Messages

136

Your Local Weather / Re: Dallas-Fort Worth weather

« on: June 06, 2008, 12:45:20 PM »

Since my last weather report for the Metroplex, unseasonably hot temperatures have dominated
the last two weeks and no serious relief is in sight. Yesterday saw very windy conditions across
much of the region and today will not be as gusty. There is a small chance of showers and thunderstorms
for Dallas and Fort Worth this afternoon and tonight, while winds won't diminish until Sunday at the earliest.

Here is a weather statement from the National Weather Service in Fort Worth that summarized
just how windy it was around the region.

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/productview.php?pil=FTWPNSFWD&version=1
"Maximum wind gusts and speeds across North Texas on Thursday"

A WINDY THURSDAY ACROSS NORTH TEXAS...

A strong low pressure system across southern Nebraska and high pressure over the southeastern states
resulted in tight pressure gradient over much of the central and south central Plains today.

Winds just above the surface were in the 40 to 50 knot range and daytime mixing aided in these gusts
reaching the surface across North Texas.

Here are some of the afternoon maximum gusts as of 3:00 PM (Thursday)...

Arlington, Texas... 54 MPH
Fort Worth Naval Air Station... 53 MPH
Dallas Executive Airport... 51 MPH
Fort Worth (Meacham International Airport)... 51 MPH
Fort Worth (Alliance Airport)... 50 MPH
Denton, Texas... 49 MPH
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport... 48 MPH
Gainesville, Texas... 48 MPH
Grand Prairie, Texas... 48 MPH
Hamilton, Texas... 48 MPH
Granbury, Texas... 46 MPH
Comache, Texas... 45 MPH
Waco, Texas... 45 MPH
Addison, Texas... 44 MPH
Temple, Texas... 44 MPH
Dallas (Love Field)... 43 MPH
Decatur, Texas... 43 MPH
McKinney, Texas... 43 MPH
Mineral Wells, Texas... 43 MPH
Corsicana, Texas... 41 MPH
Killeen, Texas... 41 MPH
Sherman, Texas... 41 MPH
Terrell, Texas... 41 MPH
Burleson, Texas... 39 MPH
Graham, Texas... 38 MPH
Lancaster, Texas... 37 MPH
Mesquite, Texas... 35 MPH
Paris, Texas... 35 MPH
Sulphur Springs, Texas... 34 MPH
Greenville, Texas... 33 MPH



DALLAS
Weather conditions from Love Field as of 10:55 AM Central Time

86°

mostly cloudy

Heat Index: 91°
Visibility: 10 miles
Humidity: 61%
Dew Point: 71°
Wind: S at 15 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH
Barometric Pressure: 29.89 inches (rising)
Ceiling: 3500 feet



METROPOLITAN AREA MAP OBSERVATIONS...

Fort Worth  (Meacham International Airport)
87° mostly cloudy and windy
Wind: S at 21 MPH, gusting to 30 MPH
Humidity: 55%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 94°.


Fort Worth  (Alliance Airport)
89° partly cloudy
Wind: S at 16 MPH, gusting to 33 MPH
Humidity: 49%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 94°.


Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
89° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 17 MPH
Heat Index: 95°
Humidity: 55%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 96°.


Arlington, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 16 MPH, gusting to 31 MPH
Humidity: 58%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 93°.


Plano, TX
84° mostly cloudy
Wind: Calm
Heat Index: 91°
Humidity: 71%
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 92°.


Lewisville, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: WSW at 10 MPH, gusting to 17 MPH
Heat Index: 91°
Humidity: 60%
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 94°.


Mesquite, TX
82° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 17 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH
Humidity: 65%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 92°.


Garland, TX
87° mostly cloudy
Wind: WSW at 5 MPH
Heat Index: 90°
Humidity: 47%
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 92°.


Duncanville, TX
85° overcast
Wind: S at 2 MPH, gusting to 11 MPH
Heat Index: 92°
Humidity: 65%
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 92°.



OTHER REGIONAL OBSERVATIONS...

Dallas Executive Airport
85° overcast
Wind: S at 9 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Humidity: 63%


Addison, TX
84° overcast
Wind: S at 14 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH
Humidity: 65%


Burleson, TX
84° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 17 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Humidity: 62%


Carrollton, TX
83° overcast
Wind: SSE at 11 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Heat Index: 88°
Humidity: 67%


Denton, TX
88° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 18 MPH, gusting to 26 MPH
Heat Index: 94°
Visibility: 9 miles
Humidity: 57%


Euless, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: SSE at 3 MPH, gusting to 12 MPH
Heat Index: 93°
Humidity: 64%


Flower Mound, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: WSW at 7 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH
Heat Index: 91°
Humidity: 61%


Grand Prairie, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 14 MPH, gusting to 21 MPH
Heat Index: 92°
Humidity: 62%


Lancaster, TX
86° mostly cloudy and windy
Wind: S at 20 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Heat Index: 92°
Humidity: 62%


Mansfield, TX
86° mostly cloudy and windy
Wind: S at 21 MPH
Heat Index: 92°
Humidity: 64%


McKinney, TX
85° overcast
Wind: S at 17 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Humidity: 65%


North Richland Hills, TX
86° mostly cloudy
Wind: Calm
Heat Index: 86°
Humidity: 44%


Richardson, TX
83° overcast
Wind: NW at 12 MPH, gusting to 25 MPH
Heat Index: 87°
Humidity: 66%


Terrell, TX
85° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 17 MPH, gusting to 29 MPH
Humidity: 65%


The Colony, TX
86° overcast
Wind: S at 14 MPH
Heat Index: 92°
Humidity: 63%


Weatherford, TX
85° mostly cloudy
Wind: SSW at 4 MPH, gusting to 18 MPH
Heat Index: 89°
Humidity: 61%



ELSEWHERE IN NORTHERN TEXAS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION...

Oklahoma City
78° mostly cloudy
Wind: SSW at 6 MPH
Humidity: 73%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 92°.


Fort Smith, AR
84° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 13 MPH, gusting to 22 MPH
Humidity: 62%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 88°.


Texarkana, AR
84° partly cloudy
Wind: S at 13 MPH, gusting to 20 MPH
Humidity: 67%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 91°.


Abilene, TX
81° mostly cloudy
Wind: S at 17 MPH
Humidity: 67%
Today's forecast:  Partly cloudy and windy. High near 91°.


Amarillo, TX
77° fair and windy
Wind: SSE at 20 MPH, gusting to 24 MPH
Humidity: 18%
Today's forecast:  Sunny and windy. High near 91°.


Lubbock, TX
78° sunny
Wind: WSW at 10 MPH
Humidity: 23%
Today's forecast:  Sunny and windy. High near 94°.


Midland, TX
82° sunny
Wind: S at 3 MPH
Humidity: 19%
Today's forecast:  Mostly sunny and windy. High near 97°.


Waco, TX
85° fair and windy
Wind: S at 20 MPH, gusting to 28 MPH
Humidity: 63%
Today's forecast:  Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 93°.


Wichita Falls, TX
85° mostly cloudy
Wind: SSW at 15 MPH, gusting to 23 MPH
Humidity: 57%
Today's forecast:  Mostly sunny and windy. High near 97°.




36-HOUR FORECAST FOR DALLAS (through Saturday night)...
(courtesy of the National Weather Service)

TODAY
Mostly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. High near 94°.
Heat index values as high as 97°. South wind between 20 to 25 MPH with gusts as high as 30 MPH.

TONIGHT
Partly cloudy and windy with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7:00 PM. Low around 77°.
South wind between 15 to 25 MPH with gusts as high as 30 MPH.

SATURDAY
Partly sunny and windy. High near 90°. South wind between 15 to 20 MPH with gusts as high as 30 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Mostly cloudy and windy. Low around 76°. South wind between 10 to 20 MPH with gusts as high as 25 MPH.

137

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Jen Carfagno - Your new First Outlook co-anchor

« on: June 05, 2008, 03:12:24 PM »

I think we can say it safely now, Jen Carfagno has finally gotten an anchor spot after over 7 years on TWC. Jeff Morrow also made a surprise mid-week return to the show, revealing that there will be no separate Travel Analyst; Jen will continue with those duties, as well.

IMO, only having two OCMs on FO kind of hurts the format of the show. The show had a "bigger" feel to it with a team of three. Now with two anchors, it seems like just another show in many aspects, although it does still retain its special, unique features.

I'm not saying this because I think Jen is a major league hottie, but I agree she deserves the new job
at The Weather Channel. Prior to the schedule change, she wasn't on much of late.

No doubt in my mind that besides being someone I can enjoy listening to her describe the latest weather
very articulately and doesn't annoy viewers without any gimmicks or schticks, Jen should be able to add to
the quality of the show. I agree it is a shame that there is no travel analyst. I really liked that element of the show.
But, they better make up for it somehow.

138

General Discussion / Re: Sports Thread

« on: June 05, 2008, 02:20:55 AM »

The Detroit Red Wings are the 2008 Stanley Cup champions.


photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images

They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 by a final score of 3-2 last night at Mellon Arena.
Brian Rafalski scored a power play goal just 5:03 into play while Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall
each notched two points. Chris Osgood made 20 saves to secure the victory and propel Detroit
to their 4th Stanley Cup title in 11 years.

Zetterberg's eventual series-winning goal with 12:24 left in the game was scored on a freaky play in which
the puck slipped through Marc-Andre Fleury's pads and knocked in over the goal line. He would later claim
Conn Smythe Trophy honors as the playoff MVP.

Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa each scored power play goals in a losing cause for Pittsburgh. But the outcome
of the game would ultimately not be determined until Hossa's last second gasp at the tying goal was denied,
a heartbreaking play for Penguins fans as the 2007-2008 season came to an end.

139

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Jennifer Lopez out; increased role for Alex Wallace?

« on: June 03, 2008, 01:17:05 PM »

Jennifer said during the last Tropical Update segment at 12:50 PM Eastern Time that today is in fact
her last day at The Weather Channel.

140

Everything Else TWC / Re: NBC, Time Warner top bidders for TWC

« on: June 03, 2008, 12:02:55 PM »

There's only thing that's having me pay more than two seconds of my attention and I'm sure you all know what that is.

You talk about being so delicious.  My Lord.

141

Programming and Graphics / Re: Does anyone?

« on: June 03, 2008, 11:58:50 AM »

I wouldn't rule that out, but yes, I wouldn't rely on Wikipedia to be your breaking news source.

As far as this issue itself about a new WeatherSTAR, I do wonder if one that's to be a local HD one would coincide with an SD update. But we'll see.
Tyler had pointed out that there wouldn't be a new SD STAR around the TWC HD launch anyway.

142

Everything Else TWC / Re: New Graphics for all shows

« on: June 02, 2008, 05:14:04 PM »

Another winner as far as the newly unveiled PM Edition intro graphic effect.
Very, very cool looking indeed.

143

OCMs & Personalities / Re: Sarah Libby

« on: June 02, 2008, 01:16:35 PM »

Sarah Libby was mentioned in Saturday's Edmond Sun in regards to her hiring at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.

You have to scroll down the business briefs page to see the write-up on her.

Edmond Sun's business page (May 31):
http://www.edmondsun.com/business/local_story_152214913.html
"6-1 business briefs"

144

Local Forecast / Re: IS LDL

« on: June 02, 2008, 01:10:55 PM »

As I pointed out in the graphics thread, the LDL doesn't display the date after the Local Weather ID.
Hopefully that's addressed and it is added to the display of data on it.

145

Everything Else TWC / Re: New Graphics for all shows - First Outlook now with two anchors for all hours

« on: June 02, 2008, 01:05:50 PM »

As for the new TWC HD "everything", WOW. What an amazing upgrade.
THIS is what I've been waiting for... and for years.

Unfortunately, I don't have TWC HD yet, but when I do, I'm sure I'll be even MORE impressed!

I did record onto DVD parts of First Outlook (5 to 5:25 AM) and Your Weather Today (7 to 7:25 AM).
I want to leave room on the same DVD to record as much as the full first hour of Evening Edition tonight
(got 1:08 of free space left). Part of why I am being conservative is that I want to record in SP speed
to preserve a good picture quality. The top speed is XP (1:12 of disc space).

One thing I see is missing from the new blue LDL for the SD feed. There is no date displayed after we see
the Local Weather ID. Hopefully Tyler or anybody that participated in the beta testing can point this out.

146

TWC Fan Art / Re: Al's Art

« on: June 02, 2008, 12:55:35 AM »

Al, your latest work kicks some serious ass! Fabulous job, dude. 

147

Programming and Graphics / my blog entry on TWC HD studio debut

« on: June 02, 2008, 12:40:26 AM »

I didn't want this to get lost in the main HD discussion thread, so I thought it would be a good idea
to have a separate thread.

I would like to share with you all that I wrote a blog entry tonight on the debut of The Weather Channel's
new HD studio. Please don't be fooled. I have so many drafts right now stored, I have to play catch up
in finishing them.

Also, all sources I have used in my blog entry are credited and accounted for, so there isn't any dispute
of where I utilized them properly.

Comments and feedback are definitely encouraged. Enjoy!

http://nyctwcjunkie.blogspot.com/2008/06/weather-channel-set-to-debut-new-hd.html
"The Weather Channel set to debut new HD studio"

148

Everything Else TWC / Re: The Weather Channel | HD Discussion

« on: May 31, 2008, 01:43:05 PM »

Here is another great new article. It was published this morning in the very reputable Broadcasting & Cable
magazine about The Weather Channel's new HD studio set to debut on Monday at 7:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.

Definitely check out a treat for us TWC fans (and junkies) where you can watch a preview of our favorite OCMs
in rehearsals! See the video clip.

Expect this to be a part of a serious blog entry of mine on this story sometime between now and
the end of this weekend.

Broadcasting & Cable (May 31):
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6565762.html
"Weather anchors ready for HD closeup"

149

General Discussion / Re: Gas prices in your area

« on: May 30, 2008, 02:35:15 AM »

I've had gas prices over $4 for at least a few weeks now.
Unless you go to New Jersey, you won't find anything cheaper around here.

New York City is averaging $4.21 with only four major cities being higher
(Chicago, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco).

Typically, prices have been around $4.19 to $4.22 per gallon in and around my town to $4.35 elsewhere
in Westchester County. There is this one Shell station in Elmsford, New York (about two miles from me)
that's charging a ridiculous $4.40 per gallon.

My state ($4.12 average) has the fourth-highest average price in the country behind Hawaii, California,
Connecticut ($4.249) and Alaska ($4.252). I already know that my neighbors in Fairfield County, Connecticut
are paying more, but barely because mine are above the state average.

150

General Discussion / Re: Sports Thread

« on: May 30, 2008, 02:25:00 AM »

We'll see if the Penguins pass an even greater test than Wednesday night and that would be to tie the series.
That 17-game home winning streak won't matter to them if they don't win Game 4.

Meantime, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the NBA Finals for the first time in four years after eliminating
the defending champion San Antonio Spurs last night, 100-92 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.