Strong Storms With Wind Possible This Afternoon January 8, 2008

A frontal boundary is stuck to our west and will be the focus of rain and t’storms. Here’s the deal: The threat for tornadic activity is highest to our south. An area of low pressure is trying to develop there and the wind fields at various levels may be sufficient to get some of that type of stuff going. In our area, the biggest threat will be from strong winds. This front is quite pokey which leaves us with a couple of possibilities. The former, and perhaps more likely, is that it eases our way and we get showers and strong t-storms with some wind. The latter would be with the front staying put and not moving one bit…should that happen, then the low developing to our south moves up along the stalled boundary and increases our prospects for something exciting. This latter scenario is possible and there is some evidence that it is may. My guess is that this will be more of a wind event and rain event.

We have lots and lots of wind energy but there is not much instability in our area. The lack of instability is an inhibiting factor. However, you can get severe weather and even tornadoes with wind energy alone. If we get a low pressure area forming and the winds begin to change direction as it does so, then that would give rise to isolated tornadic activity. That would be the concern. It is not out of the question that a tornado watch is issued for all or part of the viewing area this evening.

We’ll watch it carefully.

Uncle Sam Helps Arm the Nation with Handguns January 5, 2008

After our 3 days in the icebox, we will warm up for over a week as the west gets snowbound and our temperatures soar. Showers on Saturday in advance of a warm front will help keep the temperatures just above seasonal averages but then we jump to the upper 50′s and low 60′s for the next few days. A front may even trigger some t’storms on Tuesday followed by cooler but still warmer than average conditions. But don’t put away the heavy coats just yet. At this point, it appears that we will be in for a change again starting next weekend.

On This Date In History: On this date in 1847, the Federal Government more or less began the arming of America with handguns. Not directly or on purpose, mind you, but it had the same affect. Samuel Colt had invented his revolver in 1836, but he had no money. Except for dueling, handguns were not that practical up to that time due to inaccuracy and also the fact you had to reload everytime you shot. Most pioneers preferred big knives like the Bowie Knife for close in action. Colt’s revolver solved that problem be he had no money and his guns were very expensive….too expensive for most Americans. But on January 4, 1847 Sam got a contract from the US Army for 1000 revolvers. That gave him cash. The army liked it so much that they ordered more..that gave him more cash. He then teamed up with Eli Whitney to more efficiently mass produce the weapons and suddenly the prices fell and everyone could afford them. Naturally his business grew and between 1850 and 1860, Colt sold nearly 270,000 weapons of various types.

Today, gun control advocates point to the millions of handguns in America as reason for controlling their sale. Others say that people need them for self defense and many states even have right to carry laws. Some say the proliferation of guns as the cause of an increase in violent crime whereas others point to data that suggests handguns in the population has actually resulted in a decrease in crime.

I won’t deal with that debate, but I will say that a college friend of mine once opined this…that is that the United States could never be conquered by an outside foe because it is the only country in history that has a generally armed population. I think he has a point there. Now, whether or not an outside invasion is ever likely or will ever be an issue is another topic, though one might say that it would never be an issue or be likely because everyone is armed. Nevertheless, it is what it is and on this date in 1847, the US Government was largely responsible for the proliferation of handguns across America….whether Uncle Sam knew it or not.