Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for NE OK until 10PM

WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCHES 20/23
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
342 PM CST WED MAR 10 2010

ARC007-015-087-143-OKC001-021-041-097-111-131-143-145-110400-
/O.CAN.KTSA.SV.A.0020.000000T0000Z-100310T2300Z/
/O.NEW.KTSA.SV.A.0023.100310T2142Z-100311T0400Z/

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
23 UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING WHICH REPLACES A PORTION OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20. THE NEW WATCH IS VALID FOR THE
FOLLOWING AREAS

IN ARKANSAS THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES

IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

BENTON                CARROLL               MADISON             
WASHINGTON           

IN OKLAHOMA THE NEW WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

CHEROKEE             

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA

ADAIR                 DELAWARE              MAYES               
OKMULGEE              ROGERS                TULSA               
WAGONER              

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…BENTONVILLE…BERRYVILLE…
CLAREMORE…EUREKA SPRINGS…FAYETTEVILLE…HUNTSVILLE…JAY…
OKMULGEE…PRYOR…ROGERS…SPRINGDALE…STILWELL…TAHLEQUAH…
TULSA AND WAGONER.

Severe Thunderstorm watch issued for E OK including Tulsa County: effective until 5PM

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 20
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1240 PM CDT WED MAR 10 2010

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 20 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CDT
FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

OKC001-021-023-041-061-077-079-089-091-097-101-111-121-127-131-
135-143-145-102300-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0020.100310T1740Z-100310T2300Z/

OK
.    OKLAHOMA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAIR                CHEROKEE            CHOCTAW
DELAWARE             HASKELL             LATIMER
LE FLORE             MAYES               MCCURTAIN
MCINTOSH             MUSKOGEE            OKMULGEE
PITTSBURG            PUSHMATAHA          ROGERS
SEQUOYAH             TULSA               WAGONER

Severe weather in our area possible Wednesday afternoon and evening

There is a slight risk for severe weather in our area Wednesday afternoon and evening, including hail, gusty winds, severe thunderstorms and the possibility for tornadoes.  It looks like the best area will be near the OK/KS border, to the north and east of Tulsa.  We’ll be watching developments in the morning to decide on whether to chase or not.

Here’s the latest graphic from the NWS in Tulsa:

 

Set up for severe weather on Wednesday

Residents in Zone 1 should be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions Wednesday afternoon and evening.  Monitor local weather outlets and the NWS weather radio for up to date information.

 

Tornado touches down in Western OK; More storms on Wednesday

A slight risk for severe weather had been forecast by the NWS for far western counties in Oklahoma, but I think the fact that a tornado was actually produced caught everyone off guard.  Usually, this time of year, the chance of a damaging tornado hitting is very slim.  The tornado that swiped through Roger Mills and Custer counties has been estimated at an EF1-EF2.

From storm reports relayed to the NWS by the county emergency manager, the tornado touched down near Hammon at about 5:20 PM and over the next hour, it moved into Custer county.   A few homes were damaged and power lines and poles were taken down.  There’s not been any reports of injuries.

The affecteed counties are located in the SW corner of Zone 2, about 250 miles SW of Tulsa.  It was a little too far for us to go chase, but there were a few chasers out there yesterday and some video was shot.

More severe weather is expected to come close to our area on Wednesday, although it’s still not certain what the next system will bring.  At this point, like yesterday, we’re expecting severe thunderstorms with hail, rain and some wind.  Nothing much more than that.  But, like yesterday, we can’t always count on what is normal for this time of year.  The season is getting off to an active start.

Possibility of severe weather on Sunday and Monday?

After setting a record for only 1 tornado report nationally in February, there’s a slight chance of severe weather on Sunday into Monday.  That’s right, severe weather during the first week of March.  An “potent” upper level system is expected to arrive sometime on Sunday.  Temps will probably be in the 60s and could help set up the chance for severe thunderstorms for the first part of the week.  It’s definately something we’ll be watching over the next couple of days.

Set up for severe weather

Set up for severe weather (NWS image)

Breaking News: Taliban’s top commander has been captured in Pakistan

The NY Times is reporting that Mullah Abdul Ghani, the Taliban’s top military commander, was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan.  The capture was credited to a joint operation by Pakistan and American forces.  This could help explain the timing of the recent military surge on the southern town of Marjah, Afghanistan.

This is good news and a could be a major blow to the Taliban fighters.

Click here to read the entire NY Times article.

NWS Tulsa: Significant Weather Advisory Issued

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
742 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2010

OKZ054-059>072-074-141430-
ADAIR OK-CHEROKEE OK-CREEK OK-DELAWARE OK-HASKELL OK-MAYES
OK-MCINTOSH OK-MUSKOGEE OK-OKFUSKEE OK-OKMULGEE OK-OSAGE OK-PAWNEE
OK-ROGERS OK-SEQUOYAH OK-TULSA OK-WAGONER OK-
742 AM CST SUN FEB 14 2010

…SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY EFFECTIVE UNTIL 830 AM CST
FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES…

IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     OKMULGEE…WAGONER…ROGERS…SOUTHWESTERN DELAWARE…
     SOUTHEASTERN OSAGE…SOUTHWESTERN ADAIR…CREEK…TULSA…MAYES
     AND PAWNEE

IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
     MUSKOGEE…CHEROKEE…OKFUSKEE AND WESTERN SEQUOYAH

IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA
     NORTHERN MCINTOSH AND NORTHERN HASKELL

AT 740 AM CST…A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW EXTENDED FROM NEAR BRISTOW TO
NEAR TAHLEQUAH AND THROUGH THE TULSA METRO AREA…MOVING SOUTHEAST
AT 35 MPH. RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND 1 INCH WILL BE
POSSIBLE. THIS SNOW WILL ALSO REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO AROUND 1/4 MILE
FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME MAKING DRIVING DIFFICULT. THERE MAY ALSO
BE SOME ACCUMULATIONS ON PAVEMENT ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND
OVERPASSES…MAKING DRIVING CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS.

NWS Tulsa: Freezing Fog Advisory in effect until 10AM

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
407 AM CST SAT FEB 13 2010

OKZ060-066-067-131600-
/O.EXA.KTSA.ZF.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-100213T1600Z/
TULSA-OKMULGEE-WAGONER-
407 AM CST SAT FEB 13 2010

…FREEZING FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST THIS MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A FREEZING FOG
ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CST THIS MORNING…

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES…

 * IN OKLAHOMA…OKMULGEE…WAGONER AND TULSA.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER…
 * FOG WAS BECOMING DENSE ACROSS PARTS OF THE TULSA METRO AREA
   AND IN PARTS OF OKMULGEE AND WAGONER COUNTIES.  THE FOG WILL
   PERSIST THROUGH SUNRISE AND THEN BEGIN TO BURN OFF.

IMPACTS…
 * VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER
   MILE A MANY LOCATIONS.  A LIGHT GLAZE MAY FORM ON ROADWAYS
   AS TEMPERATURES ARE NEAR FREEZING.

DEFINITION…
 * A FREEZING FOG ADVISORY MEANS AREAS OF FREEZING FOG ARE EXPECTED
   OR ARE OCCURRING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
 * IF DRIVING…SLOW DOWN…USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS…AND LEAVE PLENTY
   OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU.  BE ALERT FOR ICY PATCHES ON SOME ROADS…
   ESPECIALLY ELEVATED SURFACES.

 * STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO…COMMERCIAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
   FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WEATHER EVENT.
   ADDITIONAL WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT:
   WEATHER.GOV/TULSA.

Claire Danes in ‘Temple Grandin’; truly inspirational

Few films I watch can I describe as “inspirational”, but the movie ‘Temple Grandin’ (HBO) is one of those films.

Claire Danes in HBO's 'Temple Grandin' (Courtesy of HBO)

Claire Danes, who portrays Temple Grandin, has a long list of accomplishments to her credit, my favorite being ’Romeo and Juliet’, but ‘Temple Grandin’ will be one movie that will stick in my mind as one of her best works – like Patty Duke’s role in ’The Miracle Worker’.   Some movies just touch you that way.

Temple Grandin suffers from autism.  But, maybe “suffers” is the wrong word.  It might be better to say that Temple is autistic and shows the world that autism is a disability that can be overcome.  In Temple’s case, autism is one of the tools she used to achieve her success.  She went on to earn her doctorate and has become an authority in animal science and what it means to be autistic.

The movie explores Temple’s life and her struggle during her high school and college years.  It also shows the downside of autism, to a point that you might feel a little uncomfortable watching some scenes.  But, overall, the movie takes those awkward moments, combines them with Temple’s guts and determination, and teaches us about possibilities.

In the movie, Temple says, ” …I was different, but not less.”  And she’s proven that.  Dr. Grandin is now a published author, accomplished speaker and college professor.

Watch it.  Learn.  Be inspired.

More about Temple Grandin at http://www.templegrandin.com.  Watch this movie on HBO and HBO on Demand.

Winter Storm Warning has been canceled for our area

FM: NWS TULSA OPERATIONS
RE: RE: URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
for TULSA OK. County
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
Issued 135 PM CST MON FEB 8 2010

…WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING…

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES…
* IN OKLAHOMA…CHEROKEE…CREEK…OKFUSKEE…OKMULGEE…
WAGONER…TULSA…ROGERS…MAYES…DELAWARE…PAWNEE…OTTAWA…
WASHINGTON…OSAGE…CRAIG…NOWATA…PITTSBURG…MCINTOSH…
MUSKOGEE…LATIMER AND HASKELL.

* THE WINTER WEATHER HAS ENDED.