Preparing for Winter

Wow, did anyone see the football game Sunday with the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans? It was snowing like crazy because of an October Nor'easter that had a good source of moisture. Snow isn't that uncommon in October for the northeast and it is a sure sign that the atmosphere is quickly transitioning. We'll be seeing more scenes like that very soon (maybe not in Kansas, but certainly in the mountains)

I'm still waiting on pictures of Millie in the wedding that took place last week. Check back very soon because I know they will be arriving shortly. The sunshine has been a welcome sight lately and are you enjoying the warmer weather? The normal high temperature is 70, but it was hard to even imagine that last week when the highs were struggling to get into the 50s. We do have a storm coming this week. It will get here Wednesday and almost everyone in Kansas will see rain and maybe a few thunderstorms. I don't think the atmosphere will get cold enough for snow, but we should be planning ahead for the winter. This week is Winter Weather Awareness week for Kansas and it is always good to review the terminology that you'll hear us use on the air, such as winter storm watch, wind chill warning, etc. Also, look over the safety procedures for winter weather driving, preparing for a blizzard, etc. We hope the winter doesn't get that bad, but when it comes to Kansas, we never know.

Slipping into Winter

The weather this weekend had me thinking I should've been Christmas shopping instead of thinking about Halloween. I'm posting pictures from Hays, Oakley, and then from North Platte, NE where the cold air was accompanied by snow and a little ice. Some places in Nebraska had 8-10 inches of snow, which is definitely a little too early in the season for them.

A big cold spell at this time in October is usually around for a few days and then replaced by a warmer airmass. But this week will be a cloudy one with chances for light rain and drizzle. It is the warm and cool air battling, and it's going to result in clouds and some rain from time to time. We probably won't get much sunshine until the end of the week or next weekend. Anyone suffering from allergies was probably happy to see the temperatures go below freezing this weekend, except in Wichita where we haven't had a freeze yet.

Millie survived the wedding Saturday. Pictures will be coming soon, but it may take a week or two. Meanwhile, my nephew Pate is growing like a weed. My sister-in-law sent a picture, so I'm sharing it with you. Have a great week. Try not to let the cloudy, damp weather get you down.

Lovin' this weather!

This is definitely my favorite time of the year, not just because the trees are changing color, but the atmosphere is definitely changing too. The jet stream is getting stronger and we are about to see a huge invasion of cold air by next weekend. The computer models have been showing it now for about 5 days, and it looks like a big system will set up in Canada and start shoving the cold air south. Highs next weekend may not get out of the 40s in the northwest, while much of the state will see highs in the low to mid 50s. And, northwest Kansas might have a little snow flurry action at night. Stay tuned for details on the big change coming later in the week.

Millie is not getting married, but she is in a wedding next weekend. This will be a true test of her good behavior to see if she can sit still for about 15-20 minutes during the ceremony. I'm sure pictures will surface somewhere, and I'll post them when they are available.

I spent a little time down in Mexico at the end of September. It was my first time to snorkel and was fortunate enough to see an eagle ray, a big sea turtle, and hundreds of colorful fish. It was such a great experience. I did try scuba diving, but it was limited to the swimming pool since I didn't have the money or any previous experience doing it. Sure was fun, but I'm happy to be home too. Have a great week.