*******************
Dear Jamie,
Have you thought of inviting someone on the show to do a Rain Dance? Maybe you should have a Rain Dance contest at the studio and give away a prize.

Trying to think of ways to help.
Tim

TIM:
I *love* that idea!! :)
Jamie

******************
hi - .36" here - rememember my logs of yesterday, in one of which I said I'd be surprised to see .20" in the gauge? Unfortunately I am right. And the DROUGHT is coming on big-time - I am really pessimistic about wetter conditions affecting Blue Springs at least. It has been horrible and dull and boring - one might as well live in Las Vegas for all of the excitement we've had here at my house in Blue Springs. At least they have a chance at the monsoon.
Dog

DOG:
Yes this weather pattern stinks for rain in many of our local cities. We'll have to wait till the fall... hopefully we'll see a better pattern setting up!
Jamie

*******************
YES! FINALLY THE CURSE IS BROKEN! it rained today in trenton.. and boy did it rain! we had 1.81" of rain.. and that was one of the lowest totals in that band. Macon County had over 5" of rain from 11pm to about 5am. widespread flooding in the city of macon. pretty much 2-6" from north of maryville to macon and mexico.

the other huge story was the lightning, some of the most amazing strikes i've seen. a good little break from the mondane.

btw - currious.. you are the only NBC station on cable for viewers in Harrison, gentry, and worth counties yet they are not on the map.. is this for a reason? i know you are also on cable/sat in linn, chariton, macon and adair counties.. i always just figured the map size was the reason that the far east wasn't on there.

GLEN:
You don't know how many people are jealous of you right now!! Remember it was just a few days ago you were complaining about how dry it was! ;) That is interesting about Harrison, Gentry and Worth... they are not in our DMA... that is why they are not on our maps. I am not sure which market is supposed to cover them... I will do some research.
Jamie

******************
I cannot believe this weather pattern. What happened last night with the flooding rains further north is almost a carbon copy of the "big snow storm," that was a bust back in March.

I cannot say that the forecast was a complete bust, because it did rain. However, the models did not handle this forecast very well. The models had the bulls’ eye of rain over KC, and by last night that bull’s eye moved further east. I do find fault more with NWS because they hyped it so much. However, they do need to warn people, so I am not sure where to draw the line. I did not understand why the SPC did not issue a Severe Thunderstorm Watch sooner. I did not stay up, but my guess is it was dropped early. I also do not understand why they dropped the Flash Flood Watch because the very counties they dropped are the ones that got the most rain! Those guys need you to help them!

Something else that is strange is Thursday; models were showing 50s for highs in Northern MO. I did not buy that, but it has come to be true.

Now, what is also very interesting is that Gary was forecasting highs in the 70s through the first part of this week, and NWS was forecasting highs in the 80s. It looks like the 80s are going to rule. But Gary did say that was possible.

This weather pattern is so crazy. I don't believe we are at the cool part of the pattern just yet. Partly because Gary had suggested that if we did not see any major rainfall over the weekend, it would be 15 days before that would happen. In the past, the last part of the pattern has been cool and damp. What I see happening is perhaps the pattern is breaking down? I don't know because I am not trained in that area. I just know what has happened in the past. I am sure that you guys take all that into account.

Anyway, good job on the forecast. It was a very tough forecast!

Later,

Brian - Overland Park

BRIAN:
Maybe you should contact the NWS... they can answer your questions for you. Honestly, we can only speak for ourselves! And yes, it was a very tough forecast. Everything was pointing to a heavy rain event. It did happen, just in our northern counties. So not a complete bust, but a big let down to many. At least we did not have the huge flooding problems they had up there.
Jamie

******************
Is it just me or is it still feel a little yucky outside today? My weather bug is reporting 86 with a 68 degree dew point...humidty 54% and heat index of 90.. Could this mean a chance of rain today at all?

DAVE:
It is still a bit humid. Dew points are in the mid-60s right now... they will continue to fall. No real chance of rain today.
Jamie

*********************
The lightning in the storm last night was amazing! I haven't seen that many cloud-to-ground strikes so close to each other in quite a while. Is there a scientific reason why some storms produce such spectacular lightning while others put on just mediocre light shows?

MARLINA:
Lightning forms in the strong up-and-down air currents inside towering cumulonimbus clouds... as water droplets, hail, and ice crystals collide with one another. It is thought that these collisions build up charges of electricity in a cloud. The amount of lightning peaks at a thunderstorms mature stage!
Jamie

*********
Jamie - I watched Joe Bastardi of NBC weather showing that we were facing a hot and dry summer, and that this pattern somewhat mirrored the decades of 1930, 1940 and 1950, which were very dry in this part of the country - in fact the 30s were the dust bowl epoch. Since weather does long-term cycle, notwithstanding Gary's pattern, I am afraid that next fall's pattern may well not be any better for producing needed precip than this one. Back in the 60s New England had an 8 year drought, so droughts can go on years and years, and historically, we are due for such a period now. I hate to think of it, but I may be dead before a trully wet pattern comes again to the Plains if Mr. Bastardi is correct.

Ugh,

Dog

Storm Dog,

I have met Joe Bastardi, and he is a good meteorologist. But, he has not even given my theory a thought. This pattern IS NOT ANYTHING LIKE ANY OTHER PATTERN WE HAVE EVER HAD. And, Doggy, I don't believe weather has long term cycles. I just don't. Every year is different and if we lump a few dry years together then it is just coincidence.

And next fall, we get a brand new pattern that has never existed before. We are way overdue for a good and wet pattern.

Gary

****************
Jamie,
The NWS website has a weather map that shows severe weather damage. It show that a tornado touched down in western Missouri is that true. And on ESP there are some thunderstorms in southern Kansas. Are those heading towards the metro or are they going south.
Thanks.

JEFF:
Give me the website, I will check it out. I did not receive one report of a tornado touchdown anywhere yesterday. The thunderstorms to our southwest will not be affecting us.
Jamie

***************
So close, but just missed it again.

Have fun in Tampa and dont get too wild in Ybor City.

JOE:
Haha... I won't. I am actually going to visit my best friend since 3rd grade. She just had a baby... so we will likely be spending a lot of time with the little one!
Thanks!
Jamie

******************
Jamie,
I'm sorry i meant to say the Weather Channel.
http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/severeusnational/usseverestormdamage_large.html. This is the link to that map. So can you confirm yourself that it was a tornado.
Thanks.

JEFF:
Oh... that is EASTERN, Missouri...

Yes, several trained spotters reported funnel clouds yesterday. And law enforcement reported that a possible tornado uprooted trees and telephone poles. It has not been confirmed by the NWS yet, though... still preliminary data.
Jamie