The 2011 Joplin Tornado- A 3-D Look

This was released in the past few days by the National Weather Service- a 3-dimensional view of the Joplin tornado.


The movie file (allow a minute or two to fully load if using broadband) is of a single Doppler weather radar volume scan from the Springfield MO site- and the movie and information about this presentation can be found at the link HERE.

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Central States News: Two Men Die in Wichita KS House Fire

This tragic fire occurred about 1:15 a.m. early Tuesday morning in a house that had 5 occupants.

The WICHITA EAGLE reports that four people made it outside- but that one of them- a 50-year-old man- went back into the burning house to attempt to rescue his grandfather.

The 50-year-old was rescued by firefighters and transported to a hospital where he later died and the grandfather- who was unable to be rescued by fire crews- died in the fire.

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Central States News: Small Earthquake in Eastern Missouri Early Tuesday

The quake occurred at 3:10 a.m. CDT and was centered 52 miles southwest of St. Louis.


Two intensities were listed: 3.9 on the main USGS quake page- but a 4.2 was listed on the USGS location map (see graphic).

No damage was reported either to local law enforcement offices or the news media- according to the story in the ST. LOUIS (MO) POST-DISPATCH.

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Parkville MO Begins Sandbagging Operations To Stop Rising Missouri River

The City of Parkville has requested volunteers to help fill sandbags in an attempt to prevent flooding of it's historic downtown area- according to this story from news partner KSHB-41 NBC Action News.


"Volunteers should be at least 16 years old, wear solid shoes and gloves and bring identification with them-" state Parkville officials.

Parkville- along with downstream neighbor Riverside- were inundated during the Great Flood of 1993.


Parkville city officials hope to erect a 4-foot high temporary levee around it's downtown area.


Volunteers are asked to report to the Farmer's Market beginning at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday- June 7)- according to the City of Parkville Web site.

Riverside spent tens of millions of dollars to repair and fortify their Missouri River levee system- which will be tested for the first time since it was completed about 10 years ago.

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Central States News: Current Missouri River Stages

As meteorologists and the public nervously watch the skies for rainfall- releases from upper Missouri River dams continue to pour into middle and lower reaches of the Missouri.


Overnight- there were more heavy rains and flash flooding on the Missouri River source regions in Montana- and these floodwaters will only add to continued high releases from the series of Pick-Sloan dams.


The following are the latest river stages from selected points along the middle to lower Missouri- click on the locations' name for a direct link to that river gauge:


Sioux City IA

Omaha NE

Rulo NE

St. Joseph MO

Leavenworth KS

Kansas City MO

Boonville MO

Jefferson City MO

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CSW WEATHER: Heat Advisory Today- Thunderstorm Threat Later This Week

The National Weather Service (NWS) continues a "Heat Advisory" today and probably tomorrow (Wednesday) for Metro Kansas City.


Actual air temperatures in the mid to upper 90's- along with high humidities (dew points) will make it feel like it's 100-110 .

I don't have to tell my fellow eastern Great Plains-people how to deal with this aspect of living in this part of the country...


Relief (of sorts) is on the way though- for a cold (cool) front drops south into the MetroRegion later tomorrow and Thursday.

This will bring increasing chances of thunderstorms- and some of those could be severe.


You can see by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) graphics that there's a "slight risk" of severe storms later tomorrow and Thursday over MetroRegion and Metro Kansas City. 

The front is forecast to hang around the Central States for the next several days at least- and this will keep storm chances around off and on through at least Sunday.


Of particular concern will be any heavy rainfall here and upstream in Missouri River drainage areas- since the river's coming up to and beyond flood stage over the next several weeks.

We have fairly dry ground now- but repeated heavy thunderstorm rains could change that situation fast- so I'll keep my weather-eye on this situation and let you know here at CSW what's up with that.

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CSW BREAKING: Garage Fire Heavily-Damages Raytown MO Residence

Firefighters from the 2 Raytown fire stations are cleaning-up after a house fire in the northern part of that Kansas City suburb.


The blaze broke out just before 12:15 p.m. Monday afternoon in the garage of a house in the 5500 block of Lane.

Five companies of the KC-MO FD also went to assist the RFD- when the first unit of the latter arrived T 12:17 p.m.- they reported "2 cars in the garage" ablaze at the house.

Three handlines were used on the flames- which were under control about 15 minutes after the first fire truck rolled in.

No injuries were reported in the 90-degree (outside) heat- and the Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced occupants of the home.

The cause is under investigation.

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American Tornadoes in 2011: The Latest Numbers

Courtesy of the NWS' Storm Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma- is the tornado count- tornado deaths and number of killer tornadoes reported in the United States through June 3.


The number of dead does not take into account the most recent fatalities from the Joplin MO Tornado of May 22- 4 people have died of the injuries this weekend- bringing the total death count from that devastating EF-5 twister to 141.

Add those 4 to the June 3rd death count and the total tornado deaths so far in 2011 have reached a staggering total of 527.


That's the biggest death toll for more than 4 generations!


You may also note the number of tornadoes- although "preliminary-" reported thus far with 2011 not even halfway over: 1429.

The only year of the past three with more TOTAL tornadoes was 2008 with 1692- and this year's preliminary total ALREADY surpasses the 3-year average by more than 50 tornadoes.


As we move toward summer- the "tornado season" moves into the northern U.S.- and although the tornado season in the central and southern states never actually "ends-" the threat of the terribly-destructive EF-4 and 5 twisters decreases dramatically as the upper winds or 'jet stream' moves northward.


It is my hope that none of this year's tornado victims died in vain- but served to create a new and heightened public awareness of severe weather. 

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What Do Jenny McCarthy and Sarah Palin Have in Common?

Both women are pleasing to look at- so they have in common.

Both women likely have a sizable bank account- so they both share that similarity.

It's when both open their mouths and speak is where the commonality ends.


Jenny McCarthy is an intelligent woman- with a keen sense of humor.

Sarah Palin opens her mouth and she is just ... laughable.

Palin's LATEST gaffe comes with her revisionist view of American history- regarding the Ride of Paul Revere.

You can read all about it here- a link to the ASSOCIATED PRESS story via commercial-free MyWay news.


What is totally unlaughable about Sarah Palin- frightening to me actually- is that she would even consider running for such a high office as President of The United States.

I'm all for a woman president- have been for a long- long time.

Jenny McCarthy could and would certainly get my vote.


Palin would get my vote as well ... for her opponent.

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CSW BREAKING: Serious Injury Crash in Eastern Independence MO

A LifeFlight medical helicopter is en route to a 1-vehicle rollover injury crash in eastern Independence on Truman Road.

The crash- reported about 5:30 a.m.- is said to be "1/2 to 3/4 of a mile east of (Missouri) 7 highway" according to an Independence Fire department pumper on the scene.



A "50-year-old female driver" said to be experiencing paralysis in her arms and legs was flown to Truman Med Center-Hospital Hill in otherwise non life-threatening condition.

IPD was investigating the circumstances of the crash.

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KC-MO Police Report A Suicide- Then A Murder- Near Hospital Hill

At 2:09 a.m. Sunday morning- KC-MO emergency services received reports of shots fired with "a male down in the front yard" close to the intersection of 25th Street and Harrison- about 4 blocks southeast of Truman Medical Center on Hospital Hill.

Police arrived minutes later- a confirmed that indeed a male was down- and dead- in a front yard at the address on Harrison.

They also said it was "an apparent suicide."

What wasn't heard was that police also found a woman in her 50's dead in a nearby residence.


It's being called "a murder-suicide."


On Tuesday- police made the victims names public.

Thirty-three-year-old Justin L. Neal had reportedly shot his 60-year-old mother Linda J. Neal in the head in their apartment- then fatally-shot himself in the front yard afterward.

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CSW WEATHER: NWS Heat Advisory in Effect for Metro Kansas City

Summer doesn't "officially" begin until June 21- but you wouldn't know that by stepping outside...



The Kansas City National Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill MO has issued a "Heat Advisory" for all of Metro K.C. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

Temperatures in the 90's along with high humidity will make it feel like it's 105°F in the city- and it's doubtful that morning low temperatures will drop much below 80°F.


It's quite possible the heat advisory could be extended as far as Wednesday.


Just a reminder- Metro Kansas City's deadliest weather disaster wasn't a tornado or flash flooding but the 1980 heat wave that killed around 200 people that summer.

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Central States News: Evacuations Ordered in Hamburg IA After Missouri River Levee Fails

Evacuation orders are in effect for hundreds of residents in Hamburg IA after part of a Missouri River levee failed southwest of the town.


Hamburg is a town of about 1200 people along Interstate 29 and the Nishnabotna River in extreme southwestern Iowa- about a mile north of the Missouri border.

Not only are homes and businesses threatened in the southern portions of that town- but floodwater threatens to close I-29- a major route between Kansas City and Omaha NE..

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Fire in Merriam KS Electrical Sub-station Causes Metro-wide Power Surge

At 3:33 a.m.- the lights started flickering here at the CSW news office and I quickly went to battery power.


Within minutes- automatic alarms started sounding throughout KC-MO and in Claycomo- a police officer reported "all the street lights went out" and his dispatcher said there was a power surge.

Whatever it was- it seemed to be affecting the entire KCP&L power grid in Metro Kansas City.

Then- at 3:39 a.m.- five companies of Merriam- Shawnee and Overland Park fire companies were dispatched to a fire in an electrical sub-station at 6300 Carter.

That fire was allowed to burn itself out as KCP&L workers shut-off power to the station and re-routed the power supply to the area.


It's unknown if the fire caused the Metro-wide power surge or was a result thereof- but all areas around that station was restored by 4:30 a.m. and there were no more power surges- here at least.

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Driver Critically-Injured in Firey 1-Car Crash in KC-MO

The male driver of a car is in critical condition at an area hospital after a crash in south-midtown KC-MO early Sunday morning.

The crash was reported to emergency services at 4:08 a.m. and they responded to Swope Parkway under the Bruce Watkins Expressway/U.S. 71 where they found the car on fire and the driver trapped inside.

Firefighters quickly doused the fire and extricated the badly-injured driver.

It wasn't known if he was burned- and police were investigating the crash.

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CSW WEATHER: NWS-SPC- "Watch Possible" For Metro- MetroRegion Kansas City

Thunderstorms continue over south-central Kansas from west of Emporia to near the Hutchinson area.


There have even been a few severe thunderstorm warnings on this activity over the past hour.

The Storm Prediction Center- in a "mesoscale discussion'" states that a (severe storm) "watch is possible" over eastern-northeastern KS and northern MO during the next few hours as this activity continues to move and develop into our area.

Any watch will be posted here at CSW when and if it's issued...

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Central States News: Flood Releases Damages North Dakota Dam on Missouri River

We saw how the release of flood water from dams on the Kansas River damaged the spillways on Tuttle Creek and Milford reservoirs in 1993.

The damage at Milford was so great at Milford that it raised concern with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) about the possible integrity of the dam itself I recall.

Today- the USACE is carefully watching the Garrison dam above Bismarck ND...

According to this story from the BISMARCK TRIBUNE- release of water through the Garrison spillway from the swollen Lake Sakakawea has caused a "pothole" in the dam's concrete spillway.

The Corps shut the spillway gates- then re-opened them "slowly" to observe if the releases would further damage the spillway.

The TRIBUNE says that the USACE has a contractor "standing by" to make emergency repairs to the spillway if needed. 

Current forecasts call for the Missouri River to reach a flood stage of 40-feet in Kansas City later this month.


Flood stage here is 32 feet- and the record stage- set in 1993- is nearly 49 feet.

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CSW Weather: "Slight" Chance of Severe Storms Later Today in Northern Kansas City MetroRegion

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma forecasts a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms across portions of the Central States later today.


The severe storms are possible over portions of Iowa and Nebraska- and that part of the Kansas City MetroRegion generally along and north of U.S. 36 highway- including Metro St. Joseph.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible over the rest of Kansas and Missouri except the southern parts of those states through 7 a.m. CDT Sunday morning.

On Sunday- that severe storm risk area moves further east into Iowa and Missouri.

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CSW will post any severe weather watches affecting the Kansas City MetroRegion.

CSW BREAKING: Blue Springs Duplex Heavily-Damaged in Saturday Morning Fire

Fire has heavily-damaged at least one side of a duplex in Blue Springs early Saturday morning.


Four companies of the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District were called-out at 3:18 a.m. on the report that smoke was in one side of the unit in the 500 block of Northwest 3rd Street.

Police arrived minutes later and reported a fire in the back of the structure- and when CJC units arrived- they asked for an addition engine company and EMS unit to respond to the fire.

It took at least 45 minutes to completely extinguish the flames- but no one was reported injured.

The cause of the fire was under investigation as of this report.

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CSW BREAKING: Possible Homicide in South-Midtown KC-MO

Around 4:15 a.m. Saturday morning- KC-MO Metro zone police officers were sent to investigate a disturbance at a residence in the 1500 block of East 51st Street.

Once officers arrived- they found a deceased person inside the house and called for homicide detectives as well as KC-MO FD-EMS to "confirm" the death."

There were as yet no other details on how the victim died or any suspect info as of this post.

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CSW BREAKING: Fire Damages The Sam's Club Store in Grandview MO

A fire occurred early Saturday morning at the Sam's Club discount warehouse store in Grandview at 12420 South U.S. 71 highway.

One of the GFD stations- No. 2- is only several hundred feet southwest of the business.


The alarm was sounded at 12:48 a.m. for all 3 of Grandview's fire stations and when a GPD officer arrived there 3 minutes later- he reported fire coming "through the roof" of the large building.

Six companies of the KC-MO Fire department also responded beginning at 12:54 a.m..

The fire was reportedly electrical in nature- with the seat of the fire apparently above the sprinklers in the ceiling of the northeast part of the building near the tire and camera departments of the Sam's Club.

While the damage from the fire itself didn't appear to be major- smoke spread throughout the store and there was at least some water damage as well. 

The incident was under control as of 1:45 a.m. with no reported injuries.  

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The Jackson County Health Department was requested as there is a grocery/food section in the south and southwest portion of the building that was affected by smoke- and it was unknown if the business would be open at it's regular time later this Saturday morning.