Friday, July 25, 2008

It's Time for Christmas in July & A Merry Good Weather Weekend



It is Christmas in July time and I am heading up to Wisconsin to celebrate. You have to love the Christmas lights above! It may not be a white christmas but I will look forward to lots of great food and company. My wife's family started this tradition because of the harsh (awesome snowy) winters they have up in Wisconsin. The relatives that were snowbound and did not get to see their family during the usual holiday season decided to move Christmas to July when travel was much easier. Also if some relatives were unable to visit due to other committments it was now much easier on them since they had Christmas in July. The funny but not so funny part is that Wisconsin is still vulnerable to tornadoes this time of year. But overall it is a great concept and it gives me an excuse to listen to Christmas music during the summer months. Looking at the latest maps there is no snow or tornadoes to worry about so let the party begin. Now speaking of a good time, the Kiss the Pig contest was awesome last night. Over 1,200 dollars was raised for the 4Her's. I will make sure to post some of those pictures here soon. In the meantime, I found some pictures to get you in the holiday mood below. You see pictures from the blizzard of 2007 below and scrapbook photos that won prizes! It is good to see that I am not the only one that loves snow!

Let it snow, let it snow, and let there be a good weekend is what everybody at the fair asked for last night and I must say we have the best viewers on earth. It was so nice talking to many of you out at the fair and it was good to see a lot of familiar faces including Justin New who I actually even put on TV with me at the end of my weather along with Willie the famous weather blog Chihuahua. Justin has a great family and the fair was full of just wonderful people and it really brings to light how it really helps "community build". It is a place where you meet the most interesting and amazing people and I was very happy to have been a part of it! Now one more good thing about Christmas in July is that you can cook burgers out on the grill. Try doing that in December. Well we have great grill-out weather this weekend and you can see why below.

A big high pressure that steered Dolly into south Texas is blocking all of our Gulf Moisture and even though we have a front coming through this weekend it will not have moisture to work with. So rememember we could have a few isolated showers and thunderstorms mainly late tonight and once again Saturday, but the activity should not hamper plans. The farther south you go, especially toward Indianapolis this weekend there will be a better chance of scattered storms. This will be closer to the ring of fire you see above on the weather map or the ring of thunderstorms that naturally form on the edge of big heat wave producing high pressures this time of year. But the key word is scattered on the rain even in Indianapolis. On race day nature will try to make it interesting with a possible complex of storms racing in here on a west to northwest flow. I still think Tony Stewart will have the upper hand with the best chance of rain holding off until late day and during the evening. But it is no guarantee. Make sure to tune in tonight for the updated forecast. For now you can see the forecast below. Remember the sunscreen!


Here in the Lafayette viewing area on Sunday rain chances should be so low that I left them out of the forecast, but that northwest flow can be tricky and I will take another look with you tonight on the newscasts! It is also good to see our Live Doppler 18 up and running again and the best news of all is that we have a big training day today so we can share weather with you like never before! I will see you soon and since Christmas in July is our theme today, here is a recipe I will pass on to share with you. Instead of reindeer cupcakes how does zucchini PIE sound? This is a Christmas treat you normally would not have in December!


ZUCCHINI PIE
Peel and cut zuchinni into chunks,remove seeds. Boil until tender. 2 cups uncooked zucchini=1 cup cooked.
1 cup cooked zucchini(drained)
1 cup milnot or condensed milk
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 T margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 t salt
2 T flour

Mix together and por into deep dish pie shell. Sprinkle cinnamon on top Bake at 400 degrees for ten minutes then 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

From Diana and Jerry Farrell of Lafayette


Of course I met these nice folks out at the fair! Thanks so much Diana and Jerry. Now a lot of folks were asking about snow this winter and what I thought about this year. Well it is still early but we may have a better chance of a White Christmas than normal. I will tell you more about this here on the blog today and of course on tonight's newscast.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny to hear about snow already, but sooner or later its going to start falling.

I can't remember if it was falling last Xmas or not...but I do remember getting a decent amount last Winter.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas in July, Mike and family! Have a great trip and hurry back. We miss you when you are gone.
Glad to see you are a Tony Stewart fan (grin), we are, too. We will be enjoying the race from our living room.
Tis cloudy here this morning but nothing on radar even close.

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Hey MIke I'll be sure to watch your weather forecast tonight for I want to know our snow chances on christmas. Don't worrie Brow I can't remember if we had snow last christmas or not but if I had to guess I would say no.

It was great to get to talk to you yeaterday Mike had a lot of fun says Willie as well LOL!!! Hope you have fun with your christmas in July but yes like Mary anne said hurry back soon!

All enjoy this weather and make today a great one!!!

Justin in LAF.

Anonymous said...

Morning All! 6 months till Chrismas already? My time passes by so quickly!

If I remember right, last Christmas it was not snowing, I think the temps were warmer than normal, but we did have alot of snow of a week or two before Christmas. I do remember it snowing on New years eve though!

Justin, nice to hear you had a great time at the fair, I missed the news last night so I didnt get to see you on TV with Mike. How fun that must have been for you!

Have a safe and wonderful trip Mike.

Teri in Laf.

Anonymous said...

The ZUCCHINI BREAD RECIPE LOOKS YUMMY!!! and easy to make as well!
Thanks for sharing!

Ray

Anonymous said...

drenching rain for sat night and sun??Humidity again? what is in store for the week end?

Anonymous said...

Justin, since I also missed the wx cast with you and Mike, is there any way we can see it or can you post a pic of yourself soemwhere? you are FAMOUS!! A fan club in the offing?? (GRIN)) hey, what is the forecast for this weekend, as in storms/rain? YOU have been left in charge, fella!

And, BTW that is a zucchini pie recipe, not bread. I thought bread at first, too but the title says "pie". I hope I spelled "z" right :-))



MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Well thanks Mary anne Im gald you think so. Frist off I just want to say that Mike has helped me so much with just about everything I know so thanks mike.

For your weakend forecast tomorrow (Saturday) there is a slight chance (30%) of an Iso-Rainshower in the morning then becoming mostly clear. For Sunday looks mostly clear till late evenning into that night with another slight 30% chance of rainshowers so really it would be a hit and miss thing. Otherwise tomorrow is looking good!!!

About my picture well I guess I can send it to Mike and see if he will post it. so I guess just watch for it here on the best weather blog in the world...

Thanks everyone Justin in Laf.

Anonymous said...

Hey Justin, why are some radars and sites calling for drenching rain, On Sunday??? I cant figure out this weather stuff!!!

Anonymous said...

Every site has something different so it would be best to get more then one poinion and I always say go to this weather blog you can get some of the best info from not only mike but all the great bloggers. So far I have checked out my map's and still only a 20 to 30% chance.

Justin.

Anonymous said...

I love storm chancing and the sad part is I can't because of gas prices.Don't ppl understand how importion it is. We can all watch 5 radars.But to be in it and see it and tell is awesome. I think that all weather station should get a grant to help them. Even in a one horse town.We wont have a Katrina but thats not to say what can happen?1918-1919 we had earthquacks re. Alot of people wouldn't know what to if it did.
Weather and this earth is ???? we all should know what to do . not what what..

Sam

Anonymous said...

Hey all! big storms in Iowa! heading on the same track as they have this last week! Hope they dont grow like they did last Monday!

Anonymous said...

Hey all you enjoying this HUM?

Here is the latest in weather.
Sunday still a 30% chance of Iso-rainshowers late evenning into late night. Monday there is a 40% chance of Iso-rainshowers early morning then becoming partly cloudy to mostly sunny.
Now when we go into Aug it could be a stormy start as of now there is already a 60% chance of Sca-t storms for next Saturday but that is still a little way's off but I will keep you posted. Now don't cancel any plan for Sunday it is only 20 to 30% so most likely you wont see anything.
So everyone enjoy race day and hope everyone stays safe on the track!!!

Justin in LAF.

Anonymous said...

Big storms in Iowa, samo samo, hope they die out. Same track as the last few days, but these cells just wont stop! Keep our fingers crossed!

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone here is your forecast.

Tomorrow we have a 60% chance of some AM Sca-Tstorms your best chance to see them is going to be between 7:00am and 11:00am then maybe another chance of a pop up Sca-Tstorm between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Right now we are not in a severe weather risk just a general.
I will keep watch just to be safe.

Now for Tuesday we could see a high near 94* otherwise the rest of thw weak temps will be low to mid 80s. Tue and Wed is only a 30% chance of rain so right now Im not thinking it will be anything. Are all you enjoying the race?

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

I know what the % chance of rain is but those storms if keep up as they could hit vermillion warren park counties as well as a new cell could hit the northen counties in in sstill watching

Anonymous said...

Looks like the severe part in the storms in IL are heading se yet another cell north of them seems to be gaining fuel and holding together, are they going to break up and not hit our viewing area?

Anonymous said...

We should only see rain if anything we are not in a severe weather risk so a good sign there.
Still tomorrow (Monday) we could see a pop up shower or two in the morning but nothing bad.

Night all :)

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

this may be a dumb question...but it seemed like all of our storms were used to come form st. louis...now they're coming from iowa...Why...any explination?

Anonymous said...

La nina and El nino weather systems have alot to do with weather paths. Here is a website you can look at and it explains alot.
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/1997.html

Anonymous said...

Justin, thats an impressive cell moving our way looks like newton benton jasper and tipp. co could get hit, looks to be packing some hail. I have been watching these storm all afternoon, figured they would hit late.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update Brian!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ty Brian for the updates your doing a great job. I'm glad your here to take care of us.I hope you stay here for awhile.

Anonymous said...

He's on the ball ...lol thanks hun
Does look like we will get much as of now just some rain.

Sam

Anonymous said...

light rain in fowler,oxford I really dont see anything other then that.the storm that is in Ill still looks good but, we have alot of dry air.
Sam

Anonymous said...

Wow Brian, that is one slow moving storm! The humidity has really gone up with in the last hour!

Once again thanks for all the updates! You are great!

Anonymous said...

Big blolt of lightning, and a big boom of thunder, that is what I was waiting for! My kids to get up!

Anonymous said...

Well everyone what ever is left of these storms should be out of tipp by 3:00am and the rest of the veiwing area shortly after. We only had a rumble or two nothing bad here as well as there have been no weather reports with that system just some good old thunder.
Hope it did not wake to many of you. and you can rest well now.

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

No fireworks here, but it did pour! Just checked the NWS gauge and dumped .74 rain.

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

just talked to a friend in Benton County (Wadena area) who got 1.80 inches rain!

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Morning Mary anne Here in Lafayette I got 1.25" we had rain here till just after 4:00am then died off really rain is all we had that and a rumble. The rain came a little faster then expected last night so I don't see any more rain this morning. Todays high around
82* and again only a 30% of rain later this evenning so nothing to worrie about. Hope you all have a great day and now Im off to Jog :)

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

Morning Bloggers,

I had been watching those line of storms In Iowa and IL early inthe day, they really seemed to be pulling together to the north around midnight. Was an impressive cell.

Around 2:00 am I saw a blot of ligntning that was close, thats when the house shook from the thunder. Bet that wokeup some folks!

Then heavy rain, with thunder and lightning, but not bad lightning.

Brian Wolfe did a super job,on giving updates, at times he updated the weather ever 15 mins or so. He was right on!

Thank you Brian for staying with us and doing an excellet job keeping us informed! Glad the storms did die out after crossing the state line!

Teri in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

brian wolfe did do a great job he is a good meteolorogist and I enjoy watching his weather forecast. I am glad we got that rain last night our yard really needed it but our next door neihbor watered his yard last night for around 30min so hopfuly he did not over water LOL...\

Justin in Lafayette.