(file photo – today is sunny and 48) Hey, yesterday, Feb 5, was National Weatherperson’s Day! (I meant to post this yesterday, but didn’t get it done.) Thank a weatherperson for his or her public service. The date commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, a Boston physician and one of America’s first weathermen. He was …
In the Heart of Tornado Alley
Last Wednesday evening I drove to Wichita to a book launch at Watermark Books. “Kansas – in the Heart of Tornado Alley.” It’s a book of photos about Kansas’ tornadic history. From the Introduction: “The connection between the tornado and Kansas is as much about image and reputation as hard statistics.” While talking about …
November Wind
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: NOVEMBER WIND The wind was so strong that I expected to see a few stripes being yanked from Old Glory and watch them whip away into the atmosphere. Stretched to its limit, a flag held onto a residential pole for dear life as raging gusts …
Storm clouds gather
At 5 p.m., the storm clouds were building beyond the Emporia Farmers’ Market. The rain started about 6, followed almost immediately by small hail, followed immediately by this brief rainbow. Hail? This is October. But it’s also still short-sleeve shirt weather. It’s been in the 70s and 80s all month. I like that in an …
Reading in transition
Drove through Reading a few weeks back. Most of the tornado damage was cleaned up, houses bulldozed, trees trimmed, but there were still a few big things to go. The Reading Methodist Church where many residents took refuge that night – May 21. The Tightwad Bank building still stands. Currently it is operating out of …
After the Storm
Today’s Flyover People column as seen in The Emporia Gazette: (File photo – taken in 2007) AFTER THE STORM Residents of Reading are now part of a group that no one joins willingly, the tornado-survivor’s club. Reading is one of Emporia’s sibling cities. Holding down K-170, this Lyon County town is part of our extended …
It’s spring…
… it’s late April. Why am I still wearing sweatshirts and jackets? Spring is always all over the place. And that’s the topic of my radio commentary today on Kansas Public Radio this morning. I should be on at 6:35 a.m. and 8:35 a.m. If you care to listen live, here’s the link to Kansas …
Hail, Spring is Here
Today’s Flyover People column can be seen in The Emporia Gazette: HAIL, SPRING IS HERE Spring is exactly like that Longfellow poem: “There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very good indeed, but when she was bad she was …
Round ice cubes…
…falling from the sky tonight. Ping-pong ball-sized hail. The storm was noisy, but thankfully brief.
65 degrees
On Thursday when I headed for Williamsburg for lunch, the thermometer in my car registered 65 degrees at 10:47 a.m. Nice. And, I love having a thermometer in the car. It’s one of my favorite features. That and the fact that the driver’s seat goes up and down. In my case, up.
The sound of snow melting
I don’t know if you can read the electronic bank sign, but it says 57 degrees F. And yep, after four dancing days of temperatures above freezing, that 14″ snowfall (on top of the prior week’s 7″ of snow) is nearly gone. Now my brother, who lives on the dark side of the world, reported …