Stephen's Weather Blog

2010-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

After a crazy weekend thawing is finally starting to take place across the state. Temperatures today will make it into the 50's. Overnight temps will fall back below freezing. Thursday and Friday low pressure will move across the state bringing chances for more rain. This weekend looks dry with temperatures in the 40's.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

2010-01-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

The weather outside surely is frightful and it appears that it will get worse before it gets better. Snow is still on the ground in most locations north of I-40 with heavier accumulations along the Arkansas/Missouri border. Tonight, the clouds will continue to clear as high pressure builds in. Temperatures will dip into the teens across White County. Tomorrow temperatures will struggle to get above the freezing mark. Wednesday will not be much different with morning lows in the teens and highs in the upper 20's. A storm system will be making its way into the state very early Thursday morning, bringing a significant chance for snow Thursday. The snow should come to an end by the evening hours. Snow will not be the only factor with this system. The cold air behind it will be brutal. Some models are indicating temperatures near zero in the northern part of the state Friday morning. Friday will be bitterly cold as well with highs struggling to break 20 degrees. Abundant sunshine returns for the weekend with slightly warmer temperatures. Still all in all, this week looks to be one of the coldest we've seen in a long time here in central Arkansas.

T.S. Ida

2009-11-09T14:36:00.001-08:00

Meet the ninth named storm of the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Tropical Storm Ida. Ida is 165 miles SSW of Pensacola, Fla. traveling North at 18 mph. Ida's maximum winds are sustained at 70 mph. Ida is expected to make landfall between Mobile Bay, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. sometime tomorrow morning. By Wednesday morning Ida will be a depression. She will travel back out to sea by Thursday morning. Heavy rain and strong winds will be associated with Ida. Tropical Storm Warnings have been posted from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Tallahassee, Florida.

Rain holds out

2009-11-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

Good evening. As Tropical Storm Ida churns in the Gulf of Mexico, she is influencing our weather here in the Natural State. Tonight expect clouds and a case of the "muggies", with a slight chance for a stray shower. Tomorrow we will clear out significantly with temperatures in the lower 70's. Ida will keep a cold front far enough north that rain and cooler temps won't make it into the state. So sunny skies will be the rule for the rest of the week. We could see our next chance for rain by the weekend. Have a great week!~Stephen

A sunny weekend, then more rain!

2009-11-05T14:38:00.001-08:00

Good evening! Much of Arkansas saw overnight temps drop into the 30's and 40's. A few places even recorded below freezing temperatures. Some places will drop into the 30's again tonight, but here in White County we'll be in the lower 40's. The weekend looks sunny and comfortable with temps in the 70's. Weather for the final Bison football game of the season looks superb! A cold front will move through the state Monday. Rain will be likely Monday and Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend!~Stephen

Rain...when?

2009-11-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Good evening! We saw another gorgeous day across the metro with temps topping out in the mid 70's. Another weak cold front will move through the area tonight, dropping our temps into the upper 30's and lower 40's. The rest of the week and weekend look good, with highs in the upper 60's and low to middle 70's. Clouds return for Sunday. The rain holds off until Monday as another cold front swings through our state. Have a pleasant evening.~Stephen

Record rainfall??

2009-11-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

What a year we have had with all this rain! Here in Searcy we've seen nearly 47 inches. We're close to our average of 51. It should no doubt be an above average year for rainfall here in Searcy. But in terms of records, The National Weather Service doesn't keep rainfall records for Searcy. So we can only say that a certain year is below, above, or near average. However Little Rock is the official site for recording official rainfall totals. Searcy would be included in those totals. We are sitting at the fifth wettest month on record. We only need another 7.25 inches to tie the record. The average rainfall combined for the months of November and December are 10.5 inches. So if we see average rainfall, we will well eclipse the old numbers and have nearly 80 inches of rain.

Bring on the sun!

2009-11-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon to all! Since the rain has left the scene we have had brilliant sunshine everyday. That will not change for at least the next five days. Although a cold front will swing through the state, no rain is expected and temperatures will not drop drastically. We will only see a few more clouds and much drier dew points. Sunny skies continue into the weekend with temperatures getting back into the low to mid 70's. Have a great week!~Stephen

Showers and Storms

2009-10-21T14:25:00.001-07:00

Good evening! If you're heading out to club week activities tonight, grabbing the umbrella may not be a bad idea. We are expecting a slight chance for showers and storms, with the best chance coming after sunrise. Storms will be widespread through Wednesday, becoming scattered by the evening and into the morning on Thursday. A flash flood watch has been posted until Thursday evening for the threat of heavy downpours. Widespread severe weather is not expected, although strong wind gusts may be a problem with stronger storms. We start to clear out by Thursday afternoon. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures will be expected this weekend. Another cold front will move in Monday and bring a slight chance for rain to start next week.

Sunshine on the way

2009-10-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon. The rain has ended for now. Overnight another front will move through the area, bringing more rain. Some locations, especially south of Interstate 40, saw rainfall totals upwards of five inches in the past 24 hours. I'm expecting another half-an-inch to an inch of rainfall tonight. Showers and storms will linger during the morning hours and push out by the afternoon, giving way to mostly sunny skies. As high pressure builds in, morning lows will be crisp in the 40's and highs will be in the upper 50's to lower 60's. By Monday expect plenty of sun with highs in the lower 70's.~Stephen Goodale

Persistent Rain

2009-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! The rain has been with us pretty much all day. It will stick around through the over night hours. I'm not expecting and severe weather, just persistent rain. We will see some clearing tomorrow morning before a cold front moves through during the day. Another chance for rain exists later in the day with the passage of the front. Storms are possible with this front, although I'm not expecting any to be severe. The weekend looks like a winner with cool temps and clearing skies.~Stephen Goodale

Yes, More Rain!

2009-10-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon. Mostly cloudy skies have dominated today. Dew points are close to the actual air temperature, so the atmosphere is moist and juicy. We'll leave a slight chance for showers in the forecast tonight. Starting tomorrow a series of fronts will move through the area. Widespread showers and storms will be possible through Thursday morning. Mostly sunny skies return for the weekend with temperatures in the upper 50's.~Stephen Goodale

Heavy rains and severe weather possible tonight

2009-10-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Good evening! A warm front has moved through the state, that's why were so warm and humid this afternoon. The warm weather will be temporary though. A cold front back to the northwest will bring a chance for rain as early as tonight for northwest Arkansas. Throughout the day tomorrow will be the best chance for storms here in central Arkansas. The problem will be flooding rains as the front will become almost stationary and moving very very slowly. So for tonight and tomorrow expect torrential downpours with isolated chances for a severe thunderstorm. The weekend still looks good. Mostly to partly cloudy skies will be the rule for the weekend with temps in the upper 60's for highs and 40's for lows. We will start next week with slight rain chances and highs in the upper 60's/lower 70's. Have a safe Fall Break. Be sure to pack an umbrella if traveling in the south.~Stephen Goodale

Rain to start Fall Break

2009-10-07T14:29:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon. The clouds will continue to roll in throughout the evening. Rain chances will increase overnight as well. A slight chance for severe weather exists for tomorrow. Mainly strong rain, hail, and damaging winds will be the main threat. Friday looks worse, with a second dose of heavy rain. The weekend looks good with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's. For Columbus Day expect a cool morning and mild afternoon. Have a safe Fall Break!~Stephen Goodale

Clouds and rain return

2009-09-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon. As with all good things, they must come to an end sometime. That is the situation with our weather here in the Natural State. Clouds will start to roll in later tonight and tomorrow. There is a slight chance for showers tomorrow. Friday showers and storms will be more wide spread and there is a slight chance for severe weather, especially north of I-40. The weekend looks dry, although skies will be partly to mostly cloudy. We start off the next work week with rain and warmer temps.~Stephen Goodale

A perfect night for star gazing!

2009-09-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

When high pressure dominates our weather, it usually means no clouds, no rain, and cooler temperatures. These are all perfect conditions for stargazing. Tonight will be one of those nights. Head as far away from town as you can and enjoy the beautiful sky. The moon is almost full and may be a hindrance. Enjoy!

Too much of a good thing?

2009-09-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Good Afternoon. Another gorgeous day across the Natural State. High pressure is in control, giving us cloudless skies and comfortable temperatures. Tonight expect temperatures in the upper 40's. A long-sleeve shirt or light sweater maybe a good idea in the morning. By the afternoon highs should top out in the upper 70's. Those visiting for Lectureship are in store for more of this beautiful, fall weather. By Thursday the pattern will start to break down, bringing an end to the sunshine. Rain chances increase by the end of the week. The weekend looks to be another dry one.~Stephen Goodale

A Pleasant Change on the Way!

2009-09-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Good evening! It looks as though rain chances will hold on to end the week. For the weekend, conditions look immaculate compared to what they've been this week. For tonight look for slight rain chances. Rain chances increase for tomorrow!~Stephen Goodale

Severe Weather Update

2009-09-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

Good evening! A brief severe weather update...A bow echo has formed just to the west of Little Rock. Strong winds and hail are possible along and ahead of the bow echo. For White County... expect strong winds in excess of 60 mph, heavy rain, and hail. An isolated tornado is not out of the question, but is unlikely. Storms are moving East at 35 mph. Storms will be near White County in the next hour to two hours.

More rain ahead!

2009-09-21T15:08:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon. Temperatures have been above average today. The humidity has also returned. As we go through tonight expect clouds to increase and a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow showers and storms will be more widespread as a cold front makes its way through our state. Look for temperatures to return to the 80's by Wednesday, although rain stays in the forecast. Also Fall arrives tomorrow at 4:18 PM.~Stephen Goodale

Impressive Rainfall Totals

2009-09-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Rainfall amounts over the past 24 hours have been impressive. Here are some other impressive numbers from around the state:
Wynne 3.30
Newport 3.10
Des Arc 2.30
Dardanelle 2.28
Hot Springs 2.16
Morrilton 2.15

The rain continues!

2009-09-16T14:18:00.001-07:00

Good afternoon! At the Searcy Airport a little over six inches of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours. More rainfall is expected overnight and into tomorrow. No severe weather is expected, just heavy downours at times. A Flash Flood Warning remains in effect until 6 PM and a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until Thursday night. Rain chances will diminish greatly by Friday as low pressure weakens and moves east. Expect another one to four inches in White County over the next 24 hours. ~Stephen Goodale

A rainy week

2009-09-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon! Another dreary day across much of Arkansas. Isolated showers will remain in the forecast tonight. Shower and thunderstorm activity will become more wide spread tomorrow. The umbrella may come in handy as showers and thunderstorms will be the rule over the next week. ~Stephen Goodale

Humidity returns!

2009-08-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

Good evening! Although Searcy enjoyed another day of below average temperatures, the humidity is slowly starting to return. Expect another night with lows in the lower 60's and clear skies. Highs tomorrow will be warmer in the upper 80's with a little more humidity. A cold front will be making its way into central Arkansas by Friday providing rain chances. ~ Stephen Goodale

Too much sun?

2009-05-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

Walking back to my truck from eating lunch, I saw a girl with an open umbrella. I was abit befuddled. There were no clouds in the sky, but the sun was beating down. With high pressure in control, It is warming up. Expect temperatures in the mid 80's by the end of the week. Enjoy all this sunshine while you can because rain is on the way for the weekend.

An upper level low in the tropics may provide some rainfall over the weekend. The jury is still out on how much rain we may receive. I'll be updating as we get closer to the weekend.

More rain

2009-05-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the rainfall totals since midnight: Searcy-.96in. ...Newport-1.04in.
These storms that are occurring night after night are keeping us on track for the wettest May on record. Flood warnings remain in effect for White County for moderate flooding at Augusta and minor flooding at Georgetown. More rain is in the forecast until Sunday. After this we will have several days of drier weather to give the ground a chance to dry up abit.

Twittering on severe weather

2009-05-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have set up a Twitter site, espicially for severe weather. When warnings go out or crazy weather is happening here in W.C. it will show up on Twitter. If you choose to follow it is: 16SVWX. It is up just in time for severe weather moving out of Oklahoma. I'll be Twittering until it's through here!

Wet May with more on the way!

2009-05-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

It certainly has been a wet May. In just the first 13 days we've had well over 10 inches of rain. For the month the normal is 5.33in. and the record is just under 16 inches. if the rains keep coming we on pace to have the wettest May on record. Rain continues in the forecast for tonight. This rain will be falling onto already saturated ground, making flash flooding a concern. White County is already under flood warnings for the White River at Georgetown and Augusta. As always, I'll continue to keep my eye on the situation!

A gorgeous weekend ahead

2009-04-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend look for mostly sunny skies with clouds at times. Southerly flow will increase moisture and temperatures in the 80's will cause instability. This may trigger a few pop-up showers, but nothing wide spread. Our next chance for wide spread showers and thunderstorms will be Monday night.

Weekend soaker

2009-04-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

A massive, slow-moving low pressure system is located over the southern plains this afternoon. As it moves east our rain chances will be increasing. This system will be a rain maker with no severe weather expected. Here in White County we could easily see about 2 inches of rain. Skies will be clearing late Sunday night. Much warmer temperatures are in store for next week!

Weekend rain

2009-04-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

A beautiful, spring week will end with rain. There are rain chances in the forecast Friday night through Monday. It doesn't look like there will be any severe weather with this system.

NWS Confirmed Mena Tornado

2009-04-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

The National Weather Service confirmed that two tornadoes hit Mena on Thursday. The first, an EF-3 stayed on the ground 14.5 miles. The second tornado was on the ground for a little over 9 miles. The second tornado was rated an EF-1. Three people died and 25 others were injured. 42 tornadoes were reported Thurdsday in 6 states along with numerous wind and hail reports. Beebe reported .75 inch hail.

Rain ending, sun returns

2009-04-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

After a busy weekend in weather, we will have a chance to dry out. This will give a chance for the real clean up to begin in Mena and Murfreesboro following those devastating tornadoes on Thursday. We will warm back into the low 70's by Thusday. Another low will move in from the Pacific and give us rain chances for the weekend.

Severe Update

2009-04-09T20:30:00.000-07:00

There are numerous reports of severe weather all across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Numerous watches and warnings have been posted. A tornado watch is in effect until 2 am. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect now until 11:15 pm. The line will continue to move east. This storm has produces numerous strong tornadoes, hurricane force winds, and hail over an inch in diameter. Once it pushes through there will be a slight chance for showers in the morning. By the afternoon the sun will start to peak through the clouds. Jon will have a recap of all of tonights action, as well as your Easter forecast tomorow at 5!

Thursday rain...Some severe

2009-04-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Rain is in the forecast for your Thursday. Clouds will start to increase after midnight. The best chance for rain is in the afternoon. The entire state is is under a slight risk for severe weather. Here in White County there will be locally heavy downpours and the chance for damaging winds. I don't expect anything beyond that. Some rain may linger into Friday morning. By the afternoon everything should be clear. Sunshine returns for the afternoon and the start of the weekend. Sunday we see our next chance for rain come into the picture. Jonathan will be with you tomorrow and Friday with the latest. Have a wonderful Spring Sing Weekend!

Record lows?

2009-04-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

A powerful storm system to the northeast and high pressure to the west are causing brisk northwest winds. As we go throughout the night clouds will decrease as high pressure moves east and temperatures drop. We could break a record here in Searcy. The forecast calls for a low of 30 and the record is 29.

Camping under the stars

2009-04-04T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, me and a couple of my friends went camping under the stars. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The moon and stars were clear as day. Orion was particularly visible. Once the sun set though it was chilly. Tonight will be a milder one. Sunday into the next week, overnight lows will be in the 30's.

Rain this weekend

2009-04-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

We had another beautiful day today! Sunny skies and warm temperatures will continue tomorrow. On Sunday rain and much colder temperatures will move into the area. Monday night lows could break a few records. The forecast low is 30 and the record is 29. Have a great weekend!

...Out like a lamb...April showers

2009-04-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

March did indeed go out like a lamb after rain earlier in the day. Today is no different. Another warm Spring day with plenty of sunshine. But tonight it clouds will start rolling in from the west and rain chances will increase after midnight. Some could storms could be severe as an upper area of low pressure tracks across the state tomorrow. Some storms will be capable of producing heavy rain, large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes.
The system will push east by Friday morning. Expect a nice Friday and Saturday. Sunday a cold front moves our way and may bring us another chance for severe weather. Jonathan Lindsay will have the latest for you tomorrow at 5!

Rainy Tuesday

2009-03-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Today was a nice, cool, partly cloudy spring day. However clouds will start to roll in later this afternoon/evening ahead of a cold front back to the west. We may have a chance for a shower or two before midnight, but the bulk of the action will be after midnight. No severe weather is expected. Sunny, dry weather is in store for Wednesday. Thursday another round of storms will fire up along a cold front. The models are unclear about whether we'll see rain on Friday or Saturday. I'm being optimistic and hoping the front moves through faster than expected. In a few days the models should converge toward one forecast and we'll know what the weekend holds for us!

Weekend troubles

2009-03-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today was a such a beautiful day you wouldn't know that severe weather is on the way for tonight.

There is a moderate risk for severe weather in south Arkansas and a slight risk for the remainder of the Natural State. Biggest threat is for hail and damaging winds here in central Arkansas. Another low pressure system is set to move through our area around 6 am in the morning. No severe weather is expected tomorrow. A slight chance for rain is in the forecast for the rest of the day. For Sunday expec a complete turn around. Sunny skies and warmer in the afternoon. Morning temps will be in the mid 30's. More severe weather is on the way for the middle of next week!

Severe Weather Facts-Part 3

2009-03-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today is the final part of my series on severe weather facts. Today I am talking about tornadoes and ways to recieve alerts.

Eighty tornadoes occured in Arkansas last year. Tornados caused 21 deaths and over 200 injuries in 2008. The strongest tornado reported was an EF4 which managed to stay on the ground for over two hours. It broke the record for longest tornado path. Tornadoes are not only a threat in the spring and summer, but also in the fall. In recent yare tornadoes were reported during the early fall months of August and September.

When tornadoes occur, folks often say "The tornado sirens didn't wake me up." The fact is that they are designed to ba an aoutdoor alert only. Sometimes you can hear them inside a building, but that was not their purpose.

That is why every household should own a NOAA weather all hazards radio. The radio can be programmed for specific alerts and for your city or county. It emits an annoying/loud tone that is sure to wake you in the event of a severe weather emergency. They cost about 30 dollars and can be purchased from electronic stores or found on-line. The program code for White County is 145.

Here are some tips to remember when a tornado warning is issued or the sirens sound.

Never seek shelter under an over pass.
If in your car, lay flat in a ditch and cover your head
Always seek shelter in a sturdy building with an inner room absent of windows.
Never seek shelter in mobile homes!

You can find more information on tornadoes or how to program a weather radio by visiting http://www.weather.gov/

A rough road ahead

2009-03-25T13:58:00.001-07:00

It was an eventful night across the region last night. Here in Arkansas high wind gusts were the only severe weather reports of note. Some places in northwest Arkansas saw gusts of gale force or greater. That was round one and it is finished.

Round two will occur later tonight as a system moves in from east Texas. There remains a slight risk for sever weather in the south, but just a rain maker here.

Round three and four occur over the next couple of days. Several upper level systems will move through the area late Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Friday and Saturday could produce some severe weather.

Rainfall totals after we are said and done could be upwards of 2.5 inches. That will cover our rainfall deficit for the month with some to spare.

On the flip side after everything clears out I'm expecting sunny skies again for Sunday!

Itchy eyes, runny nose?...

2009-03-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

If you suffer from allergies, here is a look at the tree pollen count for today: http://www.pollen.com/forecast.asp Mold is also in the moderate category.

Severe Weather Facts-Part 2

2009-03-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

Today continues our week long series on severe weather. Friday I'll spotlight tornadoes and weather radios. All throughout the rest of the semester be watching for stories pertaining to severe weather awareness.

That get's me to todays topic: flash floods.

Flash floods are just one of many types of floods. Flash floods form quickly, usually without warning. They are produced by slow-moving storms or storms that move/train over the same area for extended periods of time. Most flash flooding that occurs in the state of Arkansas occurs overnight. The majority of deaths occur when people try to walk or drive into flood waters. The water may look calm on top, but underneath the current can be strong enough to sweep vehicles away. It only takes two feet of water to make a car float. The National Weather Service has a slogan to encourage people not to drive into flooded areas: "Turn around, don't drown!" If your vehicle does become submerged in rapidly rising water, abandon it immediatly and seek higher ground. To better prepare yourself for the threat of flash flooding, know which places in your area flood quickly. These are usually low-lying areas like ditches and culverts.

Information about this and more can be found at the NWS website www.weather.gov

Severe Weather Update

2009-03-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Last night was an active one for Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. Tornados were reported in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. Otherwise there were numerous reports of hail and strong winds. This line is set to move in later this afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has most of Arkansas at a slight risk for severe weather. I'm expecting heavy downpours and some strong winds. Expect around one inch of rain fall today. By the time the week is said and done, I'm expecting about 5 inches of rain to have fallen across central Arkansas. We'll have to wait and see. Jonathan Lindsay will have the latest tonight at 5!

Heavy rains ahead

2009-03-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

For the month of March we are behind on rainfall by over three inches. That deficit will lessen by the weekend, because of some frontal boundaries that will be moving our way this week. The first is a cold front out in the plains. When it passes through, it will lift back to the north as a warm front. Both systems have the potential for severe weather. The best chance though for tonight and tomorrow is in NWA. We may see a severe t'storm or some damaging wind, but I expect all the bad stuff to stay to the west. It is Friday and Saturday that I am more concerned about, but we'll know for sure once we get closer. Rain totals for the five day period will be over 2.25 inches. We'll make up a little ground on the defecit. Tune in all this week for the latest regarding this round of severe weather.

Severe Weather Facts-Part 1

2009-03-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today is part one of three in which I'll be sharing some facts and safety tips regarding severe weather. Today I'll highlight thunderstorms and lightning. Wednesday will be flash floods and Friday I'll cover tornadoes and severe weather radios.

Here are some facts regarding thunderstorms and lightning:

1800 thunderstorms are active at one time
They produce lightning, flash flooding, damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes
They are considered severe when winds of 58 mph or penny-sized hail is produced
Lightning can occur in any t'storm
In 2008 one lightning related death and three injuries were reported in Arkansas
It strikes outside the area of heavy rain as far as ten miles
Rubber-soled shoes do not protect from lightning strikes
Despite popular belief, heat lightning is not caused by heat. Rather it is a far away thunderstorm that can be seen from far away

Here are some safety tips regarding thunderstorms and lightning:

Know the difference between a watch and a warning. Watches mean conditions are favorable for development and warnings mean a storm is imminent.
If you can hear thunder or see lightning, seek shelter. Use the 30-30 rule. If you can't count to 30 after seeing lightning, you are in danger of being struck
Move to a sturdy shelter... not under a tree, or in a small shed, or in a convertible car
If in the woods seek shelter under shorter trees
Stay off the phone and computer
Stay out of the bathtub or shower
Get off of the golf course
If you feel you skin tingle or hair stand on end, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet and put your hands on your knees. Make yourself as small as you can.

You can find this information and more by visiting the National Weather Service's website at www.weather.gov

Weekend weather update

2009-03-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday was abit cool and with the clouds, it didn't seem much like Spring. I even heard someone say that today(Sunday) was the first day of Spring, eventhough Friday was. Today sure seemed like the first day of Spring characteristic wise.

To start off the week well have mild temperatures in the lower 70's. A cold front developing in the plains will start to move east. It's looking like all the conditiuons are favorable for a severe weather event.

This is a look at the National Strom Prediction Centers assessment of the convective outlook for Monday. There is a moderate risk for Southern Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. Any moderate risk means the strong likelyhood for severe t'storms, hail, and several tornadoes.

What does that mean for us? The line will be moving in a southeasterly direction Monday night into Tuesday. We will see the front push through our area Tuesday afternoon. I'm expecting most of the severe weather to have died down, but there is a slight chance for a severe t'storm or some damaging winds here in central Arkansas. Tune in tomorrow at 5, I'll have the latest.

Severe weather next week

2009-03-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

There is significant upper level energy in the upper levels of the atmosphere. Shear and instability are also high.

These are models of the middle of the atmosphere. There is significant energy moving through the area capable of producing strong thunderstorms. The first one shows Tuesday night and the second shows Wednesday. I'm not ruling out a strong T'storm and some gusty winds, but the bulk of the severe weather will be in Oklahoma, Kansas, and maybe NW Arkansas.

First Day of Spring

2009-03-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Spring is FINALLY here!!! It arrived at 6:44 this morning. Eventhough we are abit cool right now, temperatures will warm and you will start to see more rain in the forecast.

2009 Hurricane Predictions

2009-03-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

March marks the beginning of Spring and the release of hurricane predictions. Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University has released his predictions. Preliminary predictions show a decrease in tropical activity this year, but still above average. Gray calls for 14 named storms, seven of which will be hurricanes. Three of those will be major hurricanes. Also the eastern coast is most likely to see more landfalls than the Gulf Coast. Water temperatures will be cooler in the south Atlantic and high pressure will be positioned just right that trade winds will be out of the east. This will cause storms to move west toward the eastern coast. The hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30.

Clear skies for viewing

2009-03-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

The International Space Station will be visible tonight. At about 7:45 look in the northwest sky directly overhead and you should be able to see the ISS with the space shuttle trailing behind. Skies should be great for viewing with only a few thin clouds likely. Temperatures over the next few days will be feeling more like spring, as were only 4 days away. An upper level system moves through on Thursday bring some rain to the area. The rest of the week looks good.

GSC Tournament forecast

2009-03-04T14:06:00.001-08:00

For all those heading to Southaven tonight, the drive looks good. No rain and temperatures in the 50's. The wind will be brisk, so a light jacket may not hurt. Enjoy the game and GO BISON!

Wet weekend

2009-03-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

Warmer temperatures were seen all across Arkansas today. Tonight temparatures will be in the mid 40's with SSE winds at 10-15mph. So it will feel colder than it actually is. Tomorrow will still be breezy with winds gusting to 25 mph. We will warm-up into the 70's tomorrow and stay there through the weekend. An upper level disturbance is set to bring rain to the state late Saturday. Sunday and Monday will be wet as well. At this time any severe weather will be to the northwest. Stay tuned.

A warming trend

2009-03-02T14:32:00.001-08:00

We've been cold the past couple of days. High pressure is moving in from the southwest. It should get here late tomorrow night and early Wednesday. Winds will shift from northeast to south by Wednesday afternoon. When the winds become southerly, humidity and temperatures will increase. A welcome change!

Weekend recap

2009-03-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Snow in late February? Saturday was proof that any kind of weather is possible in Arkansas, anytime. Some locations to the Northeast received almost a foot of snow. Here though only a blanket of snow covered the ground Saturday night. You can still see the snow that hasn't melted yet in the Northeastern part of the state on this picture of the visible satellite.

Snow chances?

2009-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe it either, but there is a chance for snow tomorrow. The best chance is in the morning. We will receive a dusting at best, with no significant accumulation expected. Temperatures will warm into the 40's and any left over precipitation will turn into rain. Nighttime lows are expected to be in the mid and upper 20's for the weekend. We start to warm-up again by mid-week with rain possible on Thursday.

Operation Weather: Santiago

2009-02-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

Hola! This is a beautiful view of the Andes Mountians in Santiago, Chile. It is appropriate that they are snow capped, because we are expecting some of that white stuff here.
Temperatures in Chile are running in the upper 70's to low 80's. We won't start to see these temperatures until summer here in central Arkansas.

Warmer weather, again?

2009-02-25T14:10:00.000-08:00

Starting to see a pattern yet? Cold, then warm... We seem to have several days of cold and then warm. After which the cycle repeats itself. Spring is on the way!!! This time of year, we start to see warm fronts come out of the south pulling Gulf moisture with it. This warms the atmosphere and causes instability and thunderstorms. This is exactly the pattern we're in for this forecast period. Warm with chances of rain tonight through Friday as a warm front lifts out of the Gulf. Then our next cold front moves through Friday night to cool things off once again. For Thursday the NWS has central and north Arkansas with a slight risk for severe weather. Anything here in White County will be limited to heavy downpours at times with lightning and gusty winds. Average temperatures return to end the weekend and start next week.

Operation Weather: Paris

2009-02-25T14:03:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Paris! This is today's Operation Weather destination. The photo was taken By Steve Shaner. The Eiffel Tower is beautifully illuminated as it is a center piece in Parisian society. Spring is making its presence known in France. Temperatures in the 50's make a jog in the park or walking the dog a pleasant acivity.

Operation Weather: Pisa, Italy

2009-02-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

Today's Operation Weather takes us to Pisa, Italy. If you hadn't guessed already, Pisa is the home to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo By: Melodie Mauney)

Temperatures in Pisa are running in the 50's during the day and in the 40's at night. Not long until we will be experiencing those temperatures!

Warmer weather on the way

2009-02-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, warmer weather is coming back to Arkansas. Along with warmer temperatures will be chances for rain. A few weak disturbances will move through Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday night our next cold front moves through bringing some better chances for rain. The front will move out on Friday with temperatures for the weekend near normal. I'm calling for rain on Saturday, but alot can change in 5 days.

A wonderful Saturday

2009-02-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

After the rain moved out late this morning, sunny skies prevailed and the day turned out to be beautiful. Just a little on the cool side with temperatures in the 40's. Expect another cold night tonight with lows in the mid 20's. Heading to church in the morning, temperatures will be in the 30's. Highs will be in the upper 40's with nighttime lows back in the upper 20's. Rain, as well as a warm up will come our way by mid-week. I'll have details Monday at 5.

Operation Weather: London

2009-02-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Today's Operation Weather destination is London, England. London is the home of "Big Ben", the clock located on the British Parliament building. This beautiful picture was e-mailed to me by Jacob Schroeder, who went to HUE last semester.Temperatures there have moderated to almost a spring-like pattern. While we are in a pattern where we are seeing cold temperatures, with warmer temperatures mixed in, England is experiencing mild days and cool nights. In less than a month we'll be enjoying some of these milder temperatures.

Just rain

2009-02-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

A review of the model runs today confirm my suspicion from last night. This will be an all rain event on Saturday. Extreme NWA may see a flurry or two, but even that is looking doubtful. The rest of the weekend looks dry. Temperatures will cool down again. Highs will be in the 50's and lows will be in the 20's. A warm up looks to be coming for Wednesday, along with our next chance for some showers Wednesday night.

Let is snow??

2009-02-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

Last night I said we might have a stab at some snow flurries on Saturday. Now its looking like any energy that could produce snow would stay to the northwest. By the time any energy would reach us the atmosphere would be dry. Below is a look at the 500mb chart. It measures upper level winds and shows possible storm energy. Mix that with any available moisture and you've got some kind of precipitation. And if temperatures are cold, that precipitation will be snow.

Above is a look at the vater vapor model in the atmosphere between the lower and middle trophosphere. It shows available moisture in the atmosphere. Saturday night when the energy looks to be closest, the front and the moisture will have pushed through. Snow is unlikely! It looks to be all rain. Sunday looks good. Still cool with highs in the 40's near 50. Next week we'll see more rain as Spring is looming and this is usually the start of the rainy season here in the Natural State.

Operation Weather: Sydney

2009-02-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

Today I'll be highlighting Sydney, Australia. My friend Jacob Schroeder went a year ago and was gracious enough to share some pictures with me. This is the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge at sunset. What a beautiful sight!

Sydney has just started the day on Thursday. Temps are already in the 70's with a few clouds that will be moving off shore by the afternoon. It is much warmer there! Highs are in the mid 70's and upper 80's, while lows are in the 50's. Unfortunately, we won't see temperatures like this until summer.

Windy weather update

2009-02-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

Winds are continuing to gust to around 30mph. The NWS has extended the Lake Wind Advisory this afternoon until 4. Winds will die down after dark, but will pick up again tomorrow.

Snow on the way??

2009-02-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

A beautiful day is ahead of us, after storms last night. No hail reports in White county. Only one report of hail in the state and that was in Benton County in NWA. A cold front is moving east today. No rain is expected with this system. Just some brisk winds, the NWS has issued a Lake Wind Advisory until 1pm. Temps will be back near freezing tonight, but will start to rebound for Friday. Friday night another stronger cold front will move south out of Canada. This colder air will bring a chance for snow Friday night and Saturday morning. As we get closer to Friday, I will have a good estimate for you on how much snow may fall. right now preliminary indications are flurries with little to no accumulation. Tune in at 5 for the latest.

iTunes U

2009-02-17T18:09:00.000-08:00

TV16 "Live @ 5" newscasts are now on-line. You can access it via www.harding.edu. Follow the link "Friends and Alumni" to iTunes U. Now you can see the forecast, as well as the days local and national news. Enjoy!

Severe T'storms?

2009-02-17T18:06:00.000-08:00

Light drizzle continues at the 8pm hour. We have had a light drizzle pretty much all day. Temperatures will get warmer throughout the night as a warm front is moving north and east. Humidity will continue to be high tonight and tomorrow. Low pressure moving across the central plains will bring us thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow. The National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has put southern and eastern Arkansas into a slight risk for severe weather. Strong thunderstorms producing hail is the main threat. The best chance for severe action is to the south, as strong storms have prompted a severe thunderstorm watch there. As the storms nove northeast I expect to see a sever thunderstorm watch posted for White County. Thursday things will calm down and temperatures will be back around average. We will dry off and warm up again for the weekend! Stay tuned to the blog for any updates.

Operation Weather: Florence

2009-02-16T14:21:00.001-08:00

This is the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It is one of the many sites students in the HUF program will visit as they journey through Italy.

(Photo by: Steve Shaner)

The weather there is much like ours. Cool and breezy during the day and cold at night. They are in store for some rain as well later in the week.

Operation Weather

2009-02-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

Students each semester come back from studies abroad with more pictures than they know what to do with. We are going to try to bring a new picture from each International campus every night during weather on Live at 5. I'll also feature it in the blog. Our first highlight will be from Florence, Italy. If you have pictures or know of someone who does, I'd like to put them on the air. Send pictures to sgoodale@harding.edu. Be sure to tell me which campus they are from, what the picture is of, and the way to pronounce any troublesome words. Thanks!~SHG

Rain ahead

2009-02-16T14:05:00.001-08:00

A warming trend will continue through Wednesday. Highs may break 70 on Wednesday. Tuesday night an upper level disturbance out of Texas will bring us chances for rain. Then on Wednesday a surface level low and weak cold front moves across the central plains from California, increasing chances for storms all day Wednesday. No severe weather is expected and we will start to dry out on Thursday. Temps will be cool on Thursday, much like today with plenty of sunshine.

A derary day

2009-02-15T21:14:00.000-08:00

After a nice relaxing weekend in Fayetteville, I'm glad to be back in Searcy. It was a dreary day here in White County with mostly cloudy skies and fog. Highs were in the mid 40's. Tonight will be the coldest night we've seen in the past few weeks, with a forecast low of 28 and clear skies. Temps will be on the rebound through Wednesday. Wednesday night the next cold front will move through the area bringing 40's back for highs and 30's for lows. For Presidant's Day expect high temperatures around 50 with abundant sunshine.

Blogging from Northwest Arkansas

2009-02-14T20:23:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day from Fayetteville! It was a beautiful day, eventhough it was a little cooler than Searcy has been the past couple of days. We're expecting rain here tonight. I'm expecting a few hit-or-miss showers in White County tonight as a weak disturbance moves east. You will start to feel cooler temperatures tonight and into Monday. The low Sunday night will be around 28. Highs will be in the 50's for the upcoming week. I'll be back in Searcy tomorrow night. We could see some stormy weather toward midweek! I'll have the latest regarding these storms on Monday at 5pm.

Sneezing, runny nose...Sound like you?

2009-02-13T13:43:00.000-08:00

Allergies are starting to become a problem again. They usually do this time of year. I thought I'd share the allergy forecast provided by pollen.com and weather.com. Tree pollen and mold spores are the biggest nuisance at this time. Click on the links for more information!

A sweet looking Valentines Day

2009-02-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day look great. No rain, just breezy and abit cool. If you have travel plans this weekend, state wide travel looks good. Tonight you may run into a stray shower of two north of I-40, but othrewise it all looks great. Down to the south is a different story. Heavy rain and storms will reduce visibility on roadways.

When this cold front passes through, temps will drop once again. Highs will be in the 50's and lows will be in the 30's. Sunday night the forecast low is 27. Were not out of the woods yet, but were close. Happy Valentine's Day!!

Spring is on its way

2009-02-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Check out the new countdown widget. I personally can't wait for spring to arrive. The trees and grass will be green again. Temperatures will be warm enough that the jackets can go back into storage until November.~SHG

Calmer weather ahead

2009-02-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

The wind is much calmer today. We are quite abit colder than we have been the past couple of days. Temperatures are closer to normal. Lows this morning fell just below freezing. With the exception of Friday, the weekend looks very nice. Friday a weak cold front will move through, bringing chances for rain in the evening. Temperatures will drop, but nothing drastic. Valentines Day looks good with plenty of sunshine and highs in the low 50's.

An impressive past few days

2009-02-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

The past few days have been quite eventful. Last night was the most eventful of all. We were lucky in the state of Arkansas to not have had any tornado reports. There were plenty of warnings throughout the night, but no touchdowns. The main problems in Arkansas were hail and wind. There were two hail reports in Northwest Arkansas, one in Crawford and one in Sebastian County. All across Northwest and North Central Arkansas there were numerous wind reports, with winds in excess of 60mph. White County recieved no damage reports. Rainfall totals were impressive though. Since midnight about .5in of rain fell, bringing the 3 day total to about 1.5in. This recent rain puts us above average for rainfall in February.
We will have a short dry spell tomorrow. The winds will shift becoming southeasterly at about 5mph. The Wind Advisory posted for today will expire at 6pm. Friday a weak cold front moves through and drives up rain chances. No severe weather with this system! The weekend looks dry, but cooler. Temperatures for the next five days will be closer to average. Highs will be in the 50's and lows will be in the upper 30's and 40's.

Severe Weather Update

2009-02-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Doppler Radar is colorful tonight, as we're watching for severe weather.

Thunderstorms are moving northeast, as the front is moving east. These squalls are capable of producing damaging winds and tornadoes. There remains in effect a tornado watch until 5am. A watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Also a Wind Advisory is in effect until 6pm. Storms are capable of producing winds of over 50mph. I expect several other watches and warnings to be posted throughout the night as storms continue to trek east. I'll be posting throughout the day and as the situation warrants. Tune in at 5pm for a complete breakdown and a look at the weekend forecast.

A warm welcome

2009-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

I want to welcome Jonathan Lindsay to the TV 16 weather staff for this semester. You can catch him every Tuesday and Thursday. I'm happy to be working with him this semester!
Welcome Jonathan!!!

Severe Weather

2009-02-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Today, expect heavy downpours at times with strong wind gusts. Conditions will continue to deteriorate today. The best chance for severe weather for White County is going to be tomorrow afternoon and evening. Damaging winds will be the biggest concern, but a tornado can't be ruled out. Jonathan Lindsay will have more to say about the severe weather today at 5pm. I will try to update the blog as it becomes necessary.
Also for your convienence I've added severe weather alerts to the right side of the screen. This will show any active tornado, thunderstorm, or flood alerts.

New widgets

2009-02-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for our first severe weather outbreak of 2009, I've added a better radar picture from the Weather Channel. This one shows animation and you can zoom in to street level or out to the continental US. Also I added the same satelite/radar combo picture that we use at TV 16. It shows whats happening on the national front as well as closer to home. Enjoy the new widgets.

Significant 500mb energy

2009-02-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

It's going to be extremely windy today, with non-storm gusts of up to 45mph. Making damaging wind a real possibility in any areas that thunderstorms do occur.

A low pressure system is moving east and is bringing rain to the western part of the state as we speak. I've been closely studying the 500mb charts. 500mb is the middle of the atmosphere. There is a significant amount of energy moving east and will get here on Wednesday. This energy will drive up our chances for severe weather. It will provide fast moving thunderstorms and could even produce rotating clouds. These would be the most likely to produce hail and tornadoes.
In short, the wind continues to be a nuisance. A Lake Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6pm. Late Tuesday and Wednesday, another round of storms moves our way. The best chance for severe weather looks to be on Wednesday.

NWS State Radar

2009-02-08T19:33:00.001-08:00

I've installed the NWS Radar widget to the blog so you can see exactly what the skies look like as you're reading. It should be interesting to watch it tomorrow through Wednesday. Enjoy!

Only in Arkansas!

2009-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

This weekend we've enjoyed spring-like temperatures after an epic ice storm just over a week ago. Now we're talking about severe weather this week. I guess that's Arkansas weather at it's best.

I've been studying the models from the National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK. They have changed yet again, but are becoming more accurate the closer we get to Monday. For Monday it looks like any rain we see will be late. The better chances foir rain will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Conditions look favorable for sqaull line development in the afternoon on Tuesday and on into Wednesday. Our main problem here in White County will be lightning and strong winds. But it looks like an isolated tornado and/or hail can't be totally ruled out of the forecast. We are still experiencing strong winds. A Lake Wind Advisory remains in effect until 6pm tomorrow. Any storms we see tomorrow could have strong wind gusts. We'll have more to say about the strong winds and severe weather on the show tomorrow. It's our first live show of the semester. I'm excited about it!! Be sure to tune in at 5pm! And if you miss it, it re-airs at 10pm.

Records, anyone?

2009-02-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

While it was quite a bit warmer today than average, we did not break a record at the airport. We came close though. The record is 77 degrees set back in 1937. Our high today was 71. Temperatures will remain in the upper 60's and low 70's through mid-week. The wind is still brisk out of the southwest today. The NWS reissued a Lake Wind Advisory until 6pm. It looks like the majority of the rain chances for Sunday night through Tuesday will be produced by upper level disturbances. The problem becomes Wednesday as a cold front comes in from the north. This will mix with upper level instability and strong winds aloft and at the surface to produce the potential for severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds, heavy rain, and lightning will be the main problems Wednesday. Monday is our first live show of the semester. Toon in for the latest!

Burn Bans

2009-02-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

As of January 24, seventeen Arkansas counties are under burn bans, with White County being one of them. Since then 5 more have been added, bringing the total to 22 counties. Faulkner County was added to the list yesterday. Dead brush from the ice storm, strong winds, and low humidity are key ingredients for a high fire risk. Numerous fires have burned hundreds of acres already. Monday will be our next significant chance for rain fall. I think we'll get enough rain that the burn ban should be lifted.~Stephen

Lots to talk about!

2009-02-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of run throughs before we go live on Monday. Nevertheless, there is lots to talk about. First, the wind. We are sandwiched between high pressure to the east and low pressure to the west. This is setting up a wind tunnel for gulf moisture to pump into the region. This will keep our temperatures comfortable for the time being. Second, temperatures this weekend will feel like spring time temperatures. Highs will be in the 60's and 70's with the lows in the 40's and 50's. Finally, there is a looking like a pretty good chance for severe thunderstorms on Monday. Damaging wind and lightning will be the main problem. I'll have more details in future posts and when we go live Monday!

Down the pike

2009-02-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

Temperatures are just now reaching the freezing mark. And they won't dip below freezing for several days. YAY!! We will however start to see our winds pick up today. As high pressure moves east and our next system moves in from the west the gradient will tighten, meaning stronger winds. There is also rain in the forecast late Saturday and into Sunday. The main system will rear its ugly head on Monday. I am starting to become a bit concerned that there may be a chance for some severe thunderstorms on Monday. Damaging wind is the biggest concern. We go live Monday and as always we'll have the latest on Live at Five. Tune in!

The Good and the bad

2009-02-04T20:45:00.001-08:00

The good news is that tonight is the last night for below freezing temperatures for the next couple of days. We will be cold again tomorrow night, but still above freezing. Highs will be in the middle 50's and low 60's. Lows will be will enough above freezing this weekend that you may only need a light jacket. Thats the good news. The bad news is that there will be a slight chance of rain this weekend. High pressure will start to move east out of Arkansas on Friday allowing room for our next system to make its way into the natural state. What does that means for us in White County? It means a slight chance for showers late Saturday and Sunday. Then on Monday significant chances of rain as our next cold front comes through. As of now no severe weather with this system, but we'll be watching closely for any to develop.

Frigid Night Ahead

2009-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

A cold front is moving south out of Missouri this morning. We will start to feel the effects this evening into tonight as it settles in. A stiff North wind will provide colder temperatures than we've seen the past copuple of nights. Lows tonight will be in the mid to upper teens as opposed to the middle and upper 20's. And it looks like there is no precipitation associated with this system. By late Wednesday the front will weaken and high pressure will move in behind it. This will allow temperatures to warm back into the 50's during the day and to stay above freezing at night. A welcome change!

6 more weeks!

2009-02-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

It's an annual tradition held every February 2. All the citizens of Punxsutawney, PA gather to greet Phil, the groundhog. Same as last year, Phil saw his shadow. Which means 6 more weeks of winter. For us here in Arkansas, Spring can't come soon enough. With many northern residents trying to recover after a historic ice storm, they need all the help they can get. No more ice storms in the forecast for White County in the near future, just more cold temperatures!

This blows my mind!

2009-01-31T14:54:00.000-08:00

Watch this diusturbing YouTube clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvQ0pwzskus

This is an actual meteorologist. His last known job was in Grand Junction, Colorado. He proviously worked in Charlotte, NC and Dallas, TX. The question I still cant get my mind around is where did they find this guy? I'm wondering if he held back in his audition tapes and then when he got the job just quit caring about what he said? I mean in many of the clips he barely talks about the weather. He's just inappropriate, PERIOD!!! I would never ever do something like that on-air!