Kansas City's Weather: Back In The Saddle Again

This Saturday evening - looking at both a Flood Watch and a Snow Advisory in effect for our Kosmic City - I drift back to a warm- sunny Thursday morning sunning in beach chairs with Ms. Lady Di Rittenhouse on the Texas Gulf shore.

Right now- those parts of the Missouri and extreme eastern Kansas portions of the MetroRegion south of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers are under a Flood Watch for possible rainfalls of up to 2-inches for the next 10-12 hours or so.

Current Doppler weather radar image from NWS Topeka. General movement is north-northeast at 35 m.p.h..

This Flood Watch includes the K.C. Metro.

Then- the weather turns decidely wintry with a Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory Sunday for the Metro. There's been the mention by the local NWS office of near-whiteout conditions during heavier snows and winds.

That's the situation in the K.C. MetroRegion at this hour- updates here as needed.

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Four Shot In Lawrence-KS Overnight

The first call came in just before 3am at the Last Call- that controversial Larryville bar at 729 New Hampshire.

Two victims were reported here- one shot in a leg- but only one victim was taken to the hospital from here.

Within minutes- another victim arrived at a convenience store in the 4800 block of West 6th Street- then it was said yet another victim was enroute to the Lawrence hospital by a private vehicle.

One person was flown to an unknown trauma center by medical helicopter.

Police have no details yet as of this posting as to the victims' conditions nor any possible suspects.

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NWS Public Storm Spotter Training Sessions In The Kansas City/Pleasant Hill NWS Area

The following are upcoming severe weather spotter/public training classes held by the National Weather Service K.C. office.

Again- these are free of charge and the general public is welcome.


February, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location

11 Lees Summit, MO
(Jackson County) 6:30pm CST Lees Summit High School 400 SE Blue Pkway Lees Summit, MO

12 Lees Summit, MO
(Jackson County) 6:30pm CST Lees Summit West High School 2600 SW Ward Road. Lees Summit, MO

13 Cameron, MO
(Clinton County) 7:00pm CST Cameron United Methodist Church, 201 N. Pine Street, Cameron, MO

19 Plattsburg, MO
(Clinton County) 7:00pm CST Clinton County Courthouse-Community Room, 207 N Main

20 Concordia, MO
(Lafayette County) 7:00pm CST Concordia Community Center 802 S. Gordon Concordia, MO

21 Liberty, MO
(Clay County) 7:00pm CST Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 N 291 Hwy

25 Atchison, KS
(Atchison County) 7:00pm CST TBD

26 Effingham, KS
(Atchison County) 7:00pm CST TBD

27 Harrisonville, MO
(Cass County) 7:00pm CST Harrisonville High School-1600 East Elm

28 Stilwell, KS
(Johnson County) 7:00pm CST Blue Valley Northwest High School, 13260 Switzer



March, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location

03 Buckner, MO
(Jackson County) 7:00pm CST 400 E Monroe, Buckner, MO

04 Kansas City, KS
(Wyandotte County) 7:00pm CST KCKS Community College, 7250 State Ave. in the Performing Arts building

04 Marshall, MO
(Saline County) 7:00pm CST Marchall Municipal Airport 1277 S. Odell

05 Harrisonville, MO
(Cass County) 7:00pm CST Harrisonville Community Center, 2400 Jefferson Parkway

06 Stanberry, MO
(Gentry County) 7:00pm CST St. Peter's Parish Hall

10 Richmond, MO
(Ray County) 7:00pm CST Richmond Middle School 715 South Wellington Richmond, MO

11 Leavenworth, KS
(Leavenworth County) 7:00pm CST National Guard Armory

12 Rock Port, MO
(Atchison County) 7:00pm CST 101 E US Hwy 136, Rockport

13 Warrensburg, MO
(Johnson County) 7:00pm CST W.C. Morris Science Building Auditorium on the University of Central Missouri campus 419 S. College Street in Warrensburg, MO

14 Shepherds Center of the Northland, Liberty, MO
(Clay County) 10:00am CST North Cross United Methodist Church 1321 NE Vivian Rd. Kansas City, MO 64118

17 Milan, MO
(Sullivan County) 7:00pm CST Community Center in Milan

18 Kirksville, MO
(Adair County) 7:00pm CST Missouri Department of Conservation Building 3500 S Baltimore Kirksville MO 63501

19 Macon, MO
(Macon County) 6:00pm CST TBD

20 Unionville, MO
(Putnam County) 6:00pm CST Senior Center 116 S. 17th St. Unionville, MO. 63565

24 St Joseph Medical Center, Kansas City, MO
(Jackson County) 7:00pm CST 1000 Carondelet Dr. Bldg D, Alex George Auditorium (I-435 and Stateline Rd)

25 Higginsville, MO
(Lafayette County) 7:00pm CST City Hall 1922 Main Street Higginsville, MO 64037

26 Carrollton, MO
(Carroll County) 7:00pm CST Rupe Center 710 Harvest Hills Dr. Carrollton, MO

31 Allendale, MO
(Worth County) 7:00pm CST Allendale Community Center



April, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location

01 Riverside, MO
(Platte County) 7:00pm CST Park Hill South High School, 4500 NW River Park Drive, Riverside, MO

02 Maryville, MO
(Nodaway County) 7:00pm CST TBD

03 Louisburg, KS
(Miami County) 7:00pm CST Louisburg High School, 202 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, KS

07 Brookfield, MO
(Linn County) 7:00pm CST Brookfield Area Career Center 128 S Pershing RD, Brookfield MO 64628

08 TBD, MO
(Cass County) 7:00pm CST TBD

09 St. Joseph, MO
(Buchanan County) 7:00pm CST Missouri Theater, 717 Edmond St St Joe, MO

10 Savannah, MO
(Andrew County) 6:30pm CST Clasby Community Center, 400 East Duncan Drive, Savannah, MO



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January, 2008 - Completed
Day City, State Time Location
30 Sedalia, MO
(Pettis County) 7:00pm CST First United Methodist Church – Celebration Center 1701 West 32nd St Sedalia, MO



February, 2008 - Completed
Day City, State Time Location
04 Butler, MO
(Bates County) 7:00pm CST Butler High School Auditorium 420 South Fulton Butler MO 64730

05 Marshall-Postponed, MO 7:00pm CST Postponed until March 4 due to weather

06 Trenton-Postponed, MO
(Grundy County) 7:00pm CST ***Postponed

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NWS Public Storm Spotter Training Sessions In The Topeka NWS Area

Here is a list of FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NWS spotter training classes. You DO NOT need to belong to a spotter organization to attend!

February, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location

25 Concordia, KS
(Cloud County) 7:00pm CST Cook Theater, Community College

26 St. Mary's, KS
(Pottawatomie County) 7:00pm CST Fire Station 405 West Lasley

27 Garnett, KS
(Anderson County) 7:00pm CST North Park Community Building

28 Oskaloosa, KS
(Jefferson County) 7:00pm CST Oskaloosa High School 404 Park St
Contact Information: **NOTE LOCATION CHANGE**
28 Clay Center, KS
(Clay County) 7:00pm CST Catholic Parish Hall 730 Court Street



March, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
03 Junction City, KS
(Geary County) 7:00pm CST 4H Senior Center 1025 S. Spring Valley Road

03 Herington, KS
(Dickinson County) 7:00pm CST Community Building 810 S. Broadway

04 Minneapolis, KS
(Ottawa County) 7:00pm CST Courthouse Basement 307 N. Concord St.

06 Eudora, KS
(Douglas County) 7:00pm CST Community Center 1638 Elm St.

10 Topeka, KS
(Shawnee County) 1:00pm CDT Washburn University Memorial Union

10 Topeka, KS
(Shawnee County) 7:00pm CDT Washburn University Memorial Union

10 Carbondale, KS
(Osage County) 7:00pm CDT Sante Fe Trail High School 15701 S California Rd.

11 Holton, KS
(Jackson County) 7:00pm CDT Senior Citizens Building 312 Pennsylvania

11 Ottawa, KS
(Franklin County) 7:00pm CDT Celebration Hall 1701 S. Elm

12 Topeka, KS
(Shawnee County) 7:00pm CDT Silver Lake High School 200 E. Lake

12 Olpe, KS
(Lyon County) 7:00pm CDT Knights of Columbus 212 Iowa St.

13 Melvern, KS
(Osage County) 7:00pm CDT Community Building 102 NE Main ST

17 Seneca, KS
(Nemaha County) 7:00pm CST Community Building 1500 Community Drive

17 Westmoreland, KS
(Pottawatomie County) 7:00pm CDT Fire Station 305 South 6th St.

18 Abilene, KS
(Dickinson County) 7:00pm CDT Civic Center 201 NW 2nd St.

18 Marysville, KS
(Marshall County) 7:00pm CDT Helvering Community Center 111 South 8th St.

19 Manhattan, KS
(Riley County) 7:00pm CDT Fire Station 2000 Denison Ave.

20 Lawrence, KS
(Douglas County) 7:00pm CDT Arts Center 940 New Hampshire St.

24 Burlington, KS
(Coffey County) 7:00pm CDT Courthouse Basement 110 S. 6th Street

24 Council Grove, KS
(Morris County) 7:00pm CDT Courthouse 501 W. Main

25 Hiawatha, KS
(Brown County) 7:00pm CDT Fisher Community Center 201 East Iowa Street

25 Perry, KS
(Jefferson County) 7:00pm CDT American Legion 410 Perry Place

26 Topeka, KS
(Shawnee County) 7:00pm CDT Kansas Museum Of History 6425 SW 6th Avenue

27 Emporia, KS
(Lyon County) 7:00pm CDT Anderson Building Fairgrounds West Highway 50 and Industrial Road

27 Baldwin City, KS
(Douglas County) 7:00pm CDT Baldwin Elementary School 100 Bullpup Drive

31 Washington, KS
(Washington County) 7:00pm CDT First National Bank 101 C Street

31 Alma, KS
(Wabaunsee County) 7:00pm CDT Wabaunsee High School



April, 2008 - Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
01 Belleville, KS
(Republic County) 7:00pm CDT 4H Building Fairgrounds 901 O Street

03 Lecompton, KS
(Douglas County) 7:00pm

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The Captain's On A Safari Next Week

Well- even Spaulding needs a little time away.

Ms. Rittenhouse and I will be heading south for Texas and the Gulf coast on Sunday morning- so there won't be any posts until next Friday at the earliest.

Peace my dear readers!

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"57" Dead So Far In Tornado Outbreak

The Associated Press is now reporting a death toll of 57 people in Tuesday and Wednesday's tornado outbreak in the mid-Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys.

Probably the first question people have is: Why? Why did at least 57 people die in tornadoes in 2008?

It sure wasn't lack of pre-warning. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center had most of the area stricken under at least a "moderate risk" of severe weather. Most of Arkansas and adjacent states were under a "high risk" of severe storms and tornadoes- strong tornadoes too.

Watches were issued in plenty of time- and fellow weather-watchers in those areas have already reported that the LEAST warning time the NWS provided on any of the tornadoes was 10 minutes.

Meaning people had a MINIMUM of 10 minutes to save their lives.

Granted- these were mostly night tornadoes- moving along at freeway speeds. The "it can't happen here" mode seems to have taken over however- judging this high death count.

I am worried about this spring's weather here in the Central States- I invite those who want to live to become interested as well....

I strongly encourage you- the reader- to educate yourself and your loved ones in severe weather safety. I will be posting the times and locations of NWS spotter sessions- open to the general public.

I pledge to warn you ASAP for such severe weather in our area here- day or night.

Remember what Ben Franklin once said: "Some people are weatherwise- most are otherwise."

Don't let Mother Nature kill you!

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Tuesday's Tornado Outbreak Deadliest In 75 Years In Tennesee

At this hour- the death toll is reported to be "at least 50"- according to the Associated Press- after tornadoes ravaged parts of 6 states Tuesday afternnon into early this morning.

As you can see by the SPC storm report graphics- 73 tornado reports were received from 6am Tuesday through 6am today. One tornado was reported after 6am this morning in northeastern Alabama.

The 50 dead exceeds the deaths in the last such outbreak- that of May 3, 1999 when the F-5 tornado struck Oklahoma City.

The 24 deaths reported so far in Tennessee makes this the deadliest tornado outbreak in that state since 1933.

Tornado In Adkins-AR Tuesday.
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KANSAS CITY METRO WEATHER: Snow To Decrease - For Now

Snowfalls vary across the K.C. Metro this morning from about 1/2-inch on the south & southeast Missouri sides- Lee's Summit to Belton - to up to 4 inches in part of central Wyandotte county KS through Platte & Clay counties MO.

Here are some recent traffic camera captures- courtesy of the OP-KS traffic department.

(Weatherhound Frank Dolci making tracks on eastbound 95th Street at Metcalf)

Traffic across the Metro is light- roads are snow-covered and becoming icy but are being treated by street crews.

Radar indicates the snow will subside from south to north across the Metro over the next hour. Trends are being checked to see if more snow develops downstream- but we should get at least several hours respite from any heavier snowfall.

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Death Toll At 22 - Tennesee Valley Tornadoes Continue- Images Of Memphis Tornado

Under the gun now and threatened at this post by tornado-bearing thunderstorms are the western through northern suburbs of Nashville-TN.

A natural gas pipeline station exploded after a tornado hit it near Green Grove-TN- northeast of Nashville and a fire continues to rage (see/click on image).

The death toll in this tornado outbreak affecting at least 6 states is now 22- according to the latest AP story.

Rescues are still underway through more thunderstorms in Jackson-TN where a tornado struck a college campus dormitory.

At least 5 are dead in the Memphis-TN metro area- struck by multiple tornadoes late Tuesday afternoon.

These images are courtesy of viewers of WREG-TV- Channel 3 in Memphis.

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Nearly A Dozen People Dead In Mid-States Tornado Outbreak

At least 11 people so far have been confirmed dead- according to the latest AP dispatch- in an outbreak of tornadoes from Arkansas to Indiana.

The Storm Prediction Center has received at least 47 tornado reports as of this post- and tornadoes continue at this report in parts of Kentucky and Tennessee.

A television station in Nashville being monitored here reported minutes ago 3 students still trapped in a domitory that was struck by a tornado in Jackson-TN earlier tonight.

That station- WKRN-TV 2- reports rescuers were "talking to the trapped students." Their injuries were unknown- but more than a dozen injuries were reported there- "2 critical."

A tornado also struck south Memphis-TN tonight. A large shopping mall was heavily damaged here (see/click on images- courtesy of the AP) as well as a college campus and the Memphis International airport- where shipping giant FedEx is headquartered.

At least five fatalities were reported in the Memphis area- according to that Nashville TV station moments ago.

That station also reports "14 fatalities" so far in this rare winter outbreak- the 2nd this year.

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KANSAS CITY MetroRegion BREAKING WEATHER: NWS- Urban And Small Stream Advisory

From the NWS in Pleasant Hill:


URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR:

CASS COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
LINN COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
MIAMI COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS
SOUTHEASTERN JOHNSON COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL KANSAS

NORTHWESTERN BATES COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
NORTHWESTERN JOHNSON COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI
SOUTHWESTERN LAFAYETTE COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL MISSOURI

* UNTIL 330 PM CST

* AT 928 AM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE ADVISORY AREA. IN EXCESS OF ONE AND A HALF INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS BEEN ESTIMATED BY RADAR OVER THE PAST 3 TO 4 HOURS. IN ADDITION... OBSERVED RAINFALL AMOUNTS HAVE EXCEEDED ONE INCH ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST JOHNSON COUNTY KANSAS (1.6-INCHES IN STILWELL AS OF 10 AM).

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE MINOR FLOODING TO OCCUR... ESPECIALLY ALONG SMALL STREAMS AND NEAR LOW WATER CROSSINGS.

SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BELTON... GARDEN CITY... GREENWOOD... HARRISONVILLE...HOLDEN... LA CYGNE... LAKE LOTAWANA... LOUISBURG... MOUND CITY... ODESSA... OSAWATOMIE... PAOLA... PECULIAR... PLEASANT HILL AND PLEASANTON.

The Winter Storm Warning also continues in effect.

Monitoring of the Missouri Highway Patrol (MOHP) troop out of St. Joseph indicate I-35 and I-29 are both slick and hazardous in northern and northwestern MO.

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