WEATHER BY THE NUMBERS--Friday Edition

* 87 was the high at the Fort Worth Nature Center yesterday afternoon

* 36 was the temperature at Fort Worth at 11 am

* 92 was the USA high Thursday at Bouquillas Ranger Station in Big Bend National Park

* 800+ standing room only was the number of people at the 33/40 Storm Alert event at the Ritz Theater in Talladega last night

* 55 below zero was the wind chill in McDonald Pass, Montana this morning

* 34 below zero was one of the coldest temperatures in the USA this morning at Seeley Lake, Montana

* 6 is the number of hours I have been studying the weather today and the forecast is still going to be difficult

* 12 is the number of toys Little Miss Molly had scattered all over the floor when I got up. I stepped on a squeaky toy and thought I had awakened the entire household.

* 2,350 is how many miles long the Mississippi River is. It is the nation's mightiest river and it drains an area as far away as Montana. Lot's of the water in Montana comes down the Milk, Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers to join the mighty Mississippi.
Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:09 pm
Just a question. Actually, a repeated one that I didn't get an answer for yet. What time do all the models come out? Just wondering when the next update will be, model wise that is. And Rusty, where are you? I love your explanations and to hear your input on these situations.

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Posted by J.B. Elliott  
on February 17, 2006, 12:15 pm
Heather...
Models come out 4X per 24 hours...basic time is 6AM 12 NOON 6PM AND MIDNIGHT CST. However it is usually 2 or 3 hours after those times when they are available

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:20 pm
Thank you JB. Have fun entertaining Miss Molly with the weather this weekend :) I know it will be interesting here. Honestly, we are waiting for a good snow, as we have a husky. Thought about hooking him and his sister up for sled rides...hehe. Not going to happen here though.

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Posted by   www
on February 17, 2006, 12:10 pm
Wished I could have made it to the Ritz! Hope you enjoyed Talladega....

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Posted by Craig  
on February 17, 2006, 12:13 pm
Does anyone if the National Weather Service uses different criteria to define storms based on what region of the country they are in? For example, I know a "Heavy snow warning" means a lot for us in the south where 3 inches really is "heavy." But what about up north where life goes on as normal unless there is 18" plus? ANy ideas?

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Posted by J.B. Elliott  
on February 17, 2006, 12:18 pm
Craig...
S+ Warnings vary from region to region. The criteria is much lower down here than some place like Buffalo, Chicago, Green Bay, Boston, etc.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:22 pm
JB - You forget to put in the number of cups of coffee for today. I've had 2.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:26 pm
Rachel...
Sure did forget. It is 7, about one cup ahead of schedule...

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:23 pm
Hey JB did you see my comment to you? and wanted to know if you see anything wrong with what I plan to do.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:39 pm
Michael...
I have no authority to set the policy on the blog. However, I don't see why brief entries would be a problem. In a situation like this, present temperarture and type of precip the two main items. We have all the dew points, pressures, etc that we can digest.

Last weekend, during the snow, someone was posting his lengthly current conditions several times per hour and posting them in the comment blog on every single subject. That is way too much and causes people to have to wade through too much data.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:42 pm
How confident are you guys in being able to pinpoint
where the 32 degree freezing line will be?


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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 12:59 pm
Thanks JB All I was going to do is temperature and precip. I knew you would have dewpoint and pressure and wind speed.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 1:00 pm
I have gone up and down between 50 and 48 since 11am, and from 7-11 this morning, it was 50 degrees. The cold air is taking a while to get here.

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Posted by CJ  
on February 17, 2006, 1:08 pm
Michael Mills, and J.B

Kenny had posted his conditions ONLY ONCE at the TOP of every hour, I don't know why they blocked his IP address but JB even used his readings in his own post as well, but then they kicked him off. ???


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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 1:08 pm
Mr. Elliott,

I have a concert to go to in Birmingham Sat. Night. I live in Alexandria; I was wondering how the travel might be it starts a 7pm. until around 11pm. Thanks

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 1:50 pm
Michael,

In response to an earlier post made by you, no one is "taking sides" here. Just giving our opinion. Yes, Kenny got kicked off, for reasons I don't know, but possibly for repetitive postings made by him or someone using his name.

I do not want to see the same thing happen to you.
Every hour is a bit much especially for an area where we probably won't see much action.

Kenny's web site is pretty awesome by the way - for a kid who is only 15 and has his sights set on a dream as fiercely as he does, I think that is pretty amazing!

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 2:09 pm
Thanks Stephanie I did wonder why he was not on. That is why I ask JB if it would be ok to do it and he told me how to do it. Do you think you could e-mail me the link to his site I would like to see it?

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 2:18 pm
I sent it to ya.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 2:09 pm
My husband and I are driving to Gatlinburg late this afternoon. We'll be leaving about 5:00. Will we encounter dangerous driving conditions and bad weather on the way or is most of this weather not supposed to begin until later? Please let me know. Thanks!!! This post section is very helpful.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 3:58 pm
Courtney...
Sorry, I did not see your question earlier. In Gatlinburg tonight an occasional mix of light snow/light sleet with little or no accumulation. For Saturday, a mix of rain, freezing rain, snow...possibility of 1 to 4 inch snow accumulations at some point Saturday and Saturday night...high Saturday 32, low Saturday night about 18

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Posted by CJ  
on February 17, 2006, 2:15 pm
Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 2:20 pm
Thanks C J I just found it it is pretty cool

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 4:02 pm
Brandon...your trip may be marginal. I suggest that you hold off until Saturday and see how conditions develop (if you can wait that long)

Since it is an evening event it may be a close call on the type of precipitation

I'm pulling for you!

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 4:08 pm
C.J. ...
I do not have the capability to ban anyone from the blog. I believe the possibly reasons that Kenny was temporarily cut off was that he posted the hourly material to so many blog entries.

I am sure this is temporary.

I understand that Kenny and you are classmates at Clay Chalkville and that both of you love weather. That is great and I encourage both of you to keep up the interest. It is a wholesome hobby and a very interesting career if you decide to go that way.

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Posted by  
on February 17, 2006, 8:46 pm
I for one was tired of seeing the hourly posts. It is a bit to much. It takes up to much space and is irritating to say the least. Lets keep it to a minimum

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