Despite an intensifying storm over the middle of the U.S. that will bring a wide range of inclement spring weather from the Rockies to the East Coast through the weekend, the First Coast will remain in a benign but downright beautiful weather pattern. Temps. will slowly warm but humidity will remain tolerable though you'll notice it being a bit more muggy by late Sat. & especially Sun. A few showers & storms will occur Sun. but widespread rainfall looks unlikely anytime soon.
The storm over the middle of the U.S. will be a prolific snow-producer in the high Plains...& major severe storm-"maker" to its east from Oklahoma to the Great Lakes. Tornadoes already have occurred from Oklahoma to Iowa. Check out this strongly worded statement from the Tulsa N.W.S. Thu. evening: SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
847 PM CDT THU MAY 1 2008
OKC113-117-020230-
/O.CON.KTSA.TO.W.0059.000000T0000Z-080502T0230Z/
OSAGE OK-PAWNEE OK-
847 PM CDT THU MAY 1 2008
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 930 PM CDT FOR PAWNEE AND WESTERN OSAGE COUNTIES...
AT 843 PM CDT...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM SPOTTERS CONTINUED TO TRACK A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS TORNADIC STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES EAST OF RALSTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. A LARGE TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY!
SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...SHIDLER AND PAWHUSKA.
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! IF NO UNDERGROUND SHELTER IS AVAILABLE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABANDONED FOR MORE SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. AVOID WINDOWS!
And check out this storm spotter report:
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
839 PM CDT THU MAY 01 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 PM TORNADO 2 SE RALSTON 36.48N 96.71W
05/01/2008 OSAGE OK STORM CHASER
100 YARD WIDE MULTI VORTEX TORNADO. HAS BEEN 2 TORNADOES
ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME.
Take part in next week's Nat. Teacher Appreciation Week (one of the toughest jobs in America!). This from the Nat. Education Assoc.:
This year, to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-10, 2008) and National Teacher Day (Tuesday, May 6, 2008), the Parent Teacher Association and the National Education Association are honoring teachers with a very special public tribute: the Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card Project.
To date, the project has collected thousands of thank-you cards from celebrities, notable public figures and individuals from across the country. Our goal is to continue collecting cards to create a monumental display of thanks to teachers.
Please show your support by encouraging your audiences to take part in this one-of-a-kind project. Participating is easy. Simply log on and send a free e-card or video message. You can also mail a thank-you card to:
Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card
c/o NEA/PTA
P.O. Box 66458
Washington, DC 20035
From "Earth Gauge"......May is Asthma Awareness Month!
The Environmental Protection Agency has designated May as Asthma Awareness Month, with May 6th being World Asthma Day, an event sponsored by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Pollen and air pollution, particularly ground level ozone, are important outdoor triggers of asthma symptoms. In the United States, an estimated 22 million people, including 6.5 million children, have asthma. Each year, asthma attacks in the United States result in:
two million emergency room visits;
sixteen billion dollars worth of lost productivity and health care costs; and
thirteen million missed school days.
Because pollen counts are at or nearing their peak in most areas, and because we're entering peak ground level ozone season, this is a great time to give viewers simple tips to help them reduce their exposure to potential asthma triggers. Dry and windy days are usually the worst for pollen counts, and changes in weather conditions, especially abrupt changes, can trigger asthma symptoms. Because most pollens are released in the morning, susceptible individuals should avoid outdoor activities between 5:00 and 10:00 AM. Outdoor activities should also be avoided when ground level ozone concentrations and particulate pollution levels are high. Encourage your viewers to stay informed by watching pollen and air quality reports from local media. Before heading outside, they can also visit this site to check on local air quality, and here to view local pollen counts. Remaining in a clean, indoor, air-conditioned environment where filters remove most pollutants and pollens is recommended for asthmatics on days when conditions are conducive to asthma symptoms.
For more information on Asthma Awareness Month, including a list of events near you, click here.
Information on Asthma Awareness Day can be accessed here.
Additional information about allergies and asthma can be found at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
