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Patchy Frost for Some!

Good morning! Temperatures were held up a bit overnight, because of some cloud cover. But early this morning, they really dropped off as skies cleared. We did have some reports of patchy frost... here are some of the morning lows today:

KCI: 37
DOWNTOWN: 39
OLATHE: 39
LEES SUMMIT: 38
KIRKSVILLE: 35
SEDALIA: 40
CHILLICOTHE: 35
PLEASANT HILL: 37

Tomorrow we have an even better shot at some frost, as we will be clear and cold overnight. Why does it matter if we are clear? Well, the clouds overhead act as a blanket. The heat of the day rises at night, and if clouds are overhead... they will re-direct a lot of that escaping heat right back to us at the surface. BUT if it's a CLEAR night... there is nothing to help hold heat in... and more of it escapes into the atmosphere... leaving us COLD at the surface! Check out the diagram below:

Click to enlarge

AND cold air is DENSE air... so it sinks. This is why some of the lowest temperatures are typically found in valleys... :) Sooo take precautions if you have any vegetation you want to save!!

In other news, a storm is brewing to our west! We will look for it to move in early next week. Gary will have an update later today!

Have a great TGIF!!
Jamie

Posted by at October 7, 2005 10:42 AM