Hurricane Season 2007

So far it has been a rather uneventful hurricane season, but we are just getting into the prime of the season and the Climate Prediction Center released an update to their earlier outlook on the hurricane season. They are still forecasting an above normal year for hurricanes with 13-16 named storms, 7-9 becoming hurricanes, and 3-5 possibly becoming major hurricanes. Major hurricanes are those that reach category 3 or higher.

We are just beginning to see some activity off the coast of Africa and the National Hurricane Center is already issuing statements on TD 4, which may very well strengthen into a storm Tuesday. It will get the name "Dean" when it reaches tropical storm strength.

Our weather is still uneventful, just like the hurricane season has been. Thank goodness for the rain earlier in the summer, or else we would be burning up in this extended period of hot weather. Still no big signals in our computer models that a change is coming soon. The big high pressure system (the same one I've talked about for a while now) could begin breaking down some this weekend, which may actually allow for some rain by Saturday or Sunday. We don't see any real change in the temperatures until next week sometime.

Best of luck to the kids headed back to school this week. Where did the summer vacation go?

Summer's Excessive Heat!

It's hot outside, skies are sunny, and the heat shows no mercy and probably won't for several days to come. See the last blog entry for more on why it's so hot. This big upper air high pressure is definitely slow to move and could last for the next 2 weeks. Needless to say, keep the air conditioners going on full blast and do what you can to avoid the hottest part of the day, which falls between noon and 5 p.m. Anyone else ready for fall and for football season to start again?? It's no secret; I don't like long, hot stretches of dry weather because it just dries everything out.

I wanted to let you know that we have now added a LOOPING radar to our weather page on KWCH.com. Check it out (when it rains again here in Kansas) and be sure to let me know what you think. It is 90 minutes worth of radar imagery to help you follow storms across Kansas. We have been working very hard to get this information available to you and now we are interested in your feedback.

I'm headed back to the family ranch for the next few days and will be back to update you on the hot weather Saturday. Stay cool!!

Summer in High Gear!

It's been a busy week as we settle into a new month and it's only going to get busier as kids go back to school, sports practice begins, etc. I had a great time this week helping my sister move back to K-State and prepare for another semester of college. There are days when I miss that college atmosphere, but I don't miss the college calculus and physics that still haunts me today.

Wichita has not had 100 yet this summer, but we will make a strong run at it the next several days. We should prepare for a long, hot, dry spell that will continue through at least the next 7-10 days. Remember, the wind flows clockwise around high pressure, so the storms will track around Kansas through the next several days. Underneath of the high is where you find the excessive heat and we may see that next week in some parts of Kansas. I'm attaching another map from our computer models that shows the high pressure system directly over our state.

If you wondering about watering your lawn, well don't wait for Mother Nature. Rain and storms will be few and far between through next week so if you haven't had moisture already, you most likely won't get it until later in the month. Remember the heavy rainfall from earlier in the summer? It's amazing how fast 90 degree heat can dry things out, but we know it could be much worse. Stay cool and enjoy what is left of the weekend (and summer for those kids getting ready for school)