KC-MO Sobriety Checkpoint Yields Less Than 0.02% Of Impaired Drivers

Friday night- KC-MO police and other agencies again pooled all their resources in one spot.

This time the police checkpoint was on U.S. 169/Broadway Extention at the Downtown Airport- stopping 1149 vehicles Friday night as well as delaying ambulance responses north of the river (that was documented here).

A total of 20 impaired drivers were arrested- for a total of 0.0174 of ALL drivers stopped.

Oh- 36 people were arrested for OTHER things at the checkpoint- according to the KANSAS CITY STAR.

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Metro K.C. WEATHER UPDATE: Tornado Threat Over- Flash Flood Threat Lessening

Although Tornado Watches No. 305 and 307 remain in effect for the Kansas City - Lawrence - Topeka areas- the threat of tornados has virtually ended in those areas.

The severe thunderstorms have now formed into a quite incredible line across the Central States- and in Metro Kansas City this line is sagging southward along with the heavier- flash-flooding rainfalls.

Rainfall totals of 1 to isolated 6 inch amounts have been reported across the area. Flash flooding occurred in Excelsior Springs- Liberty and KC-MO North.

No injuries occurred.

Rain will continue to abate this evening from north to south across the Metro as the storm line continues along with the Tornado Watch through the southern MetroRegion areas of Warrensburg- Butler- Nevada-MO and Pleasanton and Fort Scott KS..

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Kansas City's BREAKING NEWS: Excelsior Springs "Graduation Has Been Cancelled"

Excelsior Springs police just announced (4:30pm) tonight's ES High school "graduation has been cancelled- rescheduled for 7pm (Saturday) night" now.

Torrential rains will contue to threaten ES and now the northern half of Metro K.C.- starting to move southward.

A KC-MO high water call to ReinKing Road south of N.W. Cookingham at 4:17pm had no victim- but now KC-MO Fire is working a school bus "loaded with children" trapped in high waters at 508 N.W. 88th Street.

First reports are the kids are in no danger and the bus stalled.

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Metro K.C. BREAKING NEWS: Flash Flooding Threatens A Daycare Facilty In Excelsior Springs-MO

At 3:45pm- Excelsior Springs (ES) Fire and Police units are on-scene at the "Imagination Station" daycare and pre-school in the 1200 block of North Jesse James Road where high water has flooded into the back of the building there.

Other flooding is reported into a business at "the Old Towne Mall" in ES.

The first image shows NWS Doppler radar precip estimates of more than 3 inches of rain in and around ES-MO.

Image 2 shows more heavy rain downstream to move over that extreme northeastern Clay county city of around 11000 people.

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Metro K.C. WEATHER BULLETIN: BIG Flash Flooding Threat

Severe thunderstorms rage across the Metro KC "Northland"- and there's the significant added danger now from flash flooding.

These storms aren't moving very fast- and they're putting down rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour- locally higher amounts in the stongest storm cells.

Good luck driving in this stuff if you have to - and hope you know the high water trouble areas ahead of time.

Oh- I think Metro K.C. may be in for a hard time ourselves in a couple of hours. I have a strong "hinky" feeling.

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BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
102 PM CDT FRI MAY 15 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PLEASANT HILL HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
CALDWELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI...
CLAY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...
CLINTON COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI...
NORTHERN LEAVENWORTH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...
NORTHERN RAY COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...
PLATTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI...
SOUTHEASTERN BUCHANAN COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI...
SOUTHERN ATCHISON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS...
SOUTHWESTERN DEKALB COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 500 PM CDT

* AT 1253 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE WARNED AREA.
A BOUNDARY WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS THE REGION...WITH NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE SAME AREAS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE... ATCHISON...CAMERON...EXCELSIOR SPRINGS...GOWER...KEARNEY... LANSING...LATHROP...LAWSON...LEAVENWORTH...NORTONVILLE...PLATTE CITY...PLATTSBURG...SMITHVILLE...WEATHERBY LAKE...WESTON... BRAYMER...CAMDEN POINT...CLARKSDALE...COWGILL...CRYSTAL LAKES... DEARBORN...EASTON...EDGERTON...EFFINGHAM...EXCELSIOR ESTATES... FERRELVIEW...HOLT...KINGSTON...POLO AND STEWARTSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES... DIPS... OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM... EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

TO REPORT FLOODING...HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN PLEASANT HILL.

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: Tornado Watch No. 305 Until 8 PM

The NWS-Pleasant Hill just stated on the MERS radio channel this watch "will include all of Metro Kansas City."

No watch graphics yet- I'll post them on this post as received....

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K.C. Metro WEATHER BULLETIN: Severe Thunderstorm Warning- N.W. Platte County-MO Until 12:45PM

The warning is for Atcheson county KS- including the city of Atcheson and for NW Platte county as well as St. Joseph-MO..

Primary severe threat is severe hail: hail an inch in diameter or greater.

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K.C. MetroRegion WEATHER UPDATE: Severe Storm Risk Increasing

While Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 304 has been CANCELLED for Metro Kansas City- there appears to be an increasing risk of severe thunderstorms with possible tornadoes later this afternoon.

See the radar image below- there are currently severe thunderstorms across northeastern Kansas and northwest and northern Missouri- unfortunately including areas that suffered tornadoes Wedesday around Kirksville.

The following images are the latest NWS-SPC Convective (thunderstorm) outlook- which indicates this increased storm and possible tornado risk that includes Metro K.C. as well as Kansas cities as Lawrence- Topeka- Ottawa- Garnett and those cities outside the MetroRegion such as Emporia and Wichita.

No watches are currently in effect for Metro kansas City- but I expect that to change over the next several hours.

Here are the latest visible satellite and Doppler weather radar images:

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: Severe Tstm Watch No. 304 In Effect Until 3 PM

The Storm Prediction Center has issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 304 that will include all of Metro Kansas City and most of the MetroRegion until 3 pm this Friday afternoon.


Southern tier MetroRegion counties- Bourbon and Linn in KS and Bates- Vernon and Henry counties MO are NOT included in this watch- but may be included in a new watch later today.

Large hail and severe-criteria winds of 58 m.p.h. or greater are the primary severe threats. Even tornadoes cannot be ruled out with any severe storm.

This severe thunderstorm watch could be extended- or upgraded to a tornado watch later this afternoon. Stay logged....

Here are the latest visible satellite and NWS Doppler weather radar images:

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Chrysler Plans To Close Raytown Dealership

According to The RAYTOWN POST- "Mitch Crawford’s Holiday Chrysler dealership at 9209 (East) 350 Hwy in Raytown is one of 789 dealerships across the country that Chrysler plans to close after the company filed for bankruptcy protection."

The dealership is on the southwest corner of Gregory Boulevard and M-350 highway.

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Kirksville Tornado Chaser Gets Inside Tornado

This might be an instructional video of how NOT to chase a tornado.

See for yourself.

NOTE: This chaser has obviously pulled his YouTube video- but HERE is a link to another site WITH the original video.

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS-SPC- "Slight Risk" Of Severe Storms Friday

The "slight risk" will include the entire Kansas City MetroRegion Friday.

The cold front that produced the severe weather Wednesday will make a run at us Friday morning as a warm front.

Two chances of strong to severe storms locally Friday: one in the morning as the low level jet and warm front enters our area- and again Friday afternoon and evening as the storm system's cold front sweeps through the MetroRegion.

Large hail will be the primary severe threat early Friday- and hail- winds and even a tornado possible during the later Friday activity.

CSW will keep you informed....

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Kirksville-MO Tornado Videos

Found HERE on the KTVO ABC-3 site.

The death toll has reached 3 in northeast Missouri after a tornadic supercell traversed the area early Wednesday evening.

Other CSW posts on this tornado found HERE and HERE.

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Damage- Funnel Photos of Kirksville-MO Tornado - May 13- 2009

More photos- courtesy of KTVO ABC-3 and photographer Dr. Curtis Roof.

The photos show the large tornado funnel- and damage to a residential area
and a car dealership in north Kirksville.

Three were reported injured in a vehicle travelling on U.S. 63 when the tornado struck Kirksville around 6 pm..

One person has died in Sullivan county- west of Kirksville- according to the Associated Press.


A small tornado also touched down briefly Wednesday evening in Coffey county KS near Burlington.

No damage reported there.

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First Photos of Kirksville-MO Tornado - May 13- 2009

These photos are courtesy of KTVO-TV ABC-3 in Kirksville- taken by a Brenda Linder of the tornado funnel.

Still no update to the original story on this tornado that struck this northeast Missouri city of around 17000 people around 6 pm Wednesday night- killing at least one and injuring many.

CAUTION - 2050 CDT - KTVO in Kirksville is now reporting "no fatalities and a few injuries" in northern Kirksville- in direct contradiction of the newspaper's story there.

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At Least One Dead "Multiple Injuries" In Kirksville-MO Tornado

A tornado roared across north Kirksville-MO around 6:10pm Wednesday evening- flattening homes and overturning cars.

The KIRKSVILLE DAILY EXPRESS reports one confirmed fatality and multiple injuries" in their breaking news story on the storm.

Both tornado watches and warnings were in effect in the Kirksville area at the time the twister struck.

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Metro K.C. BREAKING WEATHER: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 11 PM

Except for Leavenworth county KS and Platte county MO- the remainder of Metro Kansas City is included in Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 295 until 11 pm this Wednesday evening.



Strong storms are already in the Metro- as shown below on the visible satellite and latest NWS Doppler weather radar images:

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K.C. Metro WEATHER UPDATE: No Watch - Severe Weather Yet

The southeastern half of the Kansas City MetroRegion remains under a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon into tonight.

The only watches to affect the K.C. MetroRegion is to the northeast- Tornado Watch No. 293 that includes cities as Chillicothe and Bethany-MO..

The cold front is just to our northwest- and thunderstorms could fire rapidly along the front anytime now- as shown by new cells developing in Leavenworth County-KS on radar (below).

Here are the latest visible satellite and NWS Doppler weather radar images:

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: "Moderate Risk" Of Severe Storms Today-Tonight

The Storm Prediction Center (NWS-SPC) has expanded the moderate risk area for possible severe thunderstorms westward- and this risk area now cuts Metro K.C. in half.

Metro K.C. areas generally east of the Kansas state line and south of the Kansas and Missouri rivers are in the moderate risk area- all other MetroRegion areas are under a slight risk for severe weather.

Likely time for storm development will be after noon.

As you can see by these additional NWS-SPC graphics- the mode of severe weather around the K.C. Metro seems to be large hail and perhaps winds at or above 58 m.p.h..

The highest tornado threat appears to be around the Columbia to St. Louis areas- but there is a risk of tornadoes anywhere in the severe risk areas- primarily right after the storms first develop and become severe.

The storms now in the eastern parts of the K.C. Metro will move out over the next hour. Here are the latest visible satellite and Doppler weather radar images covering Metro and MetroRegion Kansas City:


The more sunshine and warmth we get will largely dictate the extent of our severe weather risk.

CSW will update the situation as needed....

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Everything's (Back To Normal) In Kansas City

Television meteorologists wave their arms frantically- telling 1.95-million unaffected Metro residents about a dust devil on the ground 75 miles away that's moving away.

Clay Chastain is running around- trying to sell a tired citizenry yet ANOTHER light rail plan.

The K.C. Royals- in first place when they left on the current road trip- gets swept by the first road team they play and loses the first game to another.

Yes- it's a normal spring in Kansas City.

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Bannister Mall Demolition Photo Update - Early May-2009

Here are some update photos of what's left of the old Bannister Mall at I-435 & Bannister Road.

Left click on the photo to enlarge- then right click to "Properties" and the file name to see where at the old mall the photo was taken..

In case you've been out-of-city for years- the old mall's being demolished and a new Kansas City Wizards soccer stadium and other amenities are being built on the site.

About all that's left is about the southern 1/3 of the mall around the area where the Sears store was.

Note the piles of scrap metal in some of the photos

Previous CSW picture-posts on the demolition can be found HERE- HERE- HERE and HERE.



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