Heights Tornado of May 20- 1957- 51 years ago today.

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Fun With Paint Shop

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I wuz just messing around with some of our nature photos and came up with this idea.


More nature stuff to come as we're headed to the Kauffman Gardens here inabit.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Our Violent Yet Lovely Spring 2008

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

More Convuluted Logic

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Municipalities won't allow you to send your "yard waste" (grass clippings- dead plants- tree limbs)- BIO-DEGRADABLE material- to a landfill- but will accept endless bags of NON BIO-DEGRADABLE materials (residential- industry trash).


Is it just me or is this picture royally screwed-up?

I've long joked America could use a Department of Logic- but would never find any so-qualified government employees to staff it.

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Local Newscasts Becoming American Idol Reprise

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Okay- I don't WATCH American Idol. I had no idea who David Cook was until it was smeared all over every local newscast.


Local citizen makes good ran longer than ANYTHING in the MetroRegion going or gone bad

Newscasts have become showcases for whatever network programming that station runs- or virtually ANY other fluff they can muster (see non-celebrity news).

The ONLY in-depth reporting is in the stations' "investigative" pieces which do NOT address America's deeper and larger concerns of loss of freedoms- politician corruption or corporations run amock.

I'm sure- no- I'M POSITIVE the future surviving Chinese historians will include America's news media as one reason America collapsed.

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John McCain Would Have Iraq Hemorraging Last Through 2013

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This guy wants to continue Bush's failed policy in Iraq (which- by the way is bankrupting America to the tune of $10-12 billion a month).


Worse- McCain thinks Iraq is WINNABLE.

Drug test for politicians anyone? Must've been a DAMN POWERFUL hallucinogen McCain popped.

To Bush dissing Obama: Sitting down and TALKING with those who oppose America rather than sticking a gun in their mouth FIRST?

Maybe YOU should have tried that instead of throwing American lives and resources down a sandy rat hole....
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

City Tries To Make Up Lost Revenue By Ticketing Neighborhoods

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It was an orgy of violations in our little 'hood yesterday. Some bozo came through yesterday ticketing people for everything they could.


A wonderful thing with many folk around here on the brink of bankruptcy.

First off it was parking. We now exceed downtown in parking costs- thanks to STUPID-ASSED tickets!

My brother and a neighbor parks their car slightly off our busy residential street- to be specific- they put the car's wheels on the grassy area between the street & sidewalk to better facilitate traffic movement and avoid getting their cars dinged.

Call the cops after someone runs into your car- "make a walk-in report."

Ticket another neighbor for having his car in the grassy area next to his driveway. Unreal.

We have MOUNDS of trash in front of weed-overgrown houses throughout the 'hood.

There weren't ANY tickets around those places.

Little police protection- it takes them more than 15 minutes often to respond to what one would think are priority calls- like disturbances or speeders THROUGH the 'hood.

So they ticket bullshit.

After this little bit of civic coffer building at the expense of already overextended citizens- we're seriously looking into selling and moving OUT of KC-MO now.

This was the last straw- we've had it with KC-MO..

Until we do- we're going to oppose EVERY tax increase these elected bozos put in front of us. Not JUST oppose them- but start putting large signs of opposition on our property.

Shame- shame- SHAME on the city for adding stupid extra expense to people already overextended!!!

And when my brother has to go pay his ticket- I'll drop him off downtown and pick him up. Screw your outrageous parking fees you bozos!!!

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: NWS-SPC: Slight To Moderate Risk Of Severe Storms Later Today

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The Kansas City Metro- along with most of the MetroRegion except western and northwestern areas- is included in a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms later today and this Tuesday night.



More troublesome is an upgrade to a "moderate risk" of severe storms- and possibly more tornadoes- over last weekend's ravaged areas of southeastern Kansas- northeastern Oklahoma eastward into Missouri & Arkansas.



Please check your local radio- TV- NWS radio and/or here for updates on this increasing deteorating weather situation.

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Monday, May 12, 2008

CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: NWS-SPC "Slight Risk" Of Severe Storms Tuesday

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This outlooked area of severe covers about the southeastern 2/3 of the Kansas City MetroRegion- including Metro K.C..


Refer to the image to see if your area is under the gun for late Tueday- early Wednesday.

Updates here as needed....

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A Reader "Thank You"

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This blog was read by nearly 1500 people Sunday- nearly 2500 since Saturday- a new record.


Thank you and I pledge to continue to bring my fellow citizens in the Central States informative weather news and information.

My heart is with each and every person who suffered losses in the weekend tornadoes and PLEASE- when severe weather threatens- keep tabs on it!

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Sound Warning Sirens When Hurricane-Force Winds Or Greater Are Expected