Prayers to Moore, Oklahoma

This picture tells the story tonight…

1-800-RED-CROSS

Picture from AP Photographer Sue Ogrocki

Severe weather outbreak through Monday!

Hi everyone.

Want to get right to the severe weather that is expected over the weekend and into Monday.

We’ve got a very powerful storm moving out of the Rockies that will bring large hail, damaging winds and perhaps many destructive tornadoes from North Texas to Western Minnesota.  Tonight  through the overnight Western Oklahoma into Southwest Nebraska needs to be particularly alert for dangerous storms.

Tomorrow the risk moves east with cities like Oklahoma City Wichita and Kansas City in the bullseye for tornadoes. 

Monday the system pushes into the Great Lakes and Ohio valley. 

Also keep in mind a lot of these storms will fire up in the overnight hours when it’s dark and people are sleeping, so if you live in any of these areas, please keep alert, and have your NOAA weather radios on.

This could be a very dangerous and life threatening weather event, so cities across the Plains and Midwest need to pay close attention to the watches and warnings over the next 72 hours.

We’ll keep you up to date with the latest watches and warnings through the storms, but also be listening to your local weather stations and the National Weather Service.

Be safe all!

JD

OPEN BLOG!

Hi everyone

Taking a few days off…an extended Mother’s Day if you will…:)

JD

Mother's Day

Hello everyone!

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and it’s hard to put into words what being a Mom is for me.   I spent my twenties and much of my thirties chasing careers, moving to different places and being happy for the most part.   When I met my husband,  a whole new path was set out before me.  I had finally found a partner, and someone I could share a journey with.   Then we decided to try and have a family.  We were first blessed with Matthew and then two years later Theodore. 

Being their Mama is the biggest joy I’ve ever experienced.  I still look at them in awe and can’t believe Sean and I made these two little miracles.  They are living, breathing examples of our love for one another.    When I hug them close, it still feels like they are part of me.   When I make them laugh, it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.  When they fall asleep in my arms, it’s the most comforting feeling I’ve ever known. 

So yes, even though I am looking forward to a few extra hours of sleep, a little extra sweet stuff for dessert and maybe a home-made card for my keepsake box,  the best part of Mother’s Day is sharing the day with the people that mean the most to me.  My beautiful family.   When I see their faces, I know I am truly home.

 

JD

The Fabulous Doocy Boys

Hi everyone

Ran into father and son Steve and Peter Doocy.  Aren’t they adorable?  And Peter is very very tall…

If I didn’t know better, I’d swear they were brothers!   

Have a great day everyone!

JD

Historic Snow and Wildfires in California

Hi everyone!

Happy weekend to you all.  Another busy one in the weather department.  We had an amazing week in terms of meteorological “firsts” with the May snow!  The totals are incredible.  Arkansas has never seen snow in the month of May, and now thanks to this week’s incredible snow,  and cold temperatures history was made:

The cold front that brought this crazy snow is moving eastward, and bringing some very heavy rain.  Some of these areas are already saturated by weeks of on and off rain across the Mississippi River Valley. 

Meanwhile, that wildfire that exploded yesterday across Southern California is still going strong.  However, firefighters are going to get a helping hand from Mother Nature in the days ahead with higher humidity and lower temperatures for the region:

And unfortunately, a wet forecast is in store for the 139th Kentucky Derby.  Sloppy, muddy conditions will be likely during the race and temperatures are chilly..there’s always the mint juleps.

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

JD

Floods, strong storms and heat across the Southwest

Hi everyone!

A lot of weather to talk about this weekend, so let’s get to it:

A system moving into the Southeast will spread thunderstorms and several inches of rain across the region over the weekend.  Strong to severe storms with large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes will develop on the southern side of the system from the Big Bend of Texas through the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee Valley.

 Flood warnings remain posted from the Midwest southward along the Mississippi River, as will be the case over the coming week. 

Precipitation over the Midwest will remain light over the next few days, but rivers across the South will rise with this weekend’s additional rainfall and runoff. 

Heavier rain will return to the Midwest mid-to-late next week.  This won’t be welcome news for all the residents in and around the Mississippi River and the streams and rivers that feed into it:

Flooding will also be of increasing concern in North Dakota and Minnesota as temperatures soar into the 60 and 70s, forcing rapid snow melt across the area. 

The Red River and its tributaries will rise significantly by the middle to end of next week, with a 38 foot crest forecast in Fargo (2 feet below record). 

And summertime has arrived across the Desert Southwest already with many locations expected to see their first 100+ degree temperatures this weekend into the beginning of the week. 

Hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend!  It’s an absolutely beautiful day here in the Northeast.  Enjoy it while it lasts…things could get wet and cooler the beginning week of May!

JD

Record floods, and Recold cold temps tonight!

Hi everyone!

Watching the Midwest tonight as more rain moves into flooded areas:

Thankfully this storm won’t be as powerful as last week’s, but it’s still going to cause some problems for swollen rivers and streams:

Meanwhile, it’s COLD outside.  Much of the country feeling temperatures 10-30 degrees below average!  We will probably set some records tonight as far south as Texas where freeze advisories are in place:

Thankfully, a warm up is on the way…and not a moment too soon where up to 10 inches of snow fell across parts of Colorado! 

The Colorado Rockies played their COLDEST game on record today against the braves.  Game time temperature against the Braves was 23 degrees!  And they are playing again tonight.   Temperatures are forecast to be even colder.  Snuggle up everyone!

Have a great rest of the week.   Talk to you on Saturday….

JD

Midwest Floods...

Hi everyone!

It happens every spring, but that doesn’t make it any easier.  As the wet weather moves in and the snow melts, rivers are starting to swell and overtop their banks across the Midwest… 

Here’s a look at all the rain we’ve received since Wednesday.  Some cities are seeing their “top 5″ wettest Aprils:

Flood warnings are up for close to a dozen states from all the rain, and with another system on the way, many cities are bracing for another tough week ahead:

The next storm system moving in from the Northwest is going to bring not only rain, but the dreaded 4 letter word again this week: SNOW!

There’s also the slight risk for severe weather tomorrow:

And much of the country is feeling below average temperatures!

Hard to believe we’re into the last weeks of April, and I’m still wearing heavy layers in the morning!

I hope you’re all doing well despite a terrible week of news.  Lets hope this week is quieter, and we all are kind to our neighbours, families, coworkers and friends. JD