Stormy days ahead

Take a look at how colorful the weather map is today with plenty of watches, advisories and warnings.

In the west it's for snow across the higher mountains in the central and southern Rockies. East of the mountains the threat is for near hurricane force winds and high fire danger from west Texas to the plains of western and central North Dakota.

Severe thunderstorms are expected to develop later today across the southern and central plains states. There is the threat for strong and damaging tornadoes in a few areas. Sadly, this threat will roll east over the next few days.

Another threat is for extremely heavy rain totals in the Ozarks and nearby areas. Some long range models show 5 to 10 inches during the week ahead with a bullseye across western Arkansas.

Flash flood emergency in Louisiana

An isolated pocket of extremely heavy rain has fallen across a portion of south-central Louisiana over the past 36 hours, causing life-threatening flash flooding.

Here is the latest.

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT


NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA

1157 AM CDT MON MAR 12 2012




...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN ST.


MARTIN...NORTHEASTERN ACADIA...NORTHERN LAFAYETTE AND SOUTHERN ST.

LANDRY PARISHES UNTIL 530 PM CDT...



...A FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR NORTHERN LAFAYETTE AND SOUTHERN ST.

LANDRY PARISHES...



RAINFALL AMOUNTS BETWEEN 10 AND 15 INCHES HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED ACROSS

THE WARNED AREA AND ADDITIONAL RAINS CONTINUE TO FALL.



AT 1155 AM...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT REPORTED FLOODING WITH NUMEROUS ROADS AND HOMES FLOODED.

IN ADDITION SEVERAL HIGH WATER RESCUES ARE UNDERWAY. THIS IS A RARE

EVENT AND MAY CAUSE SOME LOCATIONS LIKE BAYOU VERMILION AT CARENCRO

TO REACH RECORD FLOODING. MANY ROADS ARE CLOSED AND YOU SHOULD NOT

TRAVEL IN THIS AREA TODAY.

Historic storm slams Hawaii

Hawaii has not exactly been the tropical paradise it's known for over the past several days.

A rare tornado with very large hail struck Lanikai and Enchanted Lakes. See the public information statement for the National Weather Service below.

Hail was up to 3 inches in diameter, something very rare for this part of the world.

...EF-0 TORNADO STRIKES LANIKAI AND ENCHANTED LAKES...

BACKGROUND...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN HONOLULU DISPATCHED A
DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM TO INVESTIGATE A STRING OF WIND RELATED DAMAGE
FROM THE ENCHANTED LAKES AREA OF KAILUA TO LANIKAI ON THE ISLAND
OF OAHU. THE SURVEY TEAM INSPECTED THE WIND RELATED DAMAGE AND
INTERVIEWED HOMEOWNERS AND OTHER EYEWITNESSES AND SOUGHT TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE DAMAGE WAS RELATED TO A TORNADO OR STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS.

FINDINGS...
EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS...PHOTO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE...AND DAMAGE
PATTERNS INDICATED THAT A WATERSPOUT VERY LIKELY MOVED ASHORE IN
LANIKAI AND TRAVELED INLAND BEFORE DISSIPATING IN THE ENCHANTED
LAKES SUBDIVISIONH. UPON MOVING ASHORE...THE WATERSPOUT BECOMES
CLASSIFIED AS A TORNADO. THUS...THE DAMAGE SURVEY TEAM HAS
DETERMINED A TORNADO FORMED AND TRACKED BETWEEN LANIKAI AND
ENCHANTED LAKES. THE CIRCULATION VERY LIKELY LIFTED AND THEN
RETURNED TO THE SURFACE AS IT TRAVERSED AN AREA OF HIGHER TERRAIN
BETWEEN LANIKAI AND THE ENCHANTED LAKES AREA...AND PERHAPS LATER
IN THE ENCHANTED LAKES SUBDIVISION.

TORNADO STATISTICS...
STRENGTH...EF-0 WITH WIND SPEEDS OF 60-70 MPH
AVERAGE WIDTH...20 YARDS
PATH LENGTH...1.5 MILES

The region also experienced several days of VERY heavy rain, with some locations 

recording as much as 45 inches!!!

Below is the public information statement on the heavy rain event.

...TORRENTIAL RAINS SLAM HAWAII IN THE PAST WEEK...

A SLOW MOVING FRONT BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN TO MOST ISLANDS THE PAST 
WEEK...AS IT INTERACTED WITH SEVERAL DISTURBANCES ALOFT. THE 
FOLLOWING REPRESENTS 7-DAY RAINFALL TOTALS...FROM 11 AM FRIDAY MARCH 
2 THROUGH 11 AM FRIDAY MARCH 9. 

THESE PRELIMINARY TOTALS WERE CALCULATED USING PROVISIONAL REPORTS
FROM AUTOMATED RAIN GAGES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN QUALITY CONTROLLED.

LOCATION                                      AMOUNT

KAUAI
/HNIH1/ HANALEI                                45.97
/WNHH1/ WAINIHA POWER HOUSE                    43.84
/KPIH1/ KAPAHI                                 32.66
/WLLH1/ MOUNT WAIALEALE RAINGAGE               31.32
/WLDH1/ WAILUA DITCH - USGS                    28.23
/KLOH1/ KILOHANA RG - USGS                     26.88
/WUHH1/ WAILUA UH EXP STN                      24.17
/ANHH1/ ANAHOLA                                20.53
/LIHH1/ LIHUE VRTY STATION                     20.49
/MLDH1/ MOLOAA DAIRY                           16.72
/PHLI / LIHUE AIRPORT                          13.59
/KOKH1/ KOKEE                                   7.58
/PRIH1/ PRINCEVILLE AIRPORT                     6.49
/WLGH1/ WAIALAE RG - USGS                       6.40
/MCRH1/ MOHIHI CROSSING - USGS                  6.17
/WKRH1/ WAIAKOALI - USGS                        5.90
/OMAH1/ OMAO                                    5.57
/MKAH1/ MAKAHA RIDGE                            3.20
/POPH1/ PUU OPAE                                3.17
/HNPH1/ HANAPEPE                                2.39
/PAKH1/ PORT ALLEN AIRPORT                      2.36
/PLRH1/ PUU LUA                                 2.09
/WHGH1/ WAIMEA HEIGHTS                          1.67
/PHBK / BARKING SANDS ASOS                      1.46

OAHU
/OFRH1/ OAHU FOREST NWR                        39.65
/MOGH1/ MOANALUA - USGS - USGS                 36.42
/PNSH1/ PUNALUU STREAM - USGS                  31.46
/WITH1/ WILSON TUNNEL                          25.05
/LULH1/ LULUKU                                 22.25
/KNRH1/ KAHANA STREAM RAIN GAGE - USGS         21.17
/NUUH1/ NUUANU UPPER                           20.99
/PTWH1/ PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER         20.47
/WPPH1/ WAIHEE PUMP                            19.49
/AHUH1/ AHUIMANU LOOP                          18.75
/MAUH1/ MAUNAWILI                              15.03
/WMLH1/ WAIMANALO NONOKIO                      13.71
/NIUH1/ NIU VALLEY                             13.14
/STVH1/ ST. STEPHENS SEMINARY                  13.00
/PUNH1/ PUNALUU PUMP                           12.18
/WHSH1/ WAIAHOLE STREAM - USGS                 11.63
/OFSH1/ OLOMANA FIRE STATION                   10.83
/HAKH1/ HAKIPUU MAUKA                          10.09
/PFSH1/ PALOLO FIRE STATION                    10.02
/KMHH1/ KAMEHAME                                9.28
/KTAH1/ KAHUKU TRAINING AREA                    9.10
/HAJH1/ HAWAII KAI GOLF COURSE                  9.09
/PACH1/ PALISADES                               8.68
/WAWH1/ WAIAWA CORR FACILITY                    8.54
/KFWH1/ KII                                     8.04
/MKHH1/ MAKAHA STREAM - USGS                    7.64
/POAH1/ POAMOHO EXP FARM                        7.13
/MITH1/ MILILANI                                6.08
/WNVH1/ WAIANAE VALLEY                          5.82
/BELH1/ BELLOWS AIR FORCE STATION               5.68
/ALOH1/ ALOHA TOWER                             5.67
/SCSH1/ SCHOFIELD SOUTH                         5.07
/PHNL / HONOLULU AIRPORT                        4.54
/WWFH1/ WAIAWA                                  4.49
/PHNG / KANEOHE MARINE BASE                     4.48
/HOFH1/ HONOULIULI                              4.47
/PLHH1/ PALEHUA                                 4.46
/PHHI / WHEELER ARMY AIR FIELD                  4.34
/SCBH1/ SCHOFIELD BARRACKS                      4.33
/PECH1/ WAIPIO HEIGHTS                          4.18
/KAHH1/ KAHUKU                                  3.79
/KUNH1/ KUNIA SUBSTATION                        3.78
/PHJR / KALAELOA AIRPORT                        3.34
/LUAH1/ LUALUALEI                               3.11
/WAIH1/ WAIANAE KAWIWI                          3.07
/KKRH1/ KUAOKALA                                2.54
/WBHH1/ WAIANAE BOAT HARBOR                     0.93

MOLOKAI
/MKPH1/ MAKAPULAPAI                             5.37
/KMLH1/ KAMALO                                  2.90
/HMK  / MOLOKAI AIRPORT                         2.74
/KACH1/ KAUNAKAKAI MAUKA                        2.71

KAHOOLAWE
/KLLH1/ KEALIALALO                              2.38
/HKIH1/ HAKIOAWA                                2.31
/HKAH1/ HONOKANAIA                              1.49

MAUI
/PKKH1/ PUU KUKUI - USGS                       16.70
/AIKH1/ HAIKU                                   4.23
/MABH1/ MAHINAHINA CAMP                         4.23
/KBSH1/ KULA BRANCH STN                         3.94
/KPGH1/ KAUPO GAP                               3.90
/WCCH1/ WAIKAPU                                 3.65
/ULUH1/ ULUPALAKUA RANCH                        3.43
/PUKH1/ PUKALANI                                2.63
/HOG  / KAHULUI AIRPORT                         2.34
/KPNH1/ KEPUNI - USGS                           1.82
/LAHH1/ LAHAINALUNA                             1.31
/KHIH1/ KIHEI NO. 2                             1.23

HAWAII
/HTO  / HILO AIRPORT                            5.97
/KWSH1/ KAWAINUI STREAM - USGS                  5.68
/PIIH1/ PIIHONUA                                5.65
/WKAH1/ WAIAKEA-UKA                             4.90
/PHAH1/ PAHOA BEACON                            4.87
/GLNH1/ GLENWOOD                                4.60
/KMOH1/ KEALAKOMO                               4.20
/WEXH1/ WAIAKEA EXP STN                         4.01
/PLIH1/ PALI 2                                  3.37
/SDQH1/ SADDLE ROAD QUARRY - USGS               3.34
/PPLH1/ PAHALA                                  2.98
/KAYH1/ KAPAPALA RANCH                          2.37
/LPHH1/ LAUPAHOEHOE P.D.                        2.23
/HKUH1/ HAKALAU                                 1.87
/KMUH1/ KAMUELA                                 1.83
/KKUH1/ KEAUMO                                  1.59
/KUUH1/ KAMUELA UPPER                           1.29
/PWWH1/ PUU WAAWAA                              1.25
/AHMH1/ AHUMOA                                  1.16
 

Snow and ice in Hawaii

This is something you don't see everyday ... a Winter Weather Advisory issued for the higher elevations on the Big Island of Hawaii.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
306 AM HST SUN MAR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE BIG ISLAND SUMMITS...

HIZ028-050115-
/O.CON.PHFO.WW.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-120305T0400Z/
BIG ISLAND SUMMITS-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA KEA ABOVE 8000 FEET
306 AM HST SUN MAR 4 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS
EVENING.

* LOCATIONS...BIG ISLAND SUMMITS.

* HAZARD TYPES...PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN AND LIGHT SNOW.

* TIMING...THROUGH 6 PM HST THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS LEADING TO POSSIBLE ROAD
  CLOSURES

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW...SLEET...OR
FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR
SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

Severe weather outbreak again

Wow, what a historical time in our nation for severe weather, as more killer tornadoes strike the center of the country.

I was out of town on a quick birthday vacation and missed a lot of the coverage, but what little computer access I had, the weather dominated the headlines.

What continues to amaze me is that with all the media hype over the weather, and all the outlets for getting information, that we continue to see multiple deaths after these outbreaks.

Are the people just naive and think the storm won't hit them?  Is it just simply their time?  So many unanswered questions.

There is another potentially deadly outbreak taking shape for Friday and it appears that it will have a target somewhere in the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys.