FLASH FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 300 PM CST TUE NOV 7 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMAL...GILLESPIE...MEDINA...GONZALES...KENDALL...WILSON... REAL...BASTROP...BLANCO...TRAVIS...KERR...BEXAR...HAYS... LAVACA...DEWITT...BURNET...WILLIAMSON...ATASCOSA...BANDERA... LEE...LLANO...GUADALUPE...FRIO...UVALDE...CALDWELL...FAYETTE AND KARNES THE METROPOLITAN AREAS OF AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO ARE INCLUDED IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH AREA.

It rained hard last night but I was still able to get by the low water crossing this morning and make it in to Austin.

more bad news for you.... FLASH FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 448 AM CST WED NOV 8 2000 THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMAL...MEDINA...GONZALES...KENDALL...WILSON... BASTROP...BLANCO...TRAVIS...BEXAR...HAYS... LAVACA...DEWITT...BURNET...WILLIAMSON...ATASCOSA... LEE...GUADALUPE...FRIO.... CALDWELL...FAYETTE AND KARNES THIS WATCH COVERS MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE EASTERN HILL COUNTRY AND INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AUSTIN...SAN ANTONIO...HONDO AND LA GRANGE. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS TEXAS TODAY. AHEAD OF IT...WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE WITH A MIX OF SLEET ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY. THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH WHILE THE STORM SYSTEM SHIFTS EAST AT 30 MPH. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE WATCH AREA IS POSSIBLE TODAY. SOILS REMAIN FULLY SATURATED FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING... SO FLASH FLOODING RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE. IN MANY PORTIONS OF THE WATCH AREA...IT MAY TAKE AN INCH OR LESS OF RAINFALL IN AN HOURS TIME TO PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. SEVERAL RIVERS IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS REMAIN SWOLLEN...AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINS WILL LIKELY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL RIVER FLOODING. A BRIEF BREAK IN THE RAINS IS EXPECTED MONDAY AND TUESDAY. HOWEVER... ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL THREATEN TO BRING ANOTHER POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAIN EVENT ON WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY.

Our entire island-county of Hawaii has been declared a disaster area, so at least we will see some federal funds (and the bureaucrats who come with them) to help rebuild our infrastructure. It takes hours to just get from one side of Hilo to the other!

Storm damage in Hilo: Where I was standing was under water just a few hours previous to taking this photo. This is the baseball field. What those brown things are in the grass are huge boulders washed over? under? the chain link fence in the outfield.

Why are the images so bad? The first one was taken at midday. It WAS that dark!!! That is a drop of about 8 feet (2.4 M). Fortunately, just when the water is at house entry level it crosses the road and flows into drainage over there. The second picture was a foggy lens of which the photographer was unaware. What you cannot see is the chain-link fencing to the right. Mashed flat on the ground by the force of the water. Amazing!!!

Winter (whatever that is) has hit California: *** STATE WEATHER WARNINGS *** CAZ017...019-121700- SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO VALLEY-CARQUINEZ STRAIT AND DELTA- NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY- ...FROST ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING... TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL DROP INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MIDDLE 30S ACROSS THE REGION. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT OR BELOW FREEZING FOR SEVERAL HOURS LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING FOR MOST OF THE AREA. PLANTS THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO FROST SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND ACCOMMODATIONS MADE FOR PETS. TEMPERATURES SHOULD WARM ABOVE FREEZING BY 8 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED * TORNADO WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN TEXAS... BASTROP COUNTY FAYETTE COUNTY * UNTIL 210 PM CST * AT 107 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG SIGNS THAT A TORNADO IS DEVELOPING 7 MILES WEST OF ROSANKY...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BASTROP...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. * THE TORNADO PRODUCING STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE... 2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BASTROP AT 130 PM CST OVER CIRCLE D-KC ESTATES AT 145 PM CST

...TORNADO WARNING FOR CALDWELL COUNTY UNTIL 200 PM... ...TORNADO WARNING FOR BASTROP AND FAYETTE COUNTIES UNTIL 210 PM... AT 124 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NIEDERWALD...OR 7 MILES EAST OF LOCKHART...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* AT 218 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG ROTATION THAT MAY PRODUCE A TORNADO AT ANY TIME 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ROSANKY...OR ABOUT 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SMITHVILLE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. A SECOND THUNDERSTORM WITH A POSSIBLE TORNADO WAS LOCATED OVER BASTROP...MOVING IN THE SAME SPEED AND DIRECTION.

...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT TIL 3 PM CST FOR FAYETTE COUNTY... ...A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT TIL 330 PM CST FOR HAYS COUNTY... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 7 PM CST... DOPPLER RADAR WAS INDICATING TORNADOES OVER HAYS AND FAYETTE COUNTIES AT 250 PM CST. OVER HAYS COUNTY...THE TORNADO WAS BETWEEN SAN MARCOS AND WIMBERLEY...ABOUT 10 MILES WEST OF SAN MARCOS...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PERSONS IN SAN MARCOS NEED TO BE ALERT AND READY TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY AS THE TORNADO WILL BE IN THE SAN MARCOS VICINITY IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TORNADOES WERE INDICATED JUST NORTHEAST OF CISTERN AND IN THE WINCHESTER WARDA AREAS OF FAYETTE COUNTY. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE IN THESE AREAS.

Please Texas, Take cover and report back when you can!

Ther alerts are coming in as fast as I can post them ...TORNADO WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR GONZALES...LAVACA...FAYETTE AND CALDWELL COUNTIES TIL 4 PM CST... ...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 7 PM CST... DOPPLER RADAR WAS INDICATING TORNADIC STORMS JUST SOUTH OF LA GRANGE IN FAYETTE COUNTY AND BETWEEN SHINER AND MOULTON OVER LAVACA COUNTY AT 330 PM CST. ALSO A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN LOCKHART AND MENDOZA IN CALDWELL COUNTY APPEARS TO HAVE SOME ROTATION. THESE STORMS APPEAR TO BE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. A WALL CLOUD HAS JUST BEEN REPORTED TO THE WEATHER OFFICE JUST SOUTH OF LAGRANGE AT 325 PM CST. IF YOU ARE IN THESE AREAS....TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY..

342 PM CST SUN NOV 12 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A * TORNADO WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN TEXAS... BASTROP COUNTY * UNTIL 445 PM CST * AT 342 PM CST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG SIGNS THAT A TORNADO IS DEVELOPING 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CEDAR CREEK...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF LOCKHART...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. * THE TORNADO PRODUCING STORM IS EXPECTED TO BE... 7 MILES SOUTH OF CEDAR CREEK AT 350 PM CST 5 MILES NORTH OF ROSANKY AT 410 PM CST 7 MILES SOUTH OF BASTROP AT 415 PM CST OVER SMITHVILLE AT 430 PM CST IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...SEEK SHELTER IN A NEARBY REINFORCED BUILDING. AS A LAST RESORT...SEEK SHELTER IN A CULVERT...DITCH OR LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI 930 AM HST TUE NOV 14 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 PM HST FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... ON HAWAII...ALL AREAS A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING. FLOODING IS NOT IMMINENT... BUT PERSONS ON HAWAII SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS NOW TO PROTECT PROPERTY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF HEAVY RAIN IS OBSERVED OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. MOISTURE MOVING INTO THE BIG ISLAND FROM THE EAST IS COMBINING WITH AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE DUE TO COLDER AIR ALOFT TO PRODUCE HEAVY SHOWERS. THESE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE OVER THE NORTH AND EAST PORTIONS OF HAWAII...AND AFTERNOON HEATING COULD SET OFF LOCALLY HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER OTHER SECTIONS OF THE BIG ISLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUS THE WATCH AREA INCLUDES THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF HAWAII.

Move over, Mt Waialeale, we gotta be the wettest place on earth. I never saw rain this hard for this long...

Three more flood warnings have come in in the last few moments. Check the loop for the weather patterns; http://www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/UnitedStates/Southwest/Hawaii/Hilo/BaseReflectivityLoop/

WINTER WEATHER WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI 1115 PM HST WED NOV 15 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 AM HST THURSDAY FOR THE SUMMITS AND UPPER SLOPES OF MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THAT WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS... INCLUDING BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES...SNOW...SLEET AND STRONG WINDS...ARE POSSIBLE...BUT NOT IMMIMENT ATOP MAUNA KEA AND MAUNA LOA. PERSONS ATOP THESE SUMMITS SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS IN PREPARATION FOR THE ONSET OF HAZARDOUS WINTERLIKE CONDITIONS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HONOLULU HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1000 AM HST THURSDAY FOR PERSONS IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... IN NORTH AND EAST HAWAII A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND FLASH FLOODING. FLOODING IS NOT IMMINENT... BUT PERSONS ON NORTH AND EAST HAWAII SHOULD TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS NOW TO PROTECT PROPERTY AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF HEAVY RAIN IS OBSERVED OR A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED. HEAVY RAINS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ON NORTH AND EAST HAWAII... ESPECIALLY IN THE HILO AND PUNA DISTRICTS. SOME STREAMS ARE REPORTED HIGH AND SOME OVER THEIR BANKS AND SOME ROADS ARE REPORTED WITH WATER OVER THE ROAD SURFACES. SATELLITE AND RADAR INDICATE THAT MORE HEAVY SHOWERS ARE MOVING INTO THE BIG ISLAND FROM THE EAST AND WILL BRING HEAVY SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS TO THAT AREA OVERNIGHT. WITH THE GROUND ALREADY SATURATED...AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL WILL LIKELY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING CONDITIONS.

Hope you're staying as dry as possible. The boulders on the baseball field along with the flattened chain link fence do not make a reassuring picture.

Yup, I am fine and joining those wondering what do do about removing all those huge boulders on the outfield without tearing up the turf. Meanwhile for someone I care deeply about: URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 335 PM EST SAT NOV 18 2000 ...ACCUMULATING SNOW LIKELY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS... .ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL STREAM NORTH FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM. SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST FROM THE GULF COAST TO THE GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS BY SUNDAY. THESE WEATHER FEATURES WILL COMBINE WITH THE UNSEASONABLY COLD AIRMASS CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO CAUSE SNOW TO FALL TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR THE MEDIA FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WINTER WEATHER SITUATION. GAZ010-017-NCZ051053-058-059-062065-SCZ001003-190321- CORRECTED BUNCOMBE NC-GRAHAM NC-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-HABERSHAM GA- HAYWOOD NC-HENDERSON NC-MACON NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC- OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-RABUN GA- SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SWAIN NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLAYTON GA...CLARKESVILLE GA... CHEROKEE NC...WAYNESVILLE NC...ASHEVILLE NC...SYLVA NC... FRANKLIN NC...BREVARD NC...HENDERSONVILLE NC 335 PM EST SAT NOV 18 2000 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY... SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY...SNOW MAY MIX WITH RAIN AT TIMES IN SOME SOUTHERN VALLEYS. AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE BY DAYBREAK...WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. The Almighty is gonna get tired of hearing for me as winter progresses.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC 959 PM EST SAT NOV 18 2000 ...ACCUMULATING SNOW LIKELY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS... .UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A STRONG UPPER LEVEL JET STREAM...ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL STREAM NORTH FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO OVERNIGHT AND SUNDAY. SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NORTHEAST FROM THE GULF COAST TO THE GEORGIA COASTAL WATERS BY SUNDAY. THESE WEATHER FEATURES WILL COMBINE WITH THE UNSEASONABLY COLD AIRMASS CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO CAUSE SNOW TO FALL LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS WINTER WEATHER SITUATION. GAZ010-017-NCZ051053-058-059-062065-SCZ001003-190936- BUNCOMBE NC-GRAHAM NC-GREENVILLE MOUNTAINS SC-HABERSHAM GA- HAYWOOD NC-HENDERSON NC-MACON NC-NORTHERN JACKSON NC- OCONEE MOUNTAINS SC-PICKENS MOUNTAINS SC-RABUN GA- SOUTHERN JACKSON NC-SWAIN NC-TRANSYLVANIA NC- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CLAYTON GA...CLARKESVILLE GA... CHEROKEE NC...WAYNESVILLE NC...ASHEVILLE NC...SYLVA NC... FRANKLIN NC...BREVARD NC...HENDERSONVILLE NC 959 PM EST SAT NOV 18 2000 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH SUNDAY... SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY...SNOW MAY MIX WITH RAIN AT TIMES IN SOME SOUTHERN VALLEYS. AN INCH OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE BY DAYBREAK...WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 354 PM CST WED NOV 22 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH EFFECTIVE FOR THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THURSDAY EVENING FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS GONZALES...BASTROP...TRAVIS...HAYS...LAVACA...DEWITT... WILLIAMSON...LEE...CALDWELL AND FAYETTE A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA. PEOPLE IN THE WATCH AREA ARE ADVISED TO CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS...KEEP INFORMED...AND BE READY FOR QUICK ACTION IF FLASH FLOODING THREATENS. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL WEATHER SYSTEM WILL INTERACT WITH A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW TO TRIGGER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY THURSDAY. A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP WHICH COULD PRODUCE RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. WITH SOILS STILL SATURATED FROM PREVIOUS RAINS...THE RAINFALL WILL RUN OFF CAUSING FLOODING OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND SMALL STREAMS. THE WEATHER SYSTEM WILL TRACK ACROSS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT. LIGHT RAIN AND CONTINUE BREEZY WEATHER ARE IN STORE FOR FRIDAY.

Despite the threat of floods, Happy Thanksgiving to Austin... FLASH FLOOD WATCH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 358 AM CST THU NOV 23 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMAL...GONZALES...WILSON...BASTROP...TRAVIS...BEXAR... HAYS...LAVACA...DEWITT...WILLIAMSON...ATASCOSA...LEE... GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...FAYETTE AND KARNES THE WATCH COVERS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 35...THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF AUSTIN...SAN ANTONIO AND LA GRANGE. LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING THIS AFTERNOON. A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS TEXAS LATER TODAY...TRIGGERING THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 4 INCHES IN STRONGER STORMS.

...TORNADO WARNING FOR DIMMIT AND ZAVALA COUNTIES EXPIRED AT 930 PM CST... ...TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 1 AM CST FRIDAY FOR PARTS CENTRAL TEXAS AND EAST PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS... ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR FRIO COUNTY UNTIL 10 PM... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR TRAVIS...WILLIAMSON...BASTROP... CALDWELL AND GUADALUPE COUNTIES UNTIL MIDNIGHT... ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR HAYS...COMAL...BEXAR AND MEDINA COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 PM... TORNADO WARNING FOR DIMMIT AND ZAVALA COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TRAVIS...WILLIAMSON... BASTROP...CALDWELL...GUADALUPE...HAYS...COMAL...BEXAR AND MEDINA COUNTIES. IN THESE COUNTIES...HEAVY RAIN...SOME HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY LIGHTNING THE NEXT FEW HOURS WILL CAUSE SOME FLOODING AT LOW WATER CROSSINGS. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CST FOR LLANO...BURNET... WILLIAMSON...LEE...GILLESPIE...BLANCO...KENDALL...TRAVIS...BASTROP... FAYETTE...COMAL...HAYS...GUADALUPE...CALDWELL...GONZALES... AND LAVACA COUNTIES. THIS INCLUDES THE AUSTIN METRO AREA. OCCASIONAL RAIN WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THE NEXT FEW HOURS OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...PLUS THE HILL COUNTRY THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE...AND ISOLATED TORNADOES COULD FORM. STRONG GUSTY WINDS...FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...SOME HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS. SOME FLOODING AT LOW WATER CROSSINGS OR OTHER LOW LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE WHERE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN FALLS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES THROUGH TONIGHT OVER SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS ALONG AND EAST OF I35. ON FRIDAY...A WINDY DAY IS EXPECTED...WITH DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE 60S AND NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH...DIMINISHING LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON TO FRIDAY EVENING.

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 925 PM CST THU NOV 23 2000 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... BASTROP COUNTY (Terry and Geo's instigator are both in Bastrop county) TRAVIS COUNTY WILLIAMSON COUNTY GUADALUPE COUNTY CALDWELL COUNTY * UNTIL 1200 AM CST * AT 925 PM CST...WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICTED BANDS OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM LAGO VISTA TO GEORGETOWN AND FROM SEGUIN TO NEAR BASTROP MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. SOME THUNDERSTORMS WERE PRODUCING HOURLY RAINFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. THESE RAINS WILL PRODUCE FLOODING OF URBAN AREAS...LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND SMALL STREAMS. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. LAT...LON 2962 9814 2957 9783 3008 9730 3067 9744 3083 9785 3033 9798 2998 9768

Wow, and it's such a nice pleasant day today. That front's done gone I think.

Thank goodness! It has been a pretty bad couple of weeks for you guys!!! Thanks for checking in!

well, parts of texas, arkansas, louisiana, and oklahoma are in for some nasty weather. we're currently under a winter storm watch and the temp here has dropped 20 degrees since i went to work this morning! (it's 40)

Hmmmmmm... wonder why my weather alerts are not arriving? Bad weather??? Take care you guys!!!

we're currently under a winter storm watch Ha! We've been in the winter storm all day and it doesn't show any signs of easing up. How many times can one shovel in a given day? :-(

our ice and snow is supposed to arrive late this afternoon and tonight....

We're waiting for a big ice storm, I'm going to check the http://www.kvue.com site for Doppler radar to see when it will hit. I just bought 20 gallons of reserve spring water, just in case the well goes out due to power outages.

thankfully our power lines are buried! but, we have lost power before. it's early for us to have weather like this!! thanks for the link to doppler radar.

The ice storm is subsiding, at least for now, but the branches are hanging low around Austin.

yeah, we were sent home from work. lots and lots of tree limbs down and now the sun is coming out. but, a low of 28 overnight so those roads are gonna freeze. be careful out there, esp. those not used to this type of weather!!

It's bright and sunny outside now! What a change.

Happy me and envious, too. Sam old same old here. Looks and feels like June!

Anyone want to help me flock the lawn???

You're doing this?

No, I didn't but had flapole garlanded illuminated with tiny lights!!! URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 423 PM CST TUE DEC 26 2000 BANDERA-BASTROP-BEXAR-BLANCO-BURNET-CALDWELL-COMAL-EDWARDS-GILLESPIE- GUADALUPE-HAYS-KENDALL-KERR-KINNEY-LEE-LLANO-MEDINA-REAL-TRAVIS- UVALDE-VAL VERDE-WILLIAMSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AUSTIN...BANDERA...BASTROP...BOERNE... BRACKETTVILLE...BURNET...DEL RIO...FREDERICKSBURG...GEORGETOWN... GIDDINGS...HONDO...JOHNSON CITY...KERRVILLE...LEAKEY...LLANO... LOCKHART...NEW BRAUNFELS...ROCKSPRINGS...SAN ANTONIO...SAN MARCOS... SEGUIN...UVALDE ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS FOR TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. THE ADVISORY AREA IS ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF A DEL RIO TO SAN ANTONIO TO GIDDINGS LINE. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR LIGHT WINTER-TYPE PRECIPITATION TO OCCUR. IN THIS INSTANCE...THE BEST CHANCE IS FOR A MIX OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. PERSONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA SHOULD CHECK PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS AT ONCE...REMAIN INFORMED OF THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND ADVISORY...AND BE PREPARED TO SAFEGUARD LIFE AND PROPERTY IF WINTER WEATHER IS OBSERVED. NOW IS THE TIME FOR ADVANCE PLANNING...TONIGHT OR WEDNESDAY COULD BE TOO LATE. COLD ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO INFILTRATE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AS SURFACE LOW PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE UPPER TEXAS COAST. MUCH OF THE AVAILABLE MOISTURE HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA IN ADVANCE OF THE SURFACE LOW. HOWEVER...SOME MOISTURE REMAINS. THE COLD AIR AND REMAINING MOISTURE WILL COMBINE WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO PRODUCE A MIX OF LIGHT RAIN...FREEZING RAIN... SLEET AND SLOW. MINOR ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE AND SNOW ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. THE ICE AND SNOW WILL ACCUMULATE MAINLY ON EXPOSED SURFACES SUCH AS TREES AND POWER LINES...AND BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BULLETINS...OR CONTACT THE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION CONCERNING YOUR LOCALE. WEATHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS BY TUNING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTING ON FREQUENCIES RANGING BETWEEN 162.400 AND 162.550 MHZ. THE INTERNET ADDRESS FOR TEXAS WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IS HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV. TEXAS ROAD INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 1-800-452-9292. WEATHER INFORMATION IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS MAY BE OBTAINED BY DIALING 830-609-2029 OR 830- 606-3617.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...UPDATE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 945 PM CST TUE DEC 26 2000 BANDERA-BASTROP-BEXAR-BLANCO-BURNET-CALDWELL-COMAL-EDWARDS-GILLESPIE- GUADALUPE-HAYS-KENDALL-KERR-KINNEY-LEE-LLANO-MEDINA-REAL-TRAVIS- UVALDE-VAL VERDE-WILLIAMSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AUSTIN...BANDERA...BASTROP...BOERNE... BRACKETTVILLE...BURNET...DEL RIO...FREDERICKSBURG...GEORGETOWN... GIDDINGS...HONDO...JOHNSON CITY...KERRVILLE...LEAKEY...LLANO... LOCKHART...NEW BRAUNFELS...ROCKSPRINGS...SAN ANTONIO...SAN MARCOS... SEGUIN...UVALDE ...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...BANDERA...BASTROP...BEXAR... BLANCO...BURNET...CALDWELL...COMAL...EDWARDS...GILLESPIE... GUADALUPE...HAYS...KENDALL...KERR...KINNEY...LEE...LLANO...MEDINA... REAL...TRAVIS...UVALDE...VAL VERDE...WILLIAMSON... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR LIGHT WINTER-TYPE PRECIPITATION TO OCCUR. IN THIS INSTANCE...THE BEST CHANCE IS FOR A MIX OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. DRIVING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT COUNTIES ALONG THE ESCARPMENT ARE DANGEROUS AND TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED. ACCUMULATION OF SLEET...ICE AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER HILL COUNTRY ROAD TONIGHT AND INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. COLD ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO MOVES INTO AND ACROSS THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS AS A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTERED OVER LUBBOCK TEXAS MOVES SLOWLY NORTHEAST. THE COLD ARCTIC AIR MOVING OVER THE REGION WILL INTERACT WITH THE MOISTURE FROM THE GULF TO PRODUCE LIGHT RAIN MIXED WITH FREEZING RAIN...SLEET AND SNOW. PERSONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA SHOULD CHECK WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS. REMAIN INFORMED OF THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST AND ADVISORY...AND BE PREPARED TO SAFEGUARD LIFE AND PROPERTY. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT...CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS SHOULD MONITOR FORECASTS AND BULLETINS. WEATHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS BY TUNING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTING ON FREQUENCIES RANGING BETWEEN 162.400 AND 162.550 MHZ. THE INTERNET ADDRESS FOR TEXAS WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IS HTTP://WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV. TEXAS ROAD INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 1-800-452-9292. WEATHER INFORMATION IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS MAY BE OBTAINED BY DIALING 830-609-2029 OR 830- 606-3617. ADVERSE WINTER WEATHER EXTENDS INTO NORTH AND WEST TEXAS. MOTORISTS AND TRAVELERS SHOULD CHECK WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE INTO THESE AREAS OF THE STATE. TRAVEL AND HIGHWAY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HAZARDOUS DUE TO ICE AND SNOW ACCUMULATION. IN ADDITION...AIRLINE TRAVEL MAY BE DELAYED OR INTERRUPTED AT SOME AIR TERMINALS AND MAJOR HUBS...SO BE SURE TO CHECK BEFOREHAND WITH YOUR AIRLINE OR TRAVEL AGENT. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED PERIODICALLY TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THE VERY LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION WILL BE BROADCAST OVER LOCAL RADIO...TV...CABLE TV STATIONS AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO. LISTEN FOR THESE BROADCASTS...AND HEED THEIR ADVICE!

Yep, I went to the hockey game last night (Ice Bats won) and saw impending signs of a freeze on the roads as I traversed the back roads to Cedar Creek from the Expo Center. It will be interesting to see what the roads are like in the morning.

Ice Bats?!!! URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 445 AM CST WED DEC 27 2000 BANDERA-BASTROP-BEXAR-BLANCO-BURNET-CALDWELL-COMAL-EDWARDS-GILLESPIE- GUADALUPE-HAYS-KENDALL-KERR-KINNEY-LEE-LLANO-MEDINA-REAL-TRAVIS- UVALDE-VAL VERDE-WILLIAMSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AUSTIN...BANDERA...BASTROP...BOERNE... BRACKETTVILLE...BURNET...DEL RIO...FREDERICKSBURG...GEORGETOWN... GIDDINGS...HONDO...JOHNSON CITY...KERRVILLE...LEAKEY...LLANO... LOCKHART...NEW BRAUNFELS...ROCKSPRINGS...SAN ANTONIO...SAN MARCOS... SEGUIN...UVALDE ...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS TODAY... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES TODAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...BANDERA...BASTROP...BEXAR...BLANCO...BURNET...CALDWELL... COMAL...EDWARDS...GILLESPIE...GUADALUPE...HAYS...KENDALL...KERR... KINNEY...LEE...LLANO...MEDINA...REAL...TRAVIS...UVALDE... VAL VERDE...AND WILLIAMSON. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR LIGHT WINTER-TYPE PRECIPITATION TO OCCUR IN THE COLD WEATHER TODAY. IN THIS INSTANCE...THE BEST CHANCE IS FOR A MIX OF RAIN OR LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WITH SLEET AND SNOW FOR TODAY. IN ADDITION...DAYTIME HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 30S ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY TO 40S OVER THE WARMEST PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS...SOME 20 TO 25 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. FINALLY...COLD NORTHWEST WIND AT 10 TO 20 MPH TODAY WILL KEEP THE WIND CHILL INDEX BETWEEN 5 AND 30. AS A RESULT... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL CONTINUE TODAY. DRIVING CONDITIONS ACROSS THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT COUNTIES ALONG THE ESCARPMENT COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DANGEROUS. TRAVEL WILL BE MORE HAZARDOUS THAN USUAL. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MOSTLY LIGHT. A MIX OF SLEET...FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS POSSIBLE OVER NORTHERN PARTS OF THE ADVISORY AREA...WHILE MOSTLY A MIX OF RAIN OR FREEZING RAIN WITH SLEET AND A FEW SNOW FLURRIES...IS POSSIBLE OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ADVISORY AREA. MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM JUST NORTH OF DEL RIO TO JUST NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO TO NEAR THE AUSTIN AREA TO TAYLOR IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY...LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET...ICE AND SNOW COULD FORM ON ELEVATED ROADS...BRIDGES AND OVERPASSESES...WHERE TEMPERATURES BE BELOW FREEZING PART OF THIS MORNING. FROM DEL RIO TO SAN ANTONIO TO BASTROP AND GIDDINGS IN LEE COUNTRY...PATCHY ACCUMULATIONS OF SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN...MIXED WITH RAIN...COULD FORM ON BRIDGES...OVERPASSES AND EXPOSED OBJECTS. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL CLOSE TO OR REMAIN SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING...THEN RISE SLIGHTLY LATER THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING OVER NORTHERN PARTS OF THE ADVISORY AREA BY LATE MORNING TO NOON. OVER SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE ADVISORY AREA...TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR TO SLIGTLY ABOVE FREEZING...THEN RISE BY LATE MORNING. DRIER CONDITIONS WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE ADVISORY AREA LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...DIMINISHING AND FINALLY ENDING THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE EXPECTED NEAR TO BELOW FREEZING TONIGHT...THEN RISING TO MOSTLY 50S THURSDAY...UNDER SUNNY SKIES.

945 AM CST WED DEC 27 2000 ...THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT AREAS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS IS CANCELLED... VERY LITTLE PRECIPITATION IS CURRENTLY BEING REPORTED ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY AND SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. AN UPPER LOW CURRENTLY OVER WESTERN TEXAS WILL PRODUCE A FEW RAIN...SLEET OR SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE AREA AS IT MOVES THROUGH TEXAS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. HOWEVER...AMOUNTS WILL BE VERY LIGHT AND NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS ACROSS THE AREA.

More Travel Chaos Expected As UK Freeze Goes On Thursday, Dec. 28, 2000 LONDON (Reuters) - Bitterly cold and icy weather is expected to cause more travel chaos on Friday as Britain endures its worst winter for six years. Police and motoring organizations told Britons to stay at home unless their travel was necessary. They warned that driving conditions would remain treacherous with black ice on many roads after overnight temperatures plummeted to minus 14F. The Meteorological Office said the arctic conditions would continue throughout Friday, with the maximum temperature expected to be just 2C 36F. A spokesman for AA Roadwatch said its message to drivers had been "try and enjoy the rest of Christmas and don't go out unless it's absolutely necessary." Heavy snowfall of up to 6 inches fell across most of the UK on Thursday causing severe disruption to air travel with flights in and out of many airports canceled. The Met Office said it was the most widespread snowfall to hit the country since February 1994. More snow showers are forecast for coastal regions on Friday with another very cold night in store and a severe frost in places. The freezing weather was set to continue over the weekend, the Met Office said.

I wonder if Mike is in the UK or US? (Mike Griggs). Who else on Spring is in the UK? I wonder how Aishling Hall and Ann Whittle are doing? I hope they're ok!

And it's New Year's Eve and NW Louisiana has snow!!

I heard that on the way home from a New Years eve party. My friend Mickey said he wished he were in Shreveport.

we got about 2 inches. the roads are pretty good now but earlier today, it was rather slick out. we usually don't get snow until late jan/feb!

Shreveport' sgame was amazing. Wish I could have made snow angels all over the field. Talk about a boring half time show... It was lovely to watch, but I was rooting for the team who almost won...*sigh*

Sorry that your team didn't win, Marcia. Too bad the half time show didn't feature people making snow angels on the field. On the subject of college football, I'm sorry that Penn State had such a dismal season. Maybe next year, Marcia?

Thanks! Yup! Wait'll next year, as they say!!! I like that idea for half time - would have been seasonal and pretty, too!

In front of a Chinese restaurant just outside of Pittsburgh some of the employees made snow pandas, instead of snowmen. They even colored some of the snow black so that the life-size giant pandas looked very life-like. People would stop and take pictures of, or have their pictures taken with the snow pandas, while they lasted.

How cute!!! I love that idea! Next snowfall we get I'm gonna do that, too!

California where there is now power and plenty of cold: LOCAL STORM REPORT...ADDITIONAL REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA 1030 AM PST THU JAN 11 2001 TIME(PST) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS... ....COUNTY LOCATION.... 0700 AM AGNEW PASS 9450' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MARIPOSA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 39 INCHES 0700 AM MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MADERA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 30-36 INCHES 0700 AM UPPER BURNT CORRAL 9700' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MADERA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 33 INCHES 0700 AM OSTRANDER LAKE 8200' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MARIPOSA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 20 INCHES 0700 AM HUME LAKE CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 FRESNO 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 17 INCHES 0700 AM GIN FLAT 7050' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MARIPOSA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 16 INCHES 0700 AM TUOLUMNE MEADOWS CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 YOSEMITE NAT'L PARK 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 22 INCHES 0700 AM BIG MEADOWS 7600' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 22 INCHES 0700 AM TUNNEL GUARD STATION 8950' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 20 INCHES 0700 AM CHAGOOPA PLATEAU 10300' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 20 INCHES 0700 AM MITCHELL MEADOW 10375' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 20 INCHES 0700 AM BENCH MEADOWS 7650' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 17 INCHES 0700 AM QUAKING ASPEN 7200' CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 TULARE 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 12 INCHES 0700 AM FISH CAMP CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 MARIPOSA 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 12 INCHES 0800 AM TEHACHAPI CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 KERN 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 6 INCHES 0900 AM FRAZIER PARK CA HEAVY SNOW 01/11/01 KERN 24 HOUR TOTAL OF 9 INCHES

Coral Reef Exposes Worst El Ninos Ever Are Now WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An ancient coral reef in Papua New Guinea has let scientists check up on the history of El Nino and suggest the weather pattern, blamed for droughts, floods and storms, has never been stronger than it is now. Other experts said their findings show that El Nino, which can disrupt weather around the world, is probably unpredictable and affected by subtle changes in climate -- bad news for people trying to forecast El Nino influences. The international team of scientists was able to track El Nino going back 130,000 years by reading annual bands in the fossilized coral much like scientists read the annual bands in sawn-off tree trunks. Coral reef terraces in the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea lie in the north coast of the island in an area particularly affected by the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a pattern of weather and currents named after the Christ child by Pacific fishermen who noticed it around Christmas time. Corals are small animals that build themselves a hard skeleton and live in colonies that eventually form reefs. As they slowly grow, they build into their skeletons a record of the current sea surface temperature and salinity. Geological forces are pushing the ancient coral upwards to where it can be seen and sampled. "This situation makes it possible to sample corals which grew during periods when climatic boundary conditions were substantially different to those today," the researchers wrote in their paper, published on Friday in the journal Science. They traced oxygen isotopes in the coral. Isotopes, or chemical variants, can be detected using special equipment. "The samples indicated that El Nino was never more intense than the events of the last hundred years," David Lea, a professor of geological sciences at the University of California Santa Barbara who helped write the study, said in a statement. "Over the last 100 years we have very accurate records of El Nino, with 1982-83 and 1997-98 being the largest events on record." Lea said global warming may be to blame but this is not certain from his team's study. "Of course, everyone wants to know if the intensity of these large events is somehow related to global warming. Our data suggest that the behavior of the tropical Pacific over the last 100 years is atypical, but it does not pinpoint which factors modulate El Nino," he said. But Julia Cole of the University of Arizona, who studies El Nino and ancient climate patterns, said the study fits in with other studies that show background climate change -- whether caused by people or other forces -- can affect El Nino. "Their data show really clearly that in the early part of the 20th century, before you had global warming, you still had very strong El Ninos," Cole said in a telephone interview. "From their data alone you cannot blame warming. But ... what that suggests is that background climate change in the future, whatever the cause, is also likely to have an influence on El Nino. We can't assume that El Nino will keep on ticking along in the same way that it has." And that is a frightening thought for weather experts and government officials who would like to be able to anticipate and prepare for weather chaos wrought by El Ninos. Centuries ago El Nino occurred every two to 15 years, but recent research shows the pattern has become more frequent. It is blamed for causing much of the $89 billion in weather-related damage in 1998.