Heavy Rain Returns/Halloween Forecast/Swine Flu Vaccine Experience

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Atlantic and Pacific are quiet.

Cold front will be moving eastward across the Plains on Monday. It will bring thunderstorms and some heavy rain to Texas and Louisiana. Highs will be in the 80s in Florida. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s from the Great Lakes through the northwest and southward into Texas, behind the cold front. Ahead of the front, it will be breezy, humid and mild. Highs along the west coast and in the northeast and east will be in the 60s and 70s. Extreme northern New England will have highs in the upper 30s.

Much of Texas is under a Flash Flood Watch or will be under one on Monday. The following counties in southeast Texas are under that watch from Monday morning until Monday evening:
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...AUSTIN...BRAZORIA...BRAZOS... BURLESON...CHAMBERS...COLORADO...FORT BEND...GALVESTON... GRIMES...HARRIS...HOUSTON...JACKSON...LIBERTY...MADISON... MATAGORDA...MONTGOMERY...POLK...SAN JACINTO...TRINITY... WALKER...WALLER...WASHINGTON AND WHARTON.
There could be an average of 1 to 3 inches with some spots picking up 5+ inches on Monday. In the aftermath of last week's heavy rains, there isn't much wiggle room. So, be on the lookout for sudden flooding. Remember the rule of thumb, "Turn Around, Don't Drown!" if you encounter a flooded roadway either on foot or in a vehicle.

For Houston, I think the heaviest rain will fall between 2 and 5 pm on Monday.

For Houston, Tuesday will in the 60s and then warming on Wednesday with more rain Thursday. Friday through Saturday will be pleasant and dry. Trick or Treat forecast is temperatures in the 60s with light wind and no rain.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do vaccine or vacuna, pronounced vah-COO-nah. Find out about our experience with the Swine Flu vacuna in the And More section.

Today is 2 months until Christmas!!! Get a good deal by purchasing one or two DVDs your youngsters will love! Order Volume 1 or Volume 2 from our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site www.frankandpaco.com or at www.amazon.com. If you order through Amazon, please help us out and put in some positive comments. It makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 1 has three chapters about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings.

AND MORE
Our poll on how you plan to observe Halloween is closed. More than one answer was allowed. 44% said they plan to take their kids trick or treating. 22% said they are going to give out treats. 0% said they would have a party. 11% said they will go to a party. 22% said they, themselves were going to wear a costume. 11% said they would watch a scary movie. 11% said they would eat candy. 33% said they won't celebrate Halloween at all. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll is about flu season...have you gotten vaccinations or how will you? More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Late Thursday we get a call from Sarah's pediatrician. The swine flu vaccine has finally arrived and because Sarah is considered "high risk", they want us to get her in for a shot right away. I called my sister, a nurse practioner who works in a public health clinic. I am just a little nervous about having her get something that does not have a long track record. My sister is adamant--get it right away! She had been seeing a lot of the swine flu in the clinic.

So, Friday afternoon I took her right after school. I explained to her that there are two bad flus this year (a simplification for a 2nd grader). And that this would be her last flu shot. The shot was quick and minimally painful. But then, the nurse tells me that since this if her first time getting the Swine Flu shot, that we will have to come back in a month to get the other half of the dose. Mommy is a big liar!!! The nurse also says Sarah might run a low grade fever.

Well anyway, Sarah and I did some running around afterward (the silver lining was she got to go to Target and use a gift card from her birthday). Then, I had promised her that I would try to find a place to get my regular flu shot. The doctor's office hadn't had any of the regular vaccine available and the 24 hour Walgreen's was out. But, I had remembered that Randall's had a sign that said "flu vaccine available--walk-ins welcome". So, I called them and they said come on down. This was the one on Highway 6 in Sugar Land at Williams Trace. If you want to check, their number is:
281-980-1800

It was quick and easy. Then, I took Sarah directly to her hour long dance class at 5:30, and she was just fine. When we got home, I gave her a dose of Tylenol. She was pooped and didn't even eat supper. She just fell right to sleep. Then at around 10, she got up and ate a little. She slept good that night.

Saturday morning, Sarah's cheeks are red and she is running a low grade fever. Gave her some more Tylenol but she really didn't like the taste. She naps some during the day and goes from having cabin fever to being lethargic. This lasts through the entire weekend. We really don't take her out, except for a drive-through run to Burger King to get a happy meal with Sponge Bob toy (she got Gary the snail by the way).

Other than the low grade fever, Sarah has had some congestion and a slightly runny nose. She's been a bit moody and had a couple crying jags.

I get the regular flu shot every year. I just can't face the prospect of taking care of Sarah while being super sick. This year it hit me a bit harder. I was very lethargic both Saturday and Sunday mornings and more tired than usual both days. That's about it...no fever or nausea or anything like that.

I'm just really glad we got Sarah innoculated on a Friday afternoon.

Have a healthy week everyone!

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weekend and Halloween Forecasts/How to Get Weather Data Like Hail Reports

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Pacific is quiet this evening. The remnants of Rick raced past the upper Texas coast early today, increasing easterly winds and flooding part of the Bolivar Peninsula. The remnants were picked up and absorbed by the approaching upper trough and associated surface cold front. In the Atlantic, there are 2 areas with less than a 30% chance of developing.

On Friday, highs will only be in the 30s and 40s in the northeast and Great Lakes. It will be warm and muggy in the southeast with highs in the 70s and 80s. Out west and southwest and southern plains, highs will be in the 50s to 70s. There will be some thunderstorms in the eastern US...but not quite to the eastern seaboard.

Friday will be delightful for Houston with some sunshine and low humidity. Through Sunday morning, lows will be in the 50s (and even some 40s Saturday morning). Sunday, some clouds return...possibly a shower late in the day. Highs will be in the upper 60s and 70s into Sunday. Look for rain to return on Monday. Next front moves through late Wednesday.

Looking ahead to Halloween, I think it will be mild, with a southerly breeze and temperatures in the upper 60s to low 70s around trick or treat time. I don't think it will rain. Now, on Sunday (after Halloween), I think there will be some rain.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do data or datos, pronounced DAH-toes. Do you want to know how to easily find past weather datos. Go to the AND MORE section.

Now you have 2 fun options for exposing your children to learning languages. Order Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site www.frankandpaco.com or at www.amazon.com. If you order through Amazon, please help us out and put in some positive comments. It makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. You can also order the award winning Volume 1 about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play.

AND MORE
Got some new weather links for you.

Have you ever wanted to find out if tornadoes or hail occurred in certain area. Well, if enough time has gone by, you can go to the following link through the National Climatic Data Center.
http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent~Storms
Just enter the state and narrow it down from there.

If you want to get weather conditions for up to the last 60 hours, go to this link:
www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/
On the right side, it says text data. Specify translated and the amount of time. Choosing translated will give the results in an easy to read format.

Now, if you need the data for legal purposes (and it's in Texas), you can order "certified" data through the Texas State Climatologist Office.
http://www.met.tamu.edu/osc/

Outside of Texas, you can order "certified" weather data from the National Climatic Data Center.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html
But, I will caution you that this can take a long time. There is also some free data there, but it can take many months to get more recent weather data.

Happy data collecting!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Weather Winding Down - 8:15 am Update Thursday 10/22

Good morning all -
Some 4 and 5 + inch rain totals around Friendswood/Clear Lake and there are some areas east of Houston under Flash Flood Warnings until 8:45 am. There will be one more round of rain around midday...as the cold front arrives, but I don't expect a lot of rain. So, in many ways, looks like the worst is over.

National Weather Service reporting that Highway 87 flooded on Bolivar Peninsula due to high surf from strong easterly winds...being attributed to Rick remants moving through believe it or not!

Much driver air arrives late afternoon and overnight...spectacular fall weekend on the way!

Have a safe day everyone.

Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Rick Remnants and Heavy Houston Rain

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Rick is weakening but it is going to affect the weather for a lot of geography. As its weakens and moves into Mexico on Wednesday, much of its moisture will get caught up in an advancing upper trough and this will bring heavy rain to parts of the south including Texas Wednesday through Thursday. In the Atlantic, there is one small area just off the Central American coast that will bring rain to the at area.

Temperatures on Wednesday will certainly reflect the upper trough pushing eastward (along with its associated surface cold front). Highs will be in the 40s and even upper 30s with some snow mixes in the higher elevations from Colorado into the Great Lakes states. Also, expect upper 40s in northern New England. There will be some showers and thunderstorms from Texas to Wisconsin. Highs in the southeast will be in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Highs out west and in the Pacific Northwest will be in the 50s to the 70s.

Houston can expect more than 3 inches, maybe even 4 to 5 inches in spots. National Weather Service might issue a Flash Flood Watch but they are saying that we should be able to handle 3.5 inches. Getting closer to 5 in a widespread way will cause trouble. Notice that as I write this post, the area around Waco and up to Dallas is under a Flood Watch. Timing of heavy rain will be Wednesday late afternoon into midday Thursday. Then a pleasantly cool and dry weekend is on the way. Remember the rule of thumb, "Turn around, don't drown" when you encounter a flooded roadway or area either in a car or on foot.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do wet or mojado, pronounced mow-HA-dough. It will be very wet in east Texas Wednesday and Thursday.

Just over 2 months until Christmas. Yikes!!! But no worries, you can get the little ones something new, educational and entertaining. Order Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco from our web site www.frankandpaco.com or at www.amazon.com. If you order through Amazon, please help us out and put in some positive comments. It makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. You can also order the award winning Volume 1 about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play.

AND MORE
I have posted the new drought figures and Climate Prediction Center outlooks for November through January. The recent rains in Texas show a vastly improved drought situation, especially along the upper Texas coast and extreme south Texas. Still a big drought concern for the Coastal Bend. Outlook shows improving conditions expected through January of 2010. This has a lot to do with the fact that we are going into an El Nino winter. And as the Climate Prediction Center outlooks for November through January show, this area is expected to have above normal rainfall and below normal temperatures.

Happy Wednesday everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Hurricane Rick threatens Houston with Heavy Rain

HURRICANE AND WEATHER
Tropical Atlantic is quiet but look out, here comes Hurricane Rick (from the Pacific)! As I write this post, Rick is off the west coast of Mexico, a Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph winds...should be a Category 2 or 3 when it hits the southern Baja California peninsula. But the big story for Texas is that moisture is going to get drawn up into an approaching upper trough and bring some heavy rain Wednesday through Friday! Some locations will get several inches.

Well I couldn't help noticing what looked like a blizzard as the Titans/Patriots game aired this afternoon. Sure enough, they were having heavy, wet snow with the temperature close to freezing in Foxboro, Massachusetts. A part of the state is under a Winter Weather Advisory. In the late 80s, I was living in Danbury, CT and went to Boston for the weekend early in October. We had a heavy wet snow storm. The snow broke the limbs trees laden with fall leaves, downing power lines. The winters there can be very raw because of the humidity due to proximity to the Atlantic. Most snowfalls were wet...only a few were very dry.

On Monday, highs will be in the 40s and 50s across the northern states and 60s and 70s across the southern half--maybe a high of 80 in Miami. There will be rain and thunderstorms across the Rockies and Intermountain West, a part of the northern plains and extreme southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Houston, Monday will be another pleasant day with slightly higher humidity and highs in the 70s. It won't warm up all that much this week due to increasing clouds cover from Pacific moisture but it will be humid. Look for heavy rain (3 inches + possible), especially Thursday into Friday as the remnants of Hurricane Rick get pulled into the approaching upper trough. Next weekend, look for more Chamber of Commerce weather!


SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY

Let's do dike or dique, pronounced DEE-kay. What kind of dique would be most helpful to Galveston, which was hit so hard by Ike last hurricane season. Find out about a special Ike Dike talk in the AND MORE section.

Time to order Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. YOu can get it through our web site www.frankandpaco.com or at www.amazon.com. If you order through Amazon, please help us out and put in some positive comments. It makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. You can also order the award winning Volume 1 about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play.

AND MORE
What a perfect weekend for an outdoor festival. So, of course, we headed to the annual fall bazaar at St. Laurence in Sugar Land. As you can see, Sarah really enjoyed dancing it up! There were also lots of bouncees, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing, games and of course lots of food and music and bingo. New this year was a washer tournament. I had never even heard of that but Gordy and my stepdad Gerry had. They were throwing these round washers and trying to get them in this small holes. Looked like there was a lot of participation.

Friday night, Sarah and I headed to the monthly opry in Rosenberg. It was a packed house with Tommy Horton performing. Tommy is son of the famous Johnny Horton...see link below. When I googled Tommy, I found some web site that insisted there is a Tommy Horton who is not the son of Johnny. But I am telling you, the man I met and the photos of Johnny Horton are just about spitting images. I spoke to Tommy and he lives it the Brownwood area near Abilene. He just drove in earlier in the day. I was teasing him about some of his CD covers...one in particular he looked rather windblown in his jacket leaning against a tree. I asked him...what were you thinking when that picture was taken? He answered "I was thinking, daw-gone it's cold. Let's finish this and get inside!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpUJZ92JkAY&feature=related

The November show will have Moses Rangel, Jeff Woosey, Jimmy Calhoun and Arnold Parker and of course once again, my very talented stepdad Gerry Payne on saxophone, keyboard, violing, mandoline or whatever is needed! The Rosenberg opry is held in the community center at 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg--right next to where the Fort Bend Fairgrounds are located.

Our poll on what you all thought about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize is closed. The results were as follows:
10% thought is was wonderful
40% couldn't believe it
70% didn't think it should have happened
40% want to know why it happened
0% think he will earn it
0% think he has already earned it
20% think he won't earn it

More than one answer was allowed. Thanks to all who participated.

Our new poll is Halloween? This year it falls on a Saturday. How will you spend it this year or will you celebrate it at all. More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for answering.

The next meeting of the Houston Chapter of the AMS will be this Tuesday, October 20th. The following comes directly from chapter president and my buddy, Lew Fincher
Bill King and Jim Blackburn will be doing presentations addressing the idea of the "Ike Dike". I have met both gentlemen, and have seen both of their presentations on the subject of the Ike Dike idea in meetings that have attracted large crowds. If you haven't had time to make a meeting in a while for whatever reason, the next two are meetings that you should seriously try to attend.

And it's me again...here is the chapter link with location information.
http://www.amshouston.net/

These meetings are so good! And anyone may attend (not just members). If you want to become a member, you don't have to be a meteorologist and dues are very reasonable.

Have a great week!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Chamber of Commerce Weekend/Hurricane Rick/Clarification Child Safety Law

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Beautiful and in some places chilly weekend for much of the country. Look for some storms in spots (as indicated by Storm Prediction Center graphic) northeast, southwest, southeast and northwest.

Houston, get ready to be spoiled...highs in the 70s, low humidity and lows in the 50s and upper 40s respectively for Saturday and Sunday. More humid air begins to return middle of coming week. Then, warming until next cold front and a few showers and thunderstorms move through on Wednesday pm.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do happy or feliz...FEH-lease. I am so feliz that the weather is dry and pleasant.

It's here!!! Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is now available. Order your copy today...it makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. Order Volume 1 or 2 at www.frankandpaco.com. You can also order the award winning Volume 1 about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play.

AND MORE
Clarification on new child safety seat law (thank you Larry Mack)...here is the original correction to the old law:
TRC § 545.412. CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEATSYSTEMS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who is younger than eight [five] years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches [and less than 36 inches in height], and does not keep the child secured during the operation of the vehicle in a child passenger safety seat system according to the instructions of the manufacturer of the safety seat system.

So, this means that all children under the age of 8 have to be secured safely (unless than are taller thatn 4'9".

Have a great and safe weekend!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman

Next cold front/New Child Safety Seat Law/Happy Anniversary

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
Tropical Atlantic is quiet. In the Pacific, Tropical Storm Patricia is bringing rain, rough surf and gusty winds to the tip of the Baja of California. The storm is forecast to move past the tip and weaken as it heads west. Further south, there is an area with less than 30% chance of developing.

On Wednesday, highs will be in the 40s and 50s across the northern Rockies, northern Plains, Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast. Across the southeast, highs will be in the 80s and 90s with scattered showers and thunderstorns. Highs will be in the 60s along the west coast. Note: the winter weather advisories for the northern Rockies and some flood watch areas in the southeast and in California this evening.

For Houston, Wednesday will be warm and muggy with some thunderstorms. Cold front arrives Thursday and brings some dry and pleasant weather over the weekend. Morning temperatures will be in the 50s on Saturday and Sunday. It will be a great weekend to head to the Festival at St. Laurence in Sugar Land.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do safety or seguridad, pronounced seh-gyour-REE-dahd. Seguridad is so important for our child passengers. Find out about the updated Child Safety Seat Law in the And More section.

It's here!!! Volume 2 of our award winning series, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco, is now available. Order your copy today...it makes a great birthday or holiday gift. Volume 2 has three chapters (and about 50 words/phrases) My Day, My Body, My Feelings. Order Volume 1 or 2 at www.frankandpaco.com. You can also order the award winning Volume 1 about Home, Family, Eating/Drinking and Play.

AND MORE
Tomorrow, October 14th, Gordy and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. But what's in a date? Originally, we planned to marry on the 15th but couldn't get that worked out. We chose that date as a tribute. It just so happened that October 15th was the anniverary of Gordy's maternal grandparents. Gordy's Grandma was so excited about us having the same anniversary. We didn't have the heart to tell her that we had to move it to the 14th. That is one example of when a little lie is a good thing. Grandma Sondag is no longer with us, but I know that she was very happy about our wedding being on October 15th.

Sarah's school sent home a post card with an Update on the Child Safety Seat Law. I'm not sure what it was before, but now the rule is:
All Children Who Are Less than 8 years old and less than 4 feet, 9 inches tall MUST be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat.
For more information, go to the source:
http://www.safekidsgreaterhouston.org/

Sarah is already 8, but she is only 4 feet, 1 inch tall. I can tell you that without the booster seat, she wouldn't be comfortable at all...seat belt strap would cut right across her neck. Gosh, I'm 6 inches (or so) past 4'9" and I can barely get comfortable in the back seat. I'm kind of surprised the age isn't higher.

Well safe driving everyone.
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman