Headlines
Some windy days expected this week
Heavy rainfall likely Thursday
Turning colder for New Years Day
Meteorologist Mark’s Vlog in a Flash
48-Hour WX
Seven-Day Forecast
Daily Forecast Summary
Today: Partly cloudy and windy. Chance overnight showers.
Monday: Mostly cloudy.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny.
Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with showers developing overnight. Windy.
Thursday: Rain increases in coverage and intensity, becoming heavy at times. Windy.
Friday: Chance showers. Clearing skies by evening. Turning colder.
Saturday: Mostly sunny.
Threats
Gusty winds from Wednesday to Thursday could cause some issues across the plateau. With wet soils, some shallow-rooted trees could fall. There could also be some sporadic power outages.
Heavy rainfall is likely Thursday, with many areas seeing up to two inches of rain. Be aware of possible localized flooding if you must be out and about Thursday and/or Thursday night.
At this time, widespread hazardous weather is not expected over the next seven days.
On This Day in Wx History
1982 – The worst Louisiana rainstorm in more than 100 years came to an end. More than 18 inches of rain fell at Vinton during the three-day storm. Flooding was widespread and property damage was estimated at 100 to 200 million dollars. President Reagan visited the state and declared ten parishes in northeastern Louisiana disaster areas.
Almanac
Data not available today. The weather station is down.
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 78° at Winterhaven, California & at Kingsville and Falcon Lake, Texas
Low: -16° at Gunnison, Colorado
Today’s National Wx Hazards
Wintry weather is expected across a large part of the Upper Midwest today, with anything from sleet and freezing rain to snow. Farther west, more snow is piling up along the Front Range of the Rockies, extending back to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.
Tomorrow’s National Wx Hazards
Wintry weather overtakes much of the central plains and southern Rockies. Freezing rain will be the main hazard for Kansas and northern Oklahoma.
Sunday Story
I have always admired Santa for his weather awareness. Rather than join in the ridicule of Rudolph’s red nose, Santa saw an opportunity to fly more safely through the fog. If only others could learn from Santa’s weather astuteness.
A winter storm recently impacted the Northeast with several inches of snow and ice. For days and days in advance, forecasters warned of the storm’s far-reaching impacts. Yet when the storm hit, images of interstates clogged with stranded vehicles were easy to come by.
Every spring we see folks speeding down interstates on the Great Plains and into dark, swirling clouds. For some, they find out too late that driving into unknown weather in tornado alley can yield some very unpleasant surprises.
No matter how cold it gets it’s always possible to find someone in shorts.
Who of us has not been passed by someone on the road during pouring rain or dense fog, when it’s all we can do to see the next few feet of roadway before us? Then, there’s always folks who think that four-wheel drive trucks give them license to drive through anything Ma Nature throws at them. Anything. Four-wheel drive or not, ice from freezing rain will still win.
This past hurricane season we witnessed folks who wouldn’t evacuate flood prone coastal areas because they couldn’t comprehend the danger.
When I talk to school groups, I always tell the kids to pay attention to the weather and respect it.
It really makes one wonder why they don’t teach more weather classes in public education? Such classes could literally save people’s lives!
I certainly am thankful for Santa’s example of giving, but I’m equally thankful for his awareness of the weather. Even Santa appreciates a good use of light on those foggy nights!
