Oh my goodness. IT IS APRIL????? Are you serious. Time is zippppping by. That is NOT a good thing, by the way. At least not in my mind! When years start to seem like months - not good!
We closed on the Murray apartments today. Seems like that just came and went. Someone slow the train down - please. :) Perhaps the busier you become the faster time goes by? When I was a kid - a month seemed like a year. Now a year seems like a month. How does that happen???
RAINED most of today. I never did hear any thunder, though. Nice rain - at that. Not good for the house project, though. Slowing everything down. More rain is coming on Thursday Night and then again on Sunday. Watching the severe weather potential for Sunday. Not sold on severe weather for Thursday, though. Could be some heavy rain and strong winds - both events. Spring is here. 
Jason Darnall and I have been trying to figure out how to track ourselves on the www.spotternetwork.com web-site and GR radar. This is a radar software program that a lot of OEM offices use. It is awesome. Anyway, I finally got mine to track me today on the radar software, Google Earth, and GPSGate.com. So, as we went down the road you could see me moving on the radar software. I will post some image examples below. A lot of chasers and spotters are using the software. Jason also was able to get his to work this evening. I could see him moving around Marshall County. Now, you are probably thinking - why would you want that information! Well, it is good for the National Weather Service because they can see where you are in relation to a storm. They can hover their mouse over the car icon and it shows your phone number and information. This is VERY nice for storm spotting and fast information. You can even stream video of the storm to the National Weather Service or anyone else for that matter. See images below!
On Google Earth you can add a placefile - http://www.spotternetwork.org/feeds/earth.kml and see all the spotters on the map.
For example - here is my radar program at home (you can see me there - the little car icon with my name above it)
See me there above the word "Ashcreek"
Then if you hover your mouse over my car icon it brings this information up on the screen!
Here is an example of streaming data - live web-cam video - you can then see if a tornado is actually causing damage - wall clouds - hail - high winds or whatever else is going on -
Another example
ORRRRR you can pull up Google Earth and see where a person is located. Live 24/7. Scary - I know!!!!
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Apartments we closed on in Murray. Our first property in Murray!
Thursday and Friday’s "Tornado Threat" Area
March 31st, 2009
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Well, today was an exciting today - if you are a weather weenie. Like myself. :P Bobby and Don lifted me up into the air about 30+ or so to place the anemometer op top of the 10 meter top. I won’t be able to capture a good north wind, however, because of the house. I will have another anemometer to capture that wind/speed.
It took us awhile to get everything installed. We had to run back to Lone Oak to get a smaller pole to attach to the large pole on the tower. The U-Bolts were not big enough the first time around.
Eventually the weather instruments will be online - Wunderground - the tower cam as well. Everything will be online for anyone to see (that is interested).
So, we got everything running. I plugged it into my car and it appeared that the wind direction and speed was correct. Same with the rainfall - appeared to be reading just fine. I need to mount the rain gauge, still. Trying to figure that out with Jason Darnalls help. We may have to put a small pole into the ground with a bag of concrete - something like that.
We plan on installing the tower cam next weekend along with more instruments onto the larger tower - to the west. We also need to put up all of the emergency management antennas. Everything will be on back-up power - so if the power goes out the tower cam and instruments should continue to run. We shall see!
It appears that the house is coming along. They have started on the floorboards on the second floor. They believe the walls shoudl be up by next week. Same with the garage. It appears we have a lot more storage space than earlier thought - above the garage. This is good news, because I wasn’t really sure what we were going to do as far as "extra’ stuff. Christmas decorations - Halloween - so on. Always something to store!
Anyway - beautiful day outside. Not too hot or cold. This morning was chilly - it was in the 30s.
Zoom - Zoom! Everything is moving along. The guys are working hard!!!!!!!
Unboxing the instruments.
The tower for the weather instruments - got this tower at Hughes in Paducah. Mike Thomasson’s son Paul
sold me the tower.
Higher and higher
Time to put up the anemometer and wind vane.
TIme to put up the anemometer
Finishing up!!!
Thermometer and humidity
Thermometer being installed onto the tower
Instruments are up
Second floor is coming along! One day it is cold and one day it is hot! Sweatshirts today.
Dropping the wood down onto the floor
After they dropped the wood - I thought this was funny because it looks like they are line dancing up there!
Second floor
Space above the garage - "storage"
And finally this photo is for Tony - (I think the water guys were up there - unsure - this looks
new to me)
March 30th, 2009
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Well, never a dull moment in the weather world. Rain and thunderstorms followed by snow flurries and cold. Repeat and rinse. Looks like the active weather will continue this week. Thunderstorms are possible on Tuesday and again Thursday/Friday and then again next Saturday night and Sunday. ACTIVE - will be the weather word.
Severe weather? Not likely with Tuesdays system and most likely not with the Thursday/Friday event. The weekend event - still not sure. These systems are always "nowcasting" and sometimes spring can bring surprise events. So, we will have to keep an eye on each weather system as it tracks through the region.
Dangerous thunderstorms ROARED through the region last night. Tornadoes and large hail hit portions of South Indiana, West Kentucky, and Tennessee. Several people were injured a couple of counties to our northeast as a tornadic supercell moved through the Henderson, KY area and then into Evansville. Houses were damaged and destroyed in the storms path. Some chasers reported baseball size hail. Golfball size hail reports were received by the National Weather Service Office in Paducah.
Thankfully Paducah missed out on this storm. Some hail was reported in Massac County. Small hail. Tornado watches were issued for portions of the region.
Spring? Today temperatures fell into the 30s. Snow flurries were reported in Southeast Missouri and South Illinois. Strong winds brought the wind chill down into the 20s and lower 30s. It did NOT feel like spring up on the hill today. The guys were all bundled up - this in contrast to last week when they had their shirts off and were getting sunburnt. Easy come - easy go when it comes to weather in this region.
Temperature graph from one of our new weather stations in Kevil, KY - temperature chart yesterday - see the
cold front??? :)
Record/historic snowfall was reported across portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. Snow drifts up to the eaves of houses were reported in the blizzard warned area of Texas and Oklahoma. Crazy weather! Normal for spring, though.
The week ahead? Well - looks like we close on our Murray apartments on Tuesday and then I have to do taxes. That will be fun. Not. Back and forth to the farm to watch the progress of the building. Also - school. We are in our fourth quarter. Then these two classes will come to an end. Two classes to go!!!!!! Then a big final test - which I am already dreading. A test that covers all three years. Does not sound fun to me. :)
Had lunch with Bobby Vaughn today. Also took him and showed him the building progress. We cranked up the big antenna. It is not as tall as the Oak tree. Close, though!!!!
I went to see "Monsters VS Aliens" last night with Deena, Tony, and Tyler. The movie was in 3D :) Funny movie - even had a weatherman in it!!!!!
Some photos from today…
The garage on the east side of the house.
THe guys are hard at work
Bobby with his new Tonka Toy
Garage is coming along - won’t be long and it will be in the dry
We cranked the tower up - pretty high!!!!!!
March 29th, 2009
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We had over 1.35" of rainfall overnight. About what was expected - closer to the heavy side of the forecast, though. Little in the way of severe weather - a few warnings for high winds. Again, about what was expected.
Very concerned about a tornado outbreak for Friday across AR/TN/MS/AL. I believe that our region will be spared the worst of the weather. Will have to closely monitor though. A storm could form close to the warm front over our area. Won’t know more until Friday morning.
So, everything was wet today. Lot of water standing around and mud. Went to the farm - met John Logeman up there. Talked for a bit and showed him the house and the progress. Don and Rodney were there - Bobby came up after a bit. Looks like everything is moving along. They are happy the wind died down. They had gusts over 50 mph yesterday. It is always windier up there. We had gusts over 40 here in Lone Oak. The Reidland station had over 40 mph, as well.
John
Progress
They tore down the last barn up on the farm. There used to be at least seven maybe eight. Now there are none.
March 25th, 2009
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Well, the rain has arrived. Lots of it. So far we have had over 1/2" of rainfall and more to come. I would imagine most of us will see at least 1". Not bad. We needed the rain - lot of grass fires.
9 PM Weather Radar - line of storms hitting our county
A big severe weather event is possible on Friday into Saturday - mainly south of our region. Will have to carefully watch the track of the low, though. If it shifts northward then this could bring severe weather into our region. Right now it looks like TN/MS/AL will be hit hard.
Jason and Joey (works with Jason) helped put the weather instruments up at the Reidland Fire Station. Looks like they are working just fine tonight. Same with the instruments on the west part of the county. They are working as well. Links below
West part of county
http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KKYKEVIL2
http://www.wunderground.com/swf/Rapid_Fire.swf?units=english&station=KKYKEVIL2
Rapid Refresh
Reidland
http://www.wunderground.com/swf/Rapid_Fire.swf?units=english&station=KKYKEVIL2
http://www.wunderground.com/swf/Rapid_Fire.swf?units=english&station=KKYPADUC9
Rapid refresh
Jason getting ready to put the instruments on top of the building
Jason and Joey
Jason and his co-worker Joey
This is the location looking west
The fire station - instruments on top
Tony took the photos below - up at the farm today
Southern IL Electric up on the farm today - putting the electric lines underground
More wood arriving!
Stormy sky
Digging the trench for the power lines
March 24th, 2009
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Nice and warm today - 70s! Some clouds but nice otherwise. Winds were starting to pick up - was on the hill earlier and the winds were strong. Looks like we should see 40+ mph winds on Tuesday into Tuesday night. It also appears a line of showers and locally heavy thunderstorms will push through the region on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Storm Prediction Center has placed our region in a slight risk - I doubt we see much, though. I am more interested in the Friday/Saturday system. Will have to keep a close eye on the path of the low pressure. If we end up in the warm sector then severe weather will be possible. Stay tuned…
The garage is going up - at the farm. Looks like they are putting the walls up today. Next week we may start to see the second floor. We will be up over 30 feet at the very top! Should be able to watch the storms roll in.
Southern Illinois Electric was working on the electrical lines.
Southern Illinois Electric
The walls of the garage are going up! Tornado shelter there to the back.
The crew is working hard!
Down the road from us - we thought this horse was cool
Looks like they are cleaning up the old barn on the farm. Guess this will become farmland. You can see the tree
damage in the background from the big ice storm.
We have a hold now in the mound - now we can run wires to the tower - underground. Eventually the mound
of dirt will become yard.
Miss Daisy - earlier this morning
March 23rd, 2009
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Well, the guys have been hard at work up on the farm. It looks like they are starting to get the first floor wrapped up! The garage will be next. Temperatures were in the 70s today! So, a beautiful spring day.
Rain will move into the region Tuesday night into Wednesday. Some thunderstorms are possible, as well. Then another shot at storms next Friday into Saturday.
Some photos from today…
Lots of smoke - guess someone is burning brush - farm next to our house.
The house is starting to "rise" out of the ground
The maze
First floor is coming along - man we are really going to be high up there on the widows walk!!!!
Easter flowers (that is what I call them) - up on the farm!
March 22nd, 2009
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My thoughts to the Paducah Sun…
I don’t know if you realize it or not, but you have done a great disservice by posting the editorial concerning the "dying" New Madrid Fault. I have already had several people ask me about the subject. The research out of Purdue and Northwestern University was only an eight year study (and at only 10 sites). Eight years is but a speck of dust in geological time. Most scientists will tell you that a much greater time span is necessary in order for all of us to have a greater understanding of the New Madrid Fault and the frequency of earthquakes along that fault.
The New Madrid Fault has been producing earthquakes for tens of thousands of years. Are we to believe that it is suddenly just going to stop? The editorial does not portray the true intent of the eight year study. Even those who authored the study will tell you that area residents should still be prepared for a significant earthquake on the New Madrid Fault. The researchers would tell you that a lot more study is needed into the subject of quake frequency. It is possible that earthquake faults, such as the New Madrid Fault, move in "spurts". Some years moving hardly at all and other years moving at a much quicker pace.
The study also states that it is possible that surrounding fault lines could be building up more pressure because of the quakes during the 1800s. If this is the case then the other fault lines running through the region are then at a higher risk. So, again, the threat has not diminished for this region. We live along more than just the New Madrid Fault. You can’t pick and choose portions of the study to report on and leave out important details. You are putting people at risk by doing this. You are not reporting the whole story.
At the beginning of your editorial it discusses the probabilities of an earthquake and you didn’t even get those right. Then you dismiss it by saying "no matter". I cringed when I read that. It does matter. The New Madrid Fault has a history of producing significant earthquakes. Studies have shown that they occur with regular frequency. Do you think we or our grandkids are the "special ones" that will not experience another quake? That the planet beneath our feet has magically changed over the last 100-200 years? Hardly. Scientists believe that the potential for a magnitude 6 to 7 earthquake occurring in this seismic zone within the next 50 years is high.
Then at the end of your editorial you dismiss the experts by saying they are putting more "guesses" into their prediction of earthquakes than "educated guesses". This is also incorrect. You accept an eight year study (again but a speck of dust in geological time) but dismiss decades of other research? That simply does not make sense.
The threat for a significant earthquake along the New Madrid Fault is real. To dismiss that threat is not helpful for area residents or relief agencies. To lead people to believe that the earthquake threat is suddenly "gone" is misleading and dangerous. Did you read the entire study? Have you checked around to see what other scientists, outside of the authors of the study, have to say about the subject? Accepting their "eight year study" is no better than accepting what Ivan Browning told area residents (which you called gullible).
Emergency management and local disaster agencies have spent countless hours trying to get area residents to prepare for a potential earthquake. If it wasn’t for those preparations many people would not have been prepared for the ice storm. In one swoop of the pen your editorial basically dismisses (throws out the window) all of the efforts/hours that the above mentioned agencies have put into preparing area residents for an earthquake.
This was "a" big one. Yes. But, many scientists would disagree with you on the assessment that this was "the" big one.
Area residents should continue to prepare for a major earthquake and should always be prepared for other disasters such as pandemic flu and severe weather events.
I am concerned about the fallout from your editorial. I would ask that you revisit this topic and clarify the potential threat from an earthquake in our region.
Beau Dodson
March 21st, 2009
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Today was the severe weather symposium at John A Logan College. Jennifer Rukavina and I spoke on preparedness. There were a number of other speakers, as well. Some really good topics and informative talks!
All the speakers
Four Rivers Severe Weather Symposium
830 AM: Opening Remarks
Christine Wielgos – President of the Four Rivers National Weather Association & Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Paducah, KY
840 AM: Surviving Mother Nature’s Worst
Jennifer Rukavina – Vice President of the Four Rivers National Weather Association and Chief Meteorologist at WPSD Local 6 Paducah, KY &
Beau Dodson - Meteorological Specialist, McCracken County Emergency Management
915 AM: Nocturnal and Cool Season Tornado Risks
Rick Shanklin – Warning Coordination Meteorologist: National Weather Service Paducah, KY
945 AM: The 1925 Tri-State Tornado - Was it one tornado or a series of tornadoes?
….What we have found about the damage path during the last 5 years….
Robert H. Johns – Retired from the Storm Prediction Center in 2001
1045 AM: Break – Refreshments provided
1100 AM: Lessons Learned from Storm Chasing
Paul Sirvatka – Professor of Meteorology: College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL
1200 PM: Tornadoes and Tornado Trends 1950-2007
Dan McCarthy – Meteorologist in Charge: National Weather Service Indianapolis, IN
March 21st, 2009
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The Paducah Sun ran an editorial today concerning a new study that has been released concerning the New Madrid Fault. The study was conducted over the last few years and basically states that the possibility of a large earthquake MAY not be as high as once thought. However, the study also acknowledges that there is MUCH uncertainty on this topic and further research is needed. History has shown that a series of large earthquakes have rattled this region over thousands of years. The most recent quakes measuring over 7.0 occurred during the 1800s.
Unfortunately, the Paducah Sun article (opinion editorial) leads one to believe that perhaps we do not need to be prepared for an earthquake after all. This is foolishness and also goes against everything that emergency management and other agencies have spent years telling area residents
There is no indication that a large earthquake will not again shake this region. The likelihood of a large earthquake is significant.
The conclusions of this one study are premature and only take into consideration a VERY narrow time frame of study. Earthquakes have happened on the New Madrid throughout history. There is nothing to suggest that the quakes will just suddenly stop "today".
Unfortunately some media outlets may be causing more harm than good by suggesting that the earthquake threat has diminished.
The ice storm may have been A "big one" but it isn’t and wasn’t "THE" big one. It is irresponsible to simply take one study and "jump right on it" - especially when it goes against everything scientists have always known or believed about the New Madrid Fault. MUCH caution should have been used when reporting on this topic. Unfortunately, it appears some have thrown caution to the wind and reported half the story.
Hopefully area residents are smart enough to understand that the threat has not diminished and that they should always be prepared for natural disasters - of any type.
March 20th, 2009
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