Greensburg One Year Later

If you've been watching the Early Show this week on CBS, then you've noticed they are broadcasting from Greensburg to mark the one year anniversary that is coming up on May 4th. They've been surprising the residents with special gifts that people from across the nation have donated to help those who lost everything that night.

I've been asked to do a story on the technology that was used the night Greensburg took a direct hit. It will hit the air Monday night during the 10 p.m. newscast. It wasn't a tornado, but it sure looked like one from the picture that Lisa Shaffer sent to us of a dust devil that developed outside of town. If anything, it was an eerie reminder of the big wedge tornado that tore across the area last year. Dust devils are usually caused by an uneven heating of the earth surface and then the of course the wind gets them spinning. They aren't dangerous, but winds inside of them could be as strong as 45 or 50 mph, just enough to stir up some tumbleweeds.

I think Mack will be our winner for the guessing game I had on the blog earlier this year. Mack, I'll need you to email me your address again so I can send you a few other items. You should've been a meteorologist because you are good at predicting!

My week wrapped up with a school talk at Clark Elementary School today. The 2nd graders were very excited to see the weather balloon and the cloud-in-a bottle trick, but I think with summer just around the corner, they have their minds on something else.

Get ready for some much cooler weather by the end of the week. May will start out with below normal temps for Kansas.

Earth Day Pics and A Winner?

Okay, so we have a slight problem. The first tornado warning of the season occurred on April 24th up in northwest Kansas. There were several brief touchdowns through the evening. Someone guessed April 20th and said Ellis county, so they are the winner. But they posted anonymously, but did sign off with a "V". So if this person doesn't come forward, then the next person in line for the prize is Mack, who just so happen to win the snowfall contest. Mack's guess was April 18th. Hopefully we can get this ironed out soon. If you are the person that guessed April 20th, and you signed off with "V", send me an email rjanssen@kwch.com

The Earth Day talk went very well at Jefferson Elementary school. I wasn't too sure I would get to go because we were having severe weather in Wichita just before the talk. I was able to slip away for a while and was glad I did. The kids were outstanding. Here is a picture from last Wednesday. Thanks again to Jennifer for inviting me to visit the school. I'll hope to return next year.

Severe weather is over with now for several days, so we can relax a little. Warmer weather is on the way next week.

Have a great Sunday.

Earth Day 2008

It's been a busy week for school talks. I had 3 different talks on Tuesday, two of which were at Park Elementary here in Wichita. I visited with some Cub Scouts in Valley Center Tuesday evening and as always, the kids were great. Today is also Earth Day, and we will celebrate it one day later at Jefferson Elementary on Wednesday.

I know there are some pictures coming from the talks, so I hope to post them tomorrow afternoon. If you haven't checked it out yet, Millie has a bio now on the KWCH website. I'm going to add some more pictures to the slide show in the future, so be sure to check back often to see what's going on in her world. I recently added a picture of Millie's close companion, Ellie, so be sure to check it out when you can. I guess she is officially part of Storm Team 12 now.