Flash Flooding Prompts Closure of All Fort Bend ISD Schools

This was posted on the Fort Bend ISD web site:

"Fort Bend ISD is Closed Today, Tuesday, April 28, due to inclement weather conditions!Due to inclement weather conditions, all schools and support facilities in Fort Bend ISD are CLOSED today. Safety for students and staff is our main concern."

I did check the HISD inclement weather hotline (713-267-1704 ) and they are still open as of 7:11 am.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

More Thunderstorms/Global Warming Poll Results/New Poll about Twilight

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
So far only one official severe weather report in the Houston area...high wind that took down a tree. Have to wonder after Hurricane Ike if this tree was not already weakened. Also, we've had a lot of rain and that makes it harder for the roots to stay in the ground (when the wind blows).

Disturbances traveling around the western trough and along the jet stream are helping to kick up storms. Look for thunderstorms on Tuesday from the southern plains into the Ohio Valley and lower Mississippi Valley. There will also be some showers and thunderstorms in the Pacific Northwest and northern Intermountain Region. Highs over the southern states and eastern seaboard will be in the 80s. It will be in the 30s to over the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies.

In Houston, look for some more thunderstorms...starting in the morning. After that, looks like less of the wet stuff until a weak front approaches over the weekend. Well have better timing in a day or so. It will continue to be warm, muggy and breezy.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do twilight or crepúsculo, pronounced cray-POOS-coo-low. Have you read or seen crepúsculo? See And More section for details.

Being entertained is fun...it's even better when you learn at the same time. That's a big reason why parents and children love our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. It is filled with inviting, entertaining details for children. Meanwhile they reap rewards from early language learning. Order your copy 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
Our poll on global warming is closed. 30% think it is real and we need to respond now! 70% think it is a naturally occurring cycle of nature. 0% weren't sure if it is real or not. Only one answer was allowed. Thanks so much for responding!

Our new poll has to do with the Twilight craze (book and movie about forbidden love--vampires are a big part of the story line). Among girlfriends and family members, Twilight has been a big hit. I got a chance to watch the movie over the weekend when my stepdaughter brought it over. So what do you think? There is an answer or answers for any experience you may or may not have had. Multiple answers are allowed. Have fun!

Have a safe Tuesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

TORNADO THREAT!

Tornado Warnings are being issued in the Houston area. I was outside (near Meadows) as the first one was issued and it looked like the storm could produce a tornado. The line is bowing and folks in southern Harris County should be on the lookout until 7 pm. Also, check to right for other warnings being issued by the National Weather Service.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Severe Weather Threat/The "New" Houston Children's Museum

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
As I write this evening and at last check, there have been 151 reports nationwide of severe weather--10 of those tornadoes. It is going to be a busy night with a bullseye of high risk for severe weather over Oklahoma with moderate areas extending into Kansas and north Texas.

On Monday, there is a slight risk of severe storms from Texas to Illinois. It will be quite warm from the northeast to the southeast U.S. New York should hit 80 and D.C. might reach the low 90s. It will also be quite warm (80s and 90s) over the south and southwest. Highs will be in the 50s and 60s along the west coast and in the 30s, 40s and 50s over the northern Rockies and plains to western Great Lakes States.

Houston will be warm, muggy and windy with some storms as early as the morning. Some of the these storms could become severe and flooding is a possibility. Look for more warm and windy weather with isolated to scattered thunderstorms through Saturday.

SPANISH WORD FOR THE DAY
Let's do museum or museo, pronounced moo-SAY-oh. You should see what they have done to the Houston Children's museo. See the And More section for details.

We love our kids...taking them places like the Children's Museum and the John C. Freeman Weather Museum here in Houston--giving their minds stimulation. It's so neat to watch children enjoy learning. And they really enjoy learning languages while reaping the rewards--like improved cognitive development and memory. You can order our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, 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
We finally made it to the recently remodeled Houston Children's Museum (open since March 14th). And I was very impressed. They added a wing that doubles the size of the space (in 2 stories!) and they have the outdoor waterworks and ecology centers as well. The new space has atm cards which you can use in a machine that works, museum money, a bank, a hospital, police department, city hall, restaurant, grocery store (completely different from the old one), vetsmart and art studio. Sarah's favorite place was the vetsmart which was more of a clinic. Megan, you would have been tickled. There is this amazing 3 story play structure and much, much more. You could easily spend an entire day there. We closed it down and Sarah definitely did not want to leave. We have been to wonderful children's museums in Austin, Portland, OR, Omaha, and Santa Fe. The Houston one is now the one to beat. Really cool!

Have a great week everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend Weather/Welcome Twins!/Golf Tournament

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Another copious round of rain in Houston this evening. Flood Warnings were issued again as rain swollen creeks and rivers received even more rain. Looks like a disturbance that came in from central Texas, combined with plenty of moisture, and unstable atmosphere and very weak cap--were just the right combination. More thunderstorms are possible Saturday pm (but without any shortwave, it shouldn't be as intense). Still severe indices are low and there will be plenty of moisture. So, make a backup plan for outdoor activities just in case.

Weather in Houston this weekend will be warm, breezy and muggy with a few thunderstorms.

The country is divided (diagonally) with warm and moist air (highs in the 80s and 90s) east and cool (highs in the 40s and 50s) west. My sister in Tahoe said it snowed this morning. Look for thunderstorms from Texas to Michigan and slightly eastward (but including Texas) on Sunday. Jet stream pattern is a southward dip over the Rockies. That means the Gulf is "open for business" and that is what we are seeing.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do identical twins or gemelos idénticos, pronounced hay-meh-LOS ee-DEHN-tee-cohs. Congratulations to Ned and Danielle Hibberd on the birth of their identical twins. See AND MORE section for details.

Ned and Danielle, I'm looking ahead to shooting for future volumes of our educational DVD series. Of course, we'll use Teddy again. But it is going to be fun to have twin boys in there! Our Volume 1 had one set of identical twin girls, Samantha and Gabriella. I'm talking about our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is all about play. You can order your copy 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 soon as I get a photo of the twins, I'll be sure to put it in our blog. Congratulations to Ned and Danielle on the birth of Michael Thomas and Alexander James. Now, here is the really amazing thing! Today is their birth day of course. But it is also their big brother Teddy's birthday (he's 3 today) and their Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Danielle! Wow! You know how to celebrate!

Today was the Weather Museum's Golf Classic at the Wildcat Golf Course. That's me with former Weather Channel celebrities Marshall Seese and Keith Westerledge. And of course, I got my good friend and FOX 26 meteorologist, John Dawson and Benjamin, meteorologist and master golf tournament coordinator from The Weather Museum. Dr. Neil Frank was also there...but I missed him somehow. Thanks so much to all the participants!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hint of Summer/Important and Fun Golf Tournament

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Jet stream is dipping down over the Rockies and that is where the cooler weather (highs in the 40s) will be. Look for some potentially severe weather in the upper Midwest. It will warm and muggy in the south and parts of the southeast. Very pleasant in the northeast and along the west coast with highs in the 60s.

Houston will be breezy, warm and humid. The will be the case through the weekend into the middle of the coming week. An isolated shower or thunderstorm is possible. Look for more storms early in the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do tournament or torneo, pronounced tore-NAY-oh. Did I tell you there is an important golf tournament tomorrow? See AND MORE section for details.

Golf is a fun game. People of all ages can enjoy it. Kids especially love games and play and that is why Chapter 3 of our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is all about play. You can order your copy 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
Tomorrow is the big day! It will be a scramble at Wildcat Golf Course benefitting the education programs provided by the John C. Freeman Weather Museum. Come on out and play a round. There will be local weather celebrities on hand and a few folks from The Weather Channel. Shotgun start is 1 pm.

Have a fantastic Friday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Record Heat/First Toad Gets a Name from Dragon Tales

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Cool weather is dipping over the Rockies--the northern Rockies will have highs in the 30s and 40s. Most of the rest of the country will be very mild with highs in the 70s and 80s. The northeast and Pacific Northwest will be in the 40s to 60s.

Both Houston Hobby and Bush Airport in Houston had record highs of 90 today (breaking the old records set in 1963 and 1908 respectively). It won't be quite as hot Thursday, but it will be more humid and by Friday it will cloudy, warm and muggy. It will also be very breezy through the weekend.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do toad or sapo, pronounced SAH-poh. We found our first sapo tonight. Read the And More section to find out what we named it.

Sarah is the star of our youtube series, TOAD HUNTERS. You can also see her on our award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. In all, 46 kids were involved. You can order your copy 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 went to the Earth Day/3rd Anniversary celebration at the Weather Museum today. There were lots of students--many from MacGregor Elementary. The kids really enjoyed the popcorn and bouncee, exhibits by a wildlife expert and some seed to plant as well as games. Don't forget the golf tournament is coming up on Friday. Hope you can come out and play.

Friday, April 24th - Weather Museum Golf Classic at Wildcat Golf Course www.wxresearch.org

Big news!!! Sarah and I found our first toad of the season tonight. We think it was a boy. Sarah named him Max after the little boy on Dragon Tales. Should we start up TOAD HUNTERS again? To see a clip on youtube, see our link at the right.

Have a terrific Thursday!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman