CSW WEATHER: Slight to Moderate Risk of Severe Storms Across the US Central States

Nearly 20-million people in eight states- including Metro Kansas City- will be under a risk of severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes later this Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.

The risk is slight except from northeast and northern Oklahoma into extreme west North Texas- where a "moderate risk" of severe storms and tornadoes currently exists- according to the NWS' Storm Prediction Center (SPC).


Some of the tornadoes could be strong ones says the SPC- and Oklahoma City is in the moderate risk area.


For the Kansas City Metro and MetroRegion- it appears right now most of us will be encroached upon by at least one line of strong to severe thunderstorms any time after 6 pm.


There could be portions of the line that produce hurricane-force straight-line winds and perhaps a weak tornado.


Damaging large hail- greater than 2-inches in diameter- are also a threat- along with deadly lightning and torrential rain.


Be watching come late afternoon on folks.....

Annette Funicello - 1942-2013

CSW WEATHER: Severe Storm Watch South of Metro Kansas City

A Severe Thunderstorm (Tstm) Watch (STW) is in effect for southeastern Kansas and southwest and a small part of west-central Missouri until 9 pm this Sunday night.

The watch includes Kansas cities such as El Dorado- Chanute- Iola and Pittsburg.


Some Missouri cities in STW-83 are Joplin- Carthage- Neosho and Springfield.

Metro KC is NOT included in STW-83.



However- recent radar echoes have popped up near Emporia KS and if this trend continues- showers and tstms could move into at least southern portions of Metro Kansas City after 5 pm..

CSW WEATHER: "Slight Risk" of Severe Thunderstorms Later Today for Metro-Western MetroRegion Kansas City

The National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) latest "convective (thunderstorm) outlook" has Metro- and the western portions of the Kansas City MetroRegion in an area with a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms forecasted today through early Monday morning.

The main severe weather threat in Metro KC should be possible large hail and damaging winds- as well as heavy rainfall- but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.


Severe weather shouldn't arrive in the KC area until after 4pm. 

On Monday- the current SPC severe storm outlook is for areas west of Metro KC- but the delineation of severe comes as close as Lawrence KS..

Severe storms are still outlooked over most of MetroRegion KC on Tuesday- and the SPC has mentioned the possibility of upgrading the severe risk to moderate.


Tuesday's severe weather will be of all hazards- including tornadoes.


On the cold side of this large- slow-moving storm- travel in the west and northwest Central States will become increasingly difficult beginning later Monday.


Winter Storm Watches are already in effect from southern South Dakota southwestward into Colorado.


If you're heading west on Interstates 70 or 80 toward Denver or Cheyenne- best to be there by midday Monday.

Also- the storm-total rainfall forecasts remain steady.


Two to 3.5-inches of rain are forecast by the NWS Hydro Prediction Center (HPC) over much of MetroRegion Kansas City by the time the storm system exits the area on Wednesday.

CSW BREAKING: Gunshot Murder in KC-MO

KC-MO Police are investigating the city's latest homicide...


It occurred around 3:30 am Sunday morning at 26th Street and Monroe.


About thirty minutes later- police reported another victim from this incident showed-up at a local hospital with "serious" GSW injuries.


Police haven't released any possible suspect or any other information on the latest killing.

CSW BREAKING: Multiple Shooting Victims at KC-MO Power and Light Entertainment District

KC-MO Police are trying to sort-out a shooting that wounded a male and a female at 13th Street and Grand early Sunday morning.


Police working the Power and Light detail reported hearing shots fired at 2:48 am..


Within a minute- one victim- a "28-year-old female-" is located.

She was shot in a thigh and was in serious condition.


About ten minutes later another victim- "a 38-year-old male-" appears.

His wound is to a shoulder- condition stable and not life-threatening.


At 3:39 am- police reported a 3rd victim had arrived at a Metro hospital.

This victim was reported by police to have been "shot in the arm."


Minutes after the shots were fired- a police officer saw- and gave chase to a gray-colored Ford Excursion that was speeding south from the area of the Power and Light.


At speeds reported as high as 70 MPH- the chase went as far south as 41st Street and U.S. 71- then on to the East side of KC-MO where- at 2:58 am- police "lost sight" of the Excursion in the area of Cleveland and Linwood.

CSW BREAKING: Fatality Hit and Run Crash in South Kansas City MO

According to police reports a male driving a pickup truck westbound on Bannister Road ran a red light and crashed into a man driving a motorcycle southbound on Wornall Road.


The man driving the cycle died at the scene at 12:25 am Sunday morning.


The person who was driving the pickup ran away from the scene- police scoured the area by ground and air for more than an hour- but did not locate that driver. 

Bannister Road- as well as Wornall- has been closed by police for the accident investigation.


Both roadways reopened more than three hours later.


Police say the man killed was a "57-year-old Belton MO resident."

CSW WEATHER: Severe Storm Chances Increase for Late Weekend- Early Next Week

Thank you- yes- I'm happy to use the warm weather logo again...



Just posting to remind you and yours that severe thunderstorm (t-storm) and tornado season is here- and that there is a chance of severe storms in Metro Kansas City in a few days.

Right now- it appears next Tuesday is the best shot for severe t-storms and possible tornadoes here in Metro Kansas City.

There are slight chances of strong to severe storms beginning as early as tonight over parts of the western Central States and that chance continues Sunday night and again later Monday.

Even if there's no severe weather- rain- possibly up to 3-inch (or more?) totals- could accumulate in the Kansas City MetroRegion by late Tuesday.


There could well be some flooding issues by the middle of the coming week.



Meanwhile- enjoy this first actual spring-weather weekend and let's be careful out there.

What? No Citizen Vote to Spend A Billion-Plus on A New KC-MO Airport?

Without a citizen vote- the Ruling Class of KC-MO (RCKC) is attempting to shove a costly remake of flyer-economical Kansas City International airport down taxpayer's throats.


That's right- KC's glitz-struck pollys want to rebuild one of the most passenger-convenient airports in America.


Just a little review- the price tag to BUILD KCI in the late 1960's-early 1970's was around $250-million.


Because of cost overruns and union difficulties- that price was $100-million higher than the $150-million in airport bonds KC-MO voters approved in 1966.

A complete renovation of the three circular terminals and new parking structures completed in 2004 cost $258-million- all figures courtesy of WikiPedia.


Total cost to build KCI and the subsequent renovations: $508-million.


Current cost estimate to demolish the three circular terminals and replace it with a single- huge terminal: $1.2-BILLION.


The main RCKC reasons cited for spending more than a billion dollars on a single airport (while city infrastructure crumbles)  terminal are:

1) The individual boarding gates in the three terminals each require their own security (TSA Gestapos-TSAG) and-

2) Passengers awaiting their flights have to leave secured areas to obtain food- drink- or shop for touristy frou-frou- then re-enter the TSAG checkpoints.


Let's do some simple math and employ some very inexpensive logic on both of the above RCKS selling points.


1) Security (TSAG) cost. Currently- one can get to KCI no less than 30 minutes before their flight departs- go through the TSAG checkpoints- and still have anywhere from 10-20 minutes before the plane leaves.

There are 90 gates at KCI- maybe 70 of those are currently in use.

For the sake of generosity however- let's use all 90 gates with five TSAG agents assigned to each gate (450 agents- I'll add 50 more to make it 500). 

Let's make the average pay for an agent $40K per year (current starting wages are about $33K yearly).

That's a $2-million annual payroll for TSAG agents- it would take 50 years to reach just $100-million in TSAG costs- 500 years to reach one billion dollars.

2) KCI is not a hub airport- so we don't have many passengers waiting around for connecting flights. Most of us who use KCI do so as it's intended purpose- AN AIRPORT- not a shopping or dining experience (with inflated prices).


Proponents of a 'new' KCI say that various airport fees will pay for the $1.2 ($2.5B after overruns)-billion cost- claiming "no taxpayer dollars will be used."


This is pure- unadulterated BS.


Who pays those added fees (taxpayers-goodbye cheap airfares)?


I say the RCKC put this VERY expensive proposal to a vote by the CITIZENS of KC-MO.


Otherwise- put that $1.2-billion toward INFRASTRUCTURE (roadwork- curbs- sidewalks- water mains- sewers- public safety- etc.) and TRULY make this city livable.

CSW BREAKING: Independence MO House Fire- Possible Person Still Inside

Six companies of the IFD are currently working a house fire in the 1400 block of Franklin Drive.


The alarm was first dispatched at 5:36 pm and when the first fire company arrived two minutes later- they reported "heavy smoke showing from a 2-story" house.


There was also mentioned the possibility someone was still inside the burning house- but at 5:45 pm- that person was already outside and uninjured.


At 5:47 pm- a pumper crew inside the house reports "the fire is out."



More as received...

CSW BREAKING: Aircraft in Trouble Enroute to KCI Airport

At 12:20 pm Monday afternoon- an emergency has been declared by an in-flight "American" Airlines "MD-80" with "137" passengers and crew on board.


The problem is reported as a "pressurization" issue.


At 12:30 pm- KC-MO airport fire/rescue (ARFF) crews report the plane "has landed safely."