This week's weather/Great place to take the Kids!

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Wow! What a difference in Houston...beautiful, dry, sunny Sunday after a frog drowning Saturday. The average rainfall across much of the area was 3 to 4 inches, but there were many locations on the east side of Houston with 6 to 8 inches (8.2 officially at Bush Airport) and even up to 10 and 11 inches further out...especially down around Clear Lake and in Baytown.

Now, we still have numerous River and Creek Flood Warnings in effect. The good news is that most of the rivers have either peaked or already peaking. For those not yet peaking, no homes are threatened. But there will be plenty of roads which continue to be covered with water for a few days.

This week in Houston (even into the middle of the next week) looks dry. It will be really delightful spring weather during this time period with slightly increased humidity levels by the end of the week and over the weekend.

There was one tornado near Hitchcock that blew in some garage doors. In total there were 76 reports of severe weather nationwide Saturday (with 8 of those being tornadoes).

Today (Sunday) the severe weather has been in the lower Mississippi Valley--in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. The stormy area on Monday will be along the East Coast. Highs in the northeast Monday will be in the 40s and 50s. Elsewhere in the country, look for 60s, 70s, 80s (and in Arizona and southern Nevada, some 90s).

SPANISH WORD FOR THE DAY
Let's do flooding or inundaciones, pronounced een-oon-dah-see-OWN-nehs. There was a lot of inundaciones in Houston on Saturday.

We shot our award winning Volume 1 of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco during the summer of 2007. There had been a lot of rain in June and July. So, it was amazingly green. You can see it for yourself by ordering from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/,http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Volume 2 is almost ready for release and Volume 3 will follow soon thereafter!!! For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, got to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
Don't forget to vote for your favorite season in our poll, which closes Monday evening.

Speaking of the flooding on Saturday, our street was flooded. Most of the streets in Houston are designed this way--to keep the water out of the houses. So, we were stuck at home with a very high energy child. Once the rain let up, we headed over to Stomping Grounds. This is a cool place. They have wifi and two wonderful indoor playgrounds for big kids and toddlers. You can buy food if you want--water if free. There is a charge for each child to get in, but parents get in free. The entrance is a locked gate and children and parents have invisible ink applied that is unique for each family. This is a very safe place!!! I love it! The location at Williams Trace and Hwy 59 in Sugar Land is the only one so far.

Have a wonderful week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Tornado Watch Issued for Houston, Harris Co. and Surrounding

There have been several radar indicated tornadoes in storms to the west and northwest of Houston (including northern Grimes Co. and northern Colorado Co.). So, the National Weather Service/Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch effective through 4 pm for southeast Texas. Storms, producing 2 to 3 inch per hour rainfall rates, will move across southeast and east Texas into Louisiana through this afternoon.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Wet Weather Worries/1st Leg MS 150 Cancelled

HURRICANES AND WEATHER

Storms across the south central US on Saturday with cold rain/snow mix Denver vicinity. Most of country (except Rockies and western plains) enjoying highs in 60s to 80s (even 90s in Phoenix). Cooling down on Sunday in the midwest, northeast where highs will be in the 40s and 50s. On Sunday, look for rain in the southeast (see risk maps to right).

Houston is under a Flood Watch through Saturday evening. This means conditions are favorable for heavy rain which could lead to flooding. Look for storms (mainly afternoon)...will say that models have backed off considerably on amount of water. Sunday will be sunny and pleasant with highs in the upper 70s. Enjoy!

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Let's do cancel or cancelar, pronounced cahn-see-LAR. Cancelar--that is what they had to do for the MS150 leg scheduled for Saturday. See And More section for more.

One thing we will not cancel is our effort to bring you the next volumes of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. You can order the award winning Volume 1 today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/,http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Volume 2 is almost ready for release and Volume 3 will follow soon thereafter!!! For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, got to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
MS 150--first leg on Saturday from Houston to La Grange is cancelled. There was very heavy rain in the La Grange area and the fairground where most of riders spend most of the night Saturday, is a soggy, puddle filled mess. The plan is for the riders to skip Saturday and to go to La Grange and do the 2nd leg on Sunday...weather should be quite nice for that 2nd leg. My friend Kevin, who was training diligently for his first ride, was very disappointed. He said there is no point in showing up in La Grange Saturday morning. He is not planning to do the 2nd leg. So sorry all you MS 150 enthusiasts.

Have a good weekend everyone and be safe!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Severe Weather Update -Fri. 3:45 pm

Some severe storms northwest and north of Houston. These storms have some history of high winds and small hail. There has also been a lot of rain and numerous flood warnings have been issued...see advisory map at right.

Morning will see a break in the weather for Houston but there will be some developing and approaching from the west during the morning hours. MS 150 riders should expect to run into the rain. In Houston, severe weather is possible primarily during the afternoon.

Severe Weather Update

Line of Severe Storm is producing damaging winds in central Texas. New Severe Storm Watch has been issued in central Texas and I would imagine that later this morning a watch will be issued to include southeast Texas and the Houston area. I think the storms will arrive in the Houston area by early afternoon...timing will be a bit tricky with school letting out but I think the worst will be over by 3 pm. Keeping my fingers crossed. Greatest threat is damaging winds and large hail. A few tornadoes are possible.

Saturday (attention MS 150 riders), looks like there will be more storms. You should encounter these by late morning to early afternoon as you head west. Biggest threat is high wind...a few tornadoes and some hail are also possible. Timing for Houston would be afternoon.

I will update later today.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Severe Threat/Best Impression of John Madden/Hurricane Consulting Guru

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
There has been severe weather today (Thursday) in west Texas (including one tornado). On Friday the area of severe weather will shift slightly east. Look out in central Texas and the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. It will be chilly over the Rockies and western Plains. There will be snow/rain in Denver. Meanwhile the weather will be delightful in the eastern U.S. and in California with highs in the 60s, 70s and 80s. The Pacific Northwest will be rainy with highs in the 50s and 60s.

Houston will have storms--mainly in the afternoon. Even though The Storm Prediction is not indicating severe weather, be prepared for it anywhere. More rain is likely on Saturday--good luck and safe travel to all of our MS 150 participants. And, Sunday, there will be one more round of storms early and then a sunny and pleasant afternoon.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do impression or imitación, pronounced ee-mee-tah-see-OWN. Frank Caliendo does a very good imitación of John Madden, who is planning to retire.

There is no time like the present to expose your children to early language learning and reap the benefits like improved cognitive development. Order our award winning Volume 1 DVD of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/,http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Volume 2 is almost ready for release and Volume 3 will follow soon thereafter!!! For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, got to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
As we get closer to hurricane season, be sure to contact my good friend, Lew Fincher, for all your hurricane consulting needs. Lew eats, sleeps, and drinks hurricanes and he is definitely a walking encyclopedia. Check out his company's web site:

http://www.hurricaneconsulting.net/hci_main.html

John Madden is retiring. I guess it is a big loss to football. I never thought about him much until I heard Frank Caliendo doing an impression of him. To catch it and more great impressions, check out this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAMIlPudalQ

Have a fantastic Friday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Return of wet weather/Hurricane Forecasts/Drought Outlook

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
For a special drought and hurricane forecast discussion, see the AND MORE section.

A dip of cooler temperatures over the Rockies (where the jet stream is digging southward) and just east of there and into west Texas will be some storms on Thursday. Notice that on Friday the slight risk for severe storms area pushes a bit eastward and is confined to TX, OK, and KS. It will be pleasantly mild across the west with highs in the 60s and most of the northeast, east and southeast, and south will be in the 60s, 70s and even 80s.

The weather in Houston was just delightful today. It reminded me of Hawaii weather...that kind of wet breeze into air that is dry...causes a delightful and refreshing evaporative cooling effect on your body. Tomorrow, alas, the muggies make a return--as the moisture content of the air increases. It will be mild and breezy in the afternoon with a few showers possible. Look out for potentially severe storms on Friday and possibly Saturday and early Sunday. Later half of Sunday looks sunny and dry and early in the coming week will be delightful (again).

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do improvement or mejora, pronounced may-HOR-ah. I think the economy may be experiencing a slight mejora.

We have had quite a few sales in the last week or so through our retail distributors. Now, these aren't huge orders (except for the anticipated one I mentioned yesterday) but still there is a lot more activity. February was dreadfully slow. So I am encouraged. People want to do things to help their children achieve everything possible. They tell me their children love our award winning Volume 1 DVD of Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. You can order today from www.frankandpaco.com/. You can also order from http://www.venturaes.com/, http://www.dololanguages.com/, http://www.carlexonline.com,www.thecuriousmindstore.com/, http://www.amazon.com/,http://www.bestbuy.com/, and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/. Volume 2 is almost ready for release and Volume 3 will follow soon thereafter!!! For our English as a Second Language (ESL) version, got to http://www.frankypaco.com/.

AND MORE
I put the Climate Prediction's Center drought outlook figure to the right. Some parts of Texas under extreme drought conditions are expected to have their drought worsen through June. This figure was posted in early April. I will keep checking for updates.

Meanwhile, the Climate Prediction Center also says that the La Nina we are in is weakening...indicating a return to neutral conditions. El Nino or La Nina designation is important for hurricane season because there are implications. During El Nino hurricane seasons, there tend to be fewer storms in the Atlantic basin. This is due to stronger wind shear (and thus more shear to tear storms apart). However, some of the stronger storms to hit Texas have occurred during these times in the years immediately following. In La Nina years, there tend to be more storms due to less shear (to tear hurricanes apart).

Dr. William Gray and his associates from Colorado State University (and mostly it's the associates by the way) are saying that they expect a fairly normal hurricane season. Their 2009 hurricane forecast released about a week ago reflects a decrease in the numbers put out in December 2008. They are saying there will be 12 tropical storms, 6 of those hurricanes and 2 of those major hurricanes. This is also the average for a typical season. They are forecasting a 54% chance of a major hurricane strike anywhere on the US coast (average chance is 52%), a 32% (31% is average) of same for East U.S. coast to Florida and a 31% chance (average is 30%) for Gulf from Florida to Brownsville.

The Weather Research Center (which runs the nation's only weather museum here in Houston) predicts the following chances of a tropical storm strike (note tropical storm includes hurricanes but also just tropical storms).
Louisiana to Alabama 70% (average is 59%)
Texas 40% (51%)
West coast of Florida 60% (71%)
East coast of Florida 30% (41%)
Georgia to North Carolina 50% (56%)
East US 30% (36%)

They also are predicting 7 named tropical storms, 4 of those to become hurricanes.

All I know is that I hope Houston is done for a very long time.

Have a terrific Thursday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman