Is It Going To Blow?

I think everyone is ready for a break from Winter Storm '09. So lets go the opposite direction from a winter/ice storm to an erupting volcano.

Mt. Redoubt is beginning to wake-up in Alaska. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory the current Volcano Alert Level is "Watch" and the Aviation Color Code is "Orange".

According to their Friday afternoon update, "Unrest at Redoubt Volcano continues, though no eruption has yet occurred. Seismicity levels have increased since yesterday evening and have also risen markedly over the last hour."

You can take a look at Mt. Redoubt on two webcams setup by the AVO.

• Webcam located 7.5 miles from the summit crater
• Webcam located 45 miles away

Mt. Redoubt is located 110 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.

According to Wikipedia, Mt. Redoubt erupted in 1902, 1966, and 1989. The eruption in 1989 threw volcanic ash to a height of 45,000 feet. (The attached pictures are from the 1989 eruption.)

If the volcano erupts, it will send volcanic ash high in the sky threatening airliners, but it will also send volcanic ash hundreds of miles (if not thousands) downwind.

3:30pm Winter Storm Update

People from around the area are in search of information. Right now, with communications lines down, it makes it very difficult. Because of this, I have setup a bulletin board web page for people looking for information (or people who have information).

You can access it by going to www.kfvsonline.com/forums. The board will be available 24/7.

11am Winter Storm Update

Sorry for no update from me yesterday. After working roughly 19 hour days (7am till noon from home. 1pm till 2am at work.) I finally had a day off yesterday. So I took the day for myself. I had a few errands that needed to be run, including mailing a package to my brother who is stationed in Iraq. I also tried to catch up on some sleep.

Hundreds of thousands of people are still without power across this region this morning. People are still in search of information as to when the power will be back. Unfortunately, it is hard for us to get answers because we are having a hard time getting a hold of people. The best thing for everyone is to have patience.

In some spots it could be the middle/end of next week until the power is restored at the earliest. I have a feeling that some people will be without power for weeks.

It is also affecting areas outside of the Heartland (southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky). I got a call from my cousin who is on the bank board of a bank located in northern Illinois. It turns out that their bank has a data line that goes through Paducah, KY. So he was interested to know when data lines might be back up in Western Kentucky because it is affecting business at the bank. Unfortunately, there is no answer.

What I do know is that the Kentucky Governor was in Paducah yesterday and announced that the National Guard would be bringing in 5 of the communications trucks to try and establish some way of communication in the area.

Want Some Peanut Butter To Go With The Jelly?

14,560 square miles. That is the area of widespread power outages across KFVS's viewing area. This just shows how widespread the damage is from the storm.

How do I know this? I just sat down and figured it up. 182 miles west to east. 80 miles north to south across the viewing area.

On that not, I'm fried. Physically I'm exhausted. Mentally, my brain is turning to jelly. I'm glad to be done with the storm. As I told the "newsies" in the newsroom today, I can wash my hands of the storm. It is their "baby".

As a meteorologist I really enjoy the lead up to the storm. The forecasting from days out... The number of hours looking at computer model data... Staying up all night waiting for the next round of data to come out. Then sitting at a desk, with a map and markers in hand, trying to determine where and how much.

Then there is the moment where as a forecaster you realize there is nothing more you can do. Sure, you could look at new data, but often times at that point it is information overload. I tell myself, "Quit trying to fine tune the forecast. Just let it fly the course."

I have been known to make forecasts for big snows when noone else does. I then get nervous before the storm forms/arrives. I will start to pace back and forth through the newsroom or I will pace back and forth in front of my window and my tv. I think... "It better start to develop." "Come on snow, get here all ready!"

Then when it starts to fall and pile up, I'm on cloud 9.

People often ask me why I get excited when I am talking about storms (whether it be spring severe storms or winter storms). I admit, I do get excited. How can you not get excited when something you have worked at for hours and days pay off?

Where is the harm with being enjoying your job? I am lucky to be in a job that doesn't feel like a job.

Wow! I must really be tired if I am having these thoughts... And it is only 8pm...

12pm Winter Storm Update

I am hearing some heavy dripping outside of my place. Sounds like some of the ice is melting off the trees. Temperatures are near 30°. I don't think we'll melt too much of it.

By the way, Heartland News will be airing a special two hour news report regarding Winter Storm '09. The special will start at 5pm CT. You can watch it online at www.KFVS12.com.

I've got to get ready and head in to work. (I'm not looking forward to going out and cleaning off my car again.)

How much snow did you get overnight?

7:30am Winter Storm Update: The Smell of Burning Rubber

It looks like this storm is starting to wind down (west to east) around the Heartland. Its about time! We've only been dealing with it now for approximately 38 hours!

Power outages are wide spread. Areas from Ellsinore, Missouri to Calvert City, Kentucky (and everything in between) are without power. This is such a large scale disaster!

We just got word that Kennett, Missouri is 85%-90% without power. At last check the entire town of Sikeston, Missouri is without power. There a many, many towns without power at this time. There are most likely over 100,000 people without power.

Main roads last night weren't bad, but they weren't good either. You hear us say it over and over on the TV, "Don't go out unless you have to." As I said last night on the news, "Even if you do have to go out, reconsider it." It is just safer to stay home.

Here was my experience from last night. I got home from work around 2am this morning. When trying to enter my parking lot, all the ice/sleet had created a nice crust. I had to get a head of speed up to try to get up over the curb. Unfortunately, it didn't work. My front tires got caught and I didn't make. After a few worried minutes of trying to get the car out, I could start to smell burning rubber. Hmm... guess my tires were getting a little hot while spinning on the ice when I was trying to rock my car out. The good news... I eventually did get to my parking space. :)

I just looked outside and noticed that we do have some fresh snow on the ground. Our first measurable snow of the year!

How much additional snow did you get overnight?

10:30pm Winter Storm Update

This storm is amazing! I was just chatting with the forecasters at the NWS office in Paducah via instant messenger.

They are down and out right now. They aren't able to send out data or products. The NWS has back-up plans for situtations like this. The NWS office in Springfield, Missouri is taking care of sending out their products.

They told me that they have 2" of ice accumulation. Let me repeat 2" OF ICE ACCUMULATION! That is incredible!!!

Unfortunately, this storm isn't over. We probably have another 8-9 hours to go.

Some of the final ice accumulation numbers will be through the roof. I think some places could have 2.5"+ of ice. I was this close to calling this a catastrophic storm on the air at 10pm.

If you thought the February '08 ice storm in Southeast Missouri was bad, just wait until we have a chance to see the damage from this one. It is much more widespread! I have a feeling this could take at least a week to get everyone back up with power.

We just took a power hit at the station.

We will continue the online and on-air cutins starting at 11:00 pm CT.

• Online on the hour.
• On-air :30 past the hour.

6pm Winter Storm Update

Just wanted to update everyone that I will be doing live online cut-ins starting at 7pm CT on KFVS12.com. They will happen hourly until 10pm CT.

I will be doing live on-air cut-ins on KFVS12 at :30 past the hour every hour starting at 7:30pm CT.