Windy Friday, Nice Weekend Ahead:
* A few sprinkles will be possible this morning as a cold front moves across the Twin States. The main feature will be increasing winds which has warranted the issuance of a Lake Wind Advisory for areas along and north of US 80 from Noon until 6:00 PM. Winds will range from 15 to 25 mph today.
* Fire officals with the Mississippi Forestry Commission say these winds will dry out what moisture we picked up the last two days. This will elevate the fire danger for the area over the weekend. Its advised that if you don't do any outdoor burning. Ed Brown with the Mississippi Forestry Commission says these same conditions should apply to West Alabama as well.As of Friday Morning, offical numbers at Key Field show we are 8.47 inches below normal on precipitation for the year.
* Once the cooler airmass moves in, the weekend looks great. Expect mostly sunny skies and daytime highs remaining in the 60s and overnight lows quite cold in the middle 30s.
* Spring offically arrives Wednesday evening...
* Have a great weekend and be sure to join Josh on his final night on Newscenter 11 at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00. I want to wish Josh the best with his new job at WXIA-TV in Atlanta!
Flood Safety Awareness Week:
* Next week kicks off the National Weather Service's Flood Safety Awareness Week. Above are some common terms we talk about here in East Mississippi and West Alabama often when we see heavy rain events.
* Turn Around Don't Drown: Have you heard this weather phrase? Do you follow it? This weather safety phrase actually was coined by the National Weather Service in San Angelo, Texas several years ago. Meteorologist Hector Guerrero is the gentleman we can thank for this term that has spread across the country over the years. I've worked with Hector many times at my last job when I worked at the local CBS station in San Angelo.
* For More Information:
http://www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/
A Warm Farewell
* I have used this blog to communicate weather information, general thoughts, musings, and just about anything on my mind over the past two years. Today, I am blogging here for the last time. I have accepted a position at WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, and tomorrow is my last day here at WTOK. Before I go, I'd like to share some thoughts and words of thanks.
* You have invited me into your homes every evening for the past couple of years, and that is an honor and a privilege I will deeply cherish. You have also trusted me and the WTOK team during times of severe weather, and that is a tremendous responsibililty that we have tried to work tirelessly to fulfill. Thank you for your time and your trust.
* I have had the opportunity to work with some truly special people since I started here in 2002. While I do not wish to name them for fear of accidentally leaving someone out, know that there are and have been some magnificent people working alongside me at WTOK. It's my belief that the level of weather coverage at WTOK has improved since 2001, and I am thankful that I could have some small part in that. Any meager success that I have enjoyed here over those years has been due to the excellent group of people with whom I've had the honor of working. Thank you for your commitment and help along the way.
* Over the last two years, I have spoken to thousands of school children. Officially, I was an invited speaker, instructed to provide the children with information. But, I found that I usually got as much or more out of those visits than did the children. Spending time with young people is the surest way to a big dose of perspective and appreciation for what is truly important in life. Again, I would be remiss to try to name everyone. So, thanks to every teacher and student along the way; you have certainly enriched my life.
* A grandiose "farewell" speech is not my style - I just felt it would be appropriate to share a few words of thanks. I hope you've gotten as much out of this blog as I have in writing it. My personal e-mail address is jpjohnson93@gmail.com and will not change. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.
Best Wishes and God Bless!
A Few Showers
* We are again seeing a few showers across east MS and west AL today...These showers are light and are moving towards the north and northeast.
* More substantial rain is on the way tonight, as showers and thunderstorms will eventually affect the area. This will occur primarily after midnight, so any evening dinner plans should feature only spotty light rain and no concentrated heavy rain.
* Tomorrow will see more in the way of substantial rain. Showers and thunderstorms will affect us through the mid-afternoon. Rainfall amounts between now and tomorrow evening could exceed one inch in some areas, an encouraging move towards getting our rainfall back closer to normal. Meridian's yearly rainfall deficit is on the order of several inches, so any rain we can get is most beneficial.
* We are still anticipating cooler and sunny weather for the weekend. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will reach the 60's, with lows in the 30's by Saturday and Sunday morning.
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Some Showers/Storms Forming..
* Radar indicates that a few showers and thunderstorms are forming across the area this afternoon and evening...
* The axis of showers and storms extends from northern Jasper County, back through central Smith County, and back southwest towards I-55, well south of Jackson.
* These storms were formed on an outflow boundary produced by earlier storms across south MS. They are following this outflow boundary and moving almost due north, and will affect primarily Scott County and points west.
* None of these are severe, but we could see some briefly heavy rain and lightning.
Labels: Forecast Discussion
Quick Housekeeping Note
* There have recently been some really nasty junk comments made, probably by some computer bot. To make sure this blog remains a family-friendly place, I have been forced to moderate comments. This means that when you submit a comment, someone on our staff must approve it before it is posted to the blog...
Labels: Blog Note
Rain Returns This Week:
* Nice weather to start the week as high pressure is keeping our weather quiet and quite warm. Sunday the offical high was 80 at Key Field with the possibility of daytime highs reaching the 80 degree mark once again today. (FYI: The normal high for this time of year is 69)
* The high will move off the Atlantic coast and allow moisture to return to the area by tomorrow. A weak front currently stalled near the Interstate 20 corridor will begin to slowly drift north over the next couple of days as a storm system over West Texas becomes better organized and shifts east into Mississippi and Alabama. The best rain chances look to begin Tuesday night and lasting through Thursday.
* Right now, an organized severe weather threat looks low, but with daytime heating a few storms could be strong. Although spring break will be wet a few days, we will pick up some badly needed rain. As of Monday morning, Key Field is running 7.63 inches below normal for 2007.
* We'll talk more about your forecast this morning on Good Morning Meridian at 6:00 AM and Josh will have more on your forecast tonight at 5:00 and 6:00 on Newscenter 11.
Labels: Forecast Discussion
* A few sprinkles will be possible this morning as a cold front moves across the Twin States. The main feature will be increasing winds which has warranted the issuance of a Lake Wind Advisory for areas along and north of US 80 from Noon until 6:00 PM. Winds will range from 15 to 25 mph today.
