New Week and New Month

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday and didn't overeat. I actually did okay this year and didn't even have to loosen the belt. The problem is that Thanksgiving is usually the lost holiday with Christmas music on the radio, holiday lights going up everywhere, and people just trying to rush around and get everything done early. I don't think of myself as a procrastinator when it comes to Christmas shopping; just someone that takes extra time to plan before executing.

What are your thoughts on the weekend snowfall that we had in Kansas? It wasn't enough to end our contest that we have going here on the blog. Pretty good timing with it happening over the weekend. Winter hasn't even started yet, but it's not out of the ordinary to be getting snow now. In fact, we'll probably get some more light snow or flurries come Wednesday when our next big push of colder air comes sliding into the Plains. Meteorologically speaking, our winter season starts December 1st and runs through the month of February. There should be some big changes coming in the next week or two. More on that in the coming days. Have a great week and beware of the crazy Christmas shoppers.

Thinking Turkey

Yeah, I have to admit, the smell of Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and rolls have taken over my thoughts this week. I know preparing a big meal like this is expensive, but wouldn't it be nice to have Thanksgiving come twice a year? I don't know when we would do the second one, but I wouldn't object to having another face-feeding holiday.

I had a chance to hike the Pawnee Prairie trails out by Mid-Continent Airport Friday afternoon. The deer are still on the move at this time of the year and I ended up about 30-40 feet from one that was grazing in the grass. Millie, the aggressive hunting dog that she is, decided to let this one run free. She needed her energy to get back to the truck. I just have to say, Millie is a very smart dog and I've known that for a long time, but I did question her judgement to jump in the creek that afternoon for a swim when it was just 36 degrees outside. It didn't seem to bother her, so that thick coat of hair must really be working in her favor.

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is a good one this year. I'll be here watching the storm coming in from the west. Hopefully, it will not create any travel headaches for you. There is a good chance with an HD TV, you'll be able to see the extra pounds I gain on Thanksgiving, but oh well.

Just Catching Up

Are you staying busy? It seems like with the holiday next week, people are scrambling to prepare either a meal or to travel out of town. The month of November is slipping away from us and I'm having a hard time remembering that next week is Thanksgiving. If you are going to travel next week, be sure to call our travel hotline on Monday between 4 and 7 p.m. and we can get you a forecast for your destination. The number to call is 436-5627. We've been doing this for many years now and find it to be a big help for our viewers. Because the economy has fallen on hard times, we won't charge you anything to get the forecast (unless you have to call long distance, then there will be a few pennies involved)

You still have until Sunday to get your snowfall guesses posted. When will Wichita get its first one inch? The official measurement will be taken at Mid-Continent Airport. I don't have any big clues to give you, but I will tell you it won't happen on Thanksgiving Day. Now keep thinking.

Other than some big temperature swings, the weather has been decent lately. I haven't heard too many complaints, but I did have a request last week for a foot of snow. Hmmm. I don't know, she is probably in the minority because from what I've discovered, any mention of snow and people start grumbling. We should be snow-free for a little while yet. And by the way, our travel hotline has always been free, I was just trying to promote it a little on the blog.

When will it be?

When will Wichita get its first one inch of snow? Keep the guesses coming and maybe you'll win the prize. Last year, the winner received a new umbrella from us and a bunch of other KWCH gear. There will be a prize again this year, but we need to collect the guesses. It would be good to pick a date and time in the event we have a tie. Some guesses have already been made and for clarification, we'll use Mid-Continent Airport as the official measurement. We can't take anymore guesses beyond November 23rd, so get them posted when you can.

I don't know when the first snowfall will happen, but I'm thinking it might be right at the end of the month. Who knows if it will be enough to get the first inch.

In the meantime, we are going to see some wild temperature swings the next several days. It was very warm Sunday afternoon, but cooler weather will be back on Monday. Warmer weather comes back on Tuesday and these ups and downs in the temperatures will probably make more people sick. I started hearing Christmas music this weekend. I'm having to pinch myself to realize it is that time of the year again. Have a great week.

Another School Visit & Changes Are Coming!

The 4th graders at Explorer Elementary were nice enough to allow me to spend part of the afternoon with them. Weather balloons, clouds, and weather instruments were part of the discussion and the kids had some great questions for me at the end.

We should get ready for a change in our weather. First, we will have the warmer weather, and then a taste of winter as colder air settles in by Friday. Moisture will no doubt be lacking, so other than a few sprinkles or snow flurries, we shouldn't have much in the way of measurable moisture. The cold spell Friday and Saturday should be followed by another change on Sunday as warmer air rushes back into the area.

I'm going to see about another contest on the blog. Last year I had you predict the first one inch of snow for Wichita. Should we do it again? As always, the winner will get a prize. It won't be a new car, but it could be something equally as nice.

Enough with the wind!

Even though we live in Kansas and we just grow accustom to the wind, Thursday was a bit much. It didn't matter what you were trying to get done outside, it was much more difficult with the 50 mph wind gusts whipping across the state. It's a good thing Millie is low to the ground or else she would've ended up in a different neighborhood after yesterdays bout with Mother Nature's wind machine.

We did manage to brave the wind elements and visit Kensler Elementary school. There was a small group of Girl Scouts that has invited me to come talk about Kansas weather. Millie went along for the presentation and I'm pretty sure the girls enjoyed her company. It's easy to tell when Millie has a good time because she wiggles her entire back end (because she's missing her tail) The girls had great questions and as a thank you for coming, I left with two cookies for the road. They were gone before I made it back to the station.

The weather is changing again this weekend. We could get some snow in Kansas by Monday, so be sure to join us this weekend to track the developing storm. Yes, it will probably come with more wind too. Sorry.

Sunflower Blowout

The Sunflower Showdown comes and goes and it was quite a blowout from the Jayhawks. I was sure surprised at the final score, but being a KU Alumni, I am excited about the win. It keeps the rivalry going and with basketball season coming, I'm sure K-State fans are looking for an upset during hoop season.

The switch to HD has finally passed for us here at KWCH. It's been very stressful, but we are happy to have the new look on the air and we've had great feedback so far. I don't know how many of you have HD TV sets yet (I don't), but I've seen the new picture on an HD screen here at the station and it is really amazing. The scary part is that you can see all the fine detail in our faces, but hopefully you're not just watching for that. Next time you see Millie in HD, you'll be able to count the hair on her back.

I spent some time with my nephew this last week. Wade continues to grow and now, there's teeth. He has 6 of them with more coming through each week. Who needs a Wii for entertainment when you have a laundry basket and an uncle that will push you around the kitchen? It sure is fun to watch him giggle and laugh.

No big changes in the weather for the next few days. Enjoy this summer/fall like weather.