I warned ya' last week -- a warmer but much more active weather pattern is evolving. Everyone had at least some rain over the weekend & as the storm departed, gusty winds. Peak wind gust Sun. at JIA was 47 mph.
A "train" of storms is ready to hammer the West Coast & move west to east across the U.S. (see the sat. views below). The next one hammered Ca. Mon. & will affect the First Coast Thu.-Thu. night. I expected little if any severe storms over the weekend because we so lacked instability & the long stretch of cold weather had quite literally scoured out the Gulf. But now moisture is not so far away as the last system didn't have a strong cold front -- that system sort of set the table for the next (& subsequent) storm. So Thu.'s system will have more moisture to work with, a bit higher temps. & good dynamics (upper level energy). It would appear at this point we could see strong if not a few severe storms very late Thu. into Thu. night. This system will be a fast mover too with little cooling behind it, so we'll have a few nice days before the next(!) storm in the series rolls through about Sun. night into Mon. This storm will produce its first round of severe weather farther to the west & north from Tx. to the Missouri & Ohio Valley's in what could be a significant outbreak of spring-like storms.
Throughout this period temps. will be above avg. locally with no threat for nighttime freezes though readings early Tue. will be in the mid to upper 30s inland. There is the potential for a couple of real warm days just ahead of ea. storm Thu. & Sun. (maybe near 80 in a few spots).
This more active weather pattern is mimicking the first weeks of Dec. -- mild but wet for the First Coast while the Northern U.S. was very stormy with 2 blizzards.
We'll be in a temp. "step-down" pattern where each storm drives cold air a little farther south. By the end of the month we should have clear signs of arctic air making yet another surge -- with time -- deep into the south.
Have you noticed the bright object in the evening western sky? It's Venus & beautiful -- take a look just after sunset.
THE SALVATION ARMY NATIONAL TALKING POINTS HAITI EARTHQUAKE
For the latest updates on The Salvation Army’s response to this disaster, please visit here.
The Salvation Army’s assessment team is on the ground in Haiti, distributing limited supplies in Port Au Prince and planning the organization’s local response.
o The assessment team arrived via private plane in Cape Haïtien and drove eight hours to Port Au Prince, arriving on Friday (1-15-10) morning.
o Two additional planes carried personnel and cargo to the disaster zone and supplies are being distributed now on a limited basis.
o The planes will be returning to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, on Saturday (1-16-10) to restock and deliver more personnel and supplies as soon as possible.
o There is still a critical need locally for basic survival supplies including food, water and shelter.
o As with all such relief efforts, The Salvation Army’s initial focus is to assess the immediate needs of the people affected by the earthquake, and plan to deliver food, water and other critical necessities to where they are most needed.
In the United States, hundreds of volunteers began packing 1 million emergency rations in El Dorado, KS, for delivery to Haiti.
o The packing event took place from 12 noon to 10 pm Friday and will continue from 8 am to 8 pm Saturday (CT) at the El Dorado Convention Center in El Dorado, Kansas (201 East Central Avenue)
o The meals – which consist of rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables and vitamins and can be cooked in boiling water – come courtesy of international hunger relief organization Numana Inc. (click here).
o The million meals will total more than 150,000 pounds once boxed. An additional 285,000 meals, also prepared by Numana Inc., are currently awaiting shipment from Des Moines, Iowa.
o No time-table has been set for the delivery of the meals.
o The Salvation Army is coordinating with other agencies to get the supplies to the point of need.
Monetary donations are the most critical need as supplies and personnel are mobilized
o Donors can text the word “HAITI” to 52000 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts via their phone bill. It is important for donors to confirm their donation with the word, “yes.”
o As of Friday evening, The Salvation Army had raised $1.9 million to support relief efforts in Haiti.
1. This includes a $100,000 donation from FedEx.
o Salvation Army Red Kettles will be mobilized Sunday during the Minnesota Vikings-Dallas Cowboys playoff game.
o Donations can also be made through:
o click here and via PayPal
o 1-800-SAL-ARMY
o The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*
o Even before donations are processed, The Salvation Army is committing and spending money on relief efforts in Haiti; Donations are critical now and also help ensure that the long-term needs of the Haitian people are met.
The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and its personnel who were affected by the earthquake are now working to assist others in need
o The Salvation operates schools, clinics, hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities through some 60 Corps community centers across the country.
o One Salvation Army compound near Port Au Prince experienced severe damage, including collapsed buildings; No one was injured in the collapse.
o Bob Poff, the Director of Disaster Services for The Salvation Army in Haiti, shares his story about the earthquake: here and here and here.
o For the latest information about The Salvation Army’s activity in Haiti, please visit this site or their Facebook pages here and here.
o All photos, video and other material on these pages are free for public and media distribution.
