CSW WEATHER: Tornado Watch for Metro Kansas City Until 4 AM Sunday Morning

 BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
     TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 176
     NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
     1040 PM CDT SAT MAY 18 2013
     
     TORNADO WATCH 176 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 AM CDT FOR THE
      FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
     
     KSC003-005-013-031-043-045-059-085-087-091-103-111-121-131-139-
     177-209-190900-
     /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0176.130519T0340Z-130519T0900Z/
     
     KS 
     .    KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
     
     ANDERSON             ATCHISON            BROWN               
     COFFEY               DONIPHAN            DOUGLAS             
     FRANKLIN             JACKSON             JEFFERSON           
     JOHNSON              LEAVENWORTH         LYON                
     MIAMI                NEMAHA              OSAGE               
     SHAWNEE              WYANDOTTE           
     
     
     MOC003-005-021-047-049-063-075-087-095-147-165-227-190900-
     /O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0176.130519T0340Z-130519T0900Z/
     
     MO 
     .    MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
     
     ANDREW               ATCHISON            BUCHANAN            
     CLAY                 CLINTON             DEKALB              
     GENTRY               HOLT                JACKSON             
     NODAWAY              PLATTE              WORTH               
     
     
     ATTN...WFO...TOP...EAX...
     

CSW WEATHER: Severe Storms- Tornadoes- Possible Later Sunday- Monday in Kansas City MetroRegion

Nationwide- it's been one of the quietest spring severe weather seasons across America in 60 years (1953).


Although the 1953 season started late- that year was the leader in tornado deaths until (still incredible to me) 2011.


We've then had it easy regarding severe weather here in our region- but that's all due to change by late this weekend.

The NWS' Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has outlooked Metro and much of MetroRegion Kansas City for severe thunderstorms (t-stms) and possible tornadoes Sunday afternoon and evening.


That threat also exists again Monday afternoon and evening.

A large portion of the US Central States from the Twin Cities to near the DFW MetroPlex will also be 'under the gun.'



Please make your friends and family aware of the possibility of severe storms on those days- and give some thought as to what you and they would do in the event of a confirmed tornado heading your way.

CSW BREAKING: "Large Tornado" South of Dallas-Fort Worth

Severe storms have dropped several tornadoes around and southwest of the DFW MetroPlex Wednesday night...

"Major damage" along with "serious injuries" were reported in and/or near the communities  of Granbury and DeCordova in Hood county TX..

At 9:24 pm- CBS11 is reporting "fatalities in Hood county" TX- "according to the Sheriff's Department" in Hood county.



A storm spotter for the CBS TV affiliate Channel 11 reported a "large tornado on the ground" near Cleburne TX...



As of 10:30 pm CDT- "two fatalities and 16 injuries" have been reported in the Granbury area.

More than an hour later- that figure was increased to "three dead" with "around 100 injured-" according to a report on NBC5 in Dallas.


At a news conference shortly after midnight Thursday morning- the Hood county sheriff Mr. Roger Deeds reported "at least six dead" with more than 100 injuries of various degrees of severity.



There were slightly more than a dozen people yet unaccounted for- Sheriff Deeds said.


Than number had been reduced to six Thursday morning.


A preliminary intensity of the Granbury leg of the tornado has been rated an EF-4.


There were reports of a roof off at least one home on Lakeshore Drive at Lake Cleburne.


As of 10:35 pm- damage was reported to homes in southwestern Cleburne with some "people trapped in their homes" in those areas.


No deaths had been reported in Cleburne as of early Thursday morning- but at least six people received injuries from the tornado.


Storms continued around these areas for a time after the tornado(s) struck- and flash flooding was a concern.



At sunrise Thursday- WFAA's "Chopper 8" flew over the devastated areas.


Severe storms are possible in the Kansas City MetroRegion late Saturday and Sunday.

Two Dead After Hit and Run Crash in Johnson County MO

Just before 12:30 am on Mother's Day 2013- an eastbound motorist on U.S. 50 in northwestern Johnson county MO slammed into the rear of a 1997 Mercury containing four people.


The Mercury- being driven by Ronald Harvey said the MO Highway Patrol report- lost control- left the road- rolled and struck a tree.

Mr. Harvey and a passenger- Vickie Brandkamp- were killed.


Two rear seat passengers- Kelly Neth and Keith Roth- were seriously injured- and transported by EMS to Metro Kansas City medical trauma centers.


All in the Mercury were from Green Ridge MO...


The vehicle that struck the Mercury left the scene- and the MO Highway Partol is investigating to identify that vehicle and it's driver.

CSW Commentary: Leave Kansas City International Airport Alone!

One billion- two-hundred million dollars...

Probably enough money to re-surface virtually every major roadway in the city...

Enough money to put storm sewers- sidewalks and redo the many residential streets in this city without same...

Would make a HUGE dent in Kansas City's old infrastructure of century-old water and sewer lines...

Maybe sufficient funds to at least build a starter commuter transit line utilizing anything but vehicles that run on already congested and dilapidated city streets.


$1.2-billion dollars could be spent virtually any other way to greatly enhance the livability of my hometown other than a new airport terminal.

KCI airport is a local travellers' dream.

Probably at least ninety-percent (90%) of the time- one can arrive at KCI only 30 minutes before flight departure- go through the TSA-PITA security- and still have enough time to read half a chapter of a book before the boarding (cattle) call.

Arriving at KCI is even better- you're off the plane- got your luggage (if you spent that cost) and are on the road home in less than 15 minutes.

Have one of the very few connecting flights out of KCI and you're hungry or thirsty?  The short TSA-PITA lines don't make it difficult at all to leave the boarding area- patronize a bar or eatery at the airport- and return to the boarding area in sufficient time.


The pro-new terminal people say:

A) There are too many TSA-PITA security checkpoints.  

$1.2-billion could pay for this added security for hundreds of years WITHOUT a new terminal..


B) Present layout unfriendly to passengers with flight delays or layovers.  

The augument here is that those unfortunate few would have to leave the "secure" boarding area to access  food- drink or trinket-purchases. It's not that big of a deal!  See several paragraphs ago- you can be back inside of the secure boarding area in 15 minutes- often less than that.


This city has a lot of infrastructure needs- none of which- in my keen observations- include a single KCI airport terminal for $1.2-billion.


(For updates and commentary- log into Save KCI! here.)

All-Time Record May Snow - Pix Part 1

About 2-inches out south in the Loma Vista 'hood of KC-MO...


Radar trends show this stuff continuing through at least the next several hours...

Probably still doing it's non-seasonal thing into Friday midday according to recent weather model runs).

Yes- I know....

CSW WEATHER: Unprecedented Late-Spring "Winter Weather Advisory" for KC- St. Joseph Areas

Unprecedented as in this hasn't happened before in Kansas City's 125 years of weather records.


Oh yeah- we've had ONE accumulating May snowfall- a little more than an inch on May 3- 1907- but there was no NWS or 'Winter Weather Advisories' issued then.

The NWS forecast is "one to three inches of snow" overnight for the Metro areas of KC and St. Joseph.


Although most of that accumulation will be on areas with natural cover- vehicles and other elevated outdoor items- there could be slick spots on bridges and overpasses during the Friday morning drive.


The cold and precip (not all snow by any means) should continue- off and on- through at least early Sunday.


It looks like late next week before temperatures rebound to "seasonable" averages of highs around 70 and lows around 50.

Snow in St. Joe

This is a screen cap (scrap) of a live video camera in downtown St. Joseph MO..

Let's just hope that the old saying "The snow in MO falls mainly in St. Joe" holds true....

Independence MO Seeks New Revenue Source From Traffic Fatality Survivors (Poo-Poo on KC STAR)

The local Scandal Sheet (KC STAR) has run a story today about how the City of Independence MO is taking down people's homemade roadside memorials to those killed in vehicle crashes.


Indy doesn't want YOU to make and maintain those 'potentially dangerous (Indy officials' excuse)' memorials but for a FEE of $150- that City of Corporate Welfare (Bass Pro handouts) will put up a memorial FOR YOU.


I've heard of some really- REALLY screwball ways for cities to milk more revenue from their citizens- but this has to be one of the saddest excuses of all-time.

To add insult to injury- that local bastion of free speech The KANSAS CITY STAR has "disabled" reader comments on the story.

CSW WEATHER: Snow in MAY??

I know- bite my tongue (or in this case: fingers)...


The good news is that we will actually experience Spring for a few more days ... until Wednesday.


Then- this storm front moves in- see- and the party's over.


Of course since the concrete and asphalt has dried out- more rain.


As an added attraction- by Thursday another shipment of Canada's biggest export arrives.


Rather than stay in refrigerators where it belongs- this Frigidaire spills out over our Midland Empire.


There will probably be at least frost if not freeze warnings issued for our lands- flowers and plants by Thursday night for Friday morning- sheesh- maybe Saturday AM too.


I'm getting tired- but our brass monkeys seem to love being handled...

If the cold isn't tedious enough- we could see flakes (in addition to the ones running governments).


It's not going to necessitate snowplows- salt trucks or the kid up the street with a shovel (actually just a marketing ploy- crafty Shon-Tal actually uses a snowblower).


At least there doesn't appear to be much of any tornado threat during the transition from May back to March- on the worst-end of that maybe some hail- a sound-alike woid I may be using seeing snowflakes in May.


The Year of 2013 appears this edition's April showers that bring Mayflowers that bring pilgrims may also be applying for a possible case of frostbite....

PBS' 'Frontline' Examines "The Retirement Gamble"

Did you catch PBS's Frontline the other night?


The program dealt with the profits all those Wall Street wheeler-dealers make off of people's  retirement instruments like 401Ks.

Watch The Retirement Gamble on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

I would have been livid about it if I had a horse in that fixed race.