Category Archives: Weather or Not

From Wash Out to the Big Time

Ten years ago, several KC Irish organizations got together and asked, “How can we work to benefit the community as a whole?”  Being sociable sorts, they put fun first on their agenda.

 

 

Irish Fest Temperature History

Historical Temperatures

Irish Fest Historical Precipitation

Historical Precipitation

 

Mother Nature doused their event, but not their spirits!  8.03″ of soaking rain turned the venue into a mud pit.  A stubborn lot, especially where parties are concerned, organizers persevered to create Kansas City’s largest annual festival.  Come join in the fun this Labor Day weekend!

 

 

 

Businesses Heating Up

Clarkson Construction Project - I-435 & 69 Highway

Clarkson Construction Project – I-435 & 69 Highway

There’s a 100% chance for record breaking attendance at any venue that conjures up a feeling of “cool and comfortable” during this heat wave. However, outdoor businesses and their workers are forced to strategically re-think their operations when the heat is on.

One business dramatically affected is highway construction. Specs for bridge deck work state that the air temperature cannot be above 90°, nor the concrete temperature above 85° when pouring. Other highway concrete work has a constraint that the concrete temperature be no greater than 90° when poured.

The options available to contractors under extreme heat are cumbersome and costly. One process many ready-mix plants throughout the steamy Midwest use is “watering” piles of aggregates with sprinklers before they get mixed. Drive by the 69 Highway Project in the KC area and you’ll see them using this “cooling” solution.

The most expensive and labor intensive option is buying ice to dump right into the concrete trucks. We’re not talking about a few cubes for your mint julep. The size and distribution of the ice means that contractors have to find special suppliers to get it into the trucks at just the right time and just the right mix to prevent “flash setting”. In other words, “mixing” is critical to concrete on its way to the job site. “Flash setting” in the truck would not allow for them to even pour it.

As expensive as a chilled water system or ice product is to contractors, they also have to manage their crews effectively. With crew safety in mind, Clarkson Construction Company won’t let labor crews work more than 8 hour days for a total of 40 hours a week during dangerously hot conditions. Big state work has crucial time frames though, so scheduling is an added pressure to running a successful highway construction business this time of year.

Helping our clients maximize their profits is what we do! We are proud to be “on the job” with these dedicated companies.
Disclaimer: 24/7 our team of meteorologists are in an air conditioned, state-of-the-art weather center.

Olathe Girls Softball Took Action

GAME OVER.  Lightning warnings from Weather or Not had already caused Dave Jones, OGSA General Manager, to send players and patrons home.  Storms would not move from the area for several hours so “waiting it out” was not an option.  Some players and families were still lingering in the area when the tornado warning was issued, Dave calmly alerted the remaining bystanders to take shelter immediately.  Read more on how the storms on Sunday posed a threat to crowds at public athletic fields.

Critical Wake-Up Call Saves Field

At 4:50am Friday morning (May 4, 2012), Weather or Not Meteorologist Sully Brown saw rain developing southwest of Kansas City. As the Official Weather Service Provider of the Kansas City Royals, Weather or Not knew that the tarp was off at Kauffman Stadium. Sully immediately gave Head Groundskeeper Trevor Vance his wake-up call. Once Trevor heard that rain and thunderstorms would soak the field before his grounds crew was scheduled to arrive, he made wake-up calls of his own. The field was saved for Friday’s game and practice.

Putting the tarp on the field during humid conditions can weaken the grass. This is why the grounds crew keeps the tarp off as long as possible during home stands. Their goal is twofold: keep the grass plant as strong as possible, and keep the dirt dry because more baseball is played on dirt than grass. On game day, the grounds crew has to have the dirt ready for both teams to practice well before the first pitch. Allowing it to get rained on is not an option.

By 8:30am, the tarp was off, the dirt was dry, the grass had not been smothered and the grounds crew was ready to start their regularly-scheduled day, which likely will not end until close to 11:00pm. Through the night, Weather or Not’s crew of meteorologists will be watching for any possibility of rain that would threaten The K. “Our goal is to let our clients sleep soundly knowing that their business is always on our radar,” says Sara Croke, President of the 26-year-old Weather or Not.

Getting home around midnight the night before, Trevor was prepared for a possible o’Dark 30 wake-up call from Weather or Not. Despite the lack of sleep his crew gets during home stands, Trevor says, “The field comes first.”

Facilities Managers Like These Numbers

“Warmer weather this winter has given all our facilities an added bonus in cost reductions,” says Steve Byrne, Vice President Corporate Facilities Group, Commerce Bank.  “Coupled with the drop in natural gas prices, our budget likes this winter a whole lot more than last year.”

When Facilities Managers want to measure the demand for energy at their businesses, they compare Heating Degree Days (HDD).  The examples below show why utility bills this winter should not only come in lower than last year, but lower than normal.

Heating Degree Days Comparison

Heating Degree Days Comparison

Lessons Learned: Getting Your Message Across During an Emergency

Crisis management teams have a variety of communication methods available to them when disseminating warnings or exchanging information. Redundancy is key as there are few fail safes in technology.  The current trend encourages texting as it requires less bandwidth than a cell phone call.  However, recent tornadic events have proven that when a crisis looms, all thumbs start texting possibly causing a system overload.  Surprisingly, two sources that are diminishing in use, have proven quite reliable during severe weather threats and recovery:  landlines and two-way radio.

For a more in-depth review, read the full article from APWA Reporter, Jan. 2012 issue “Emergency Management” and check out the entire issue of the APWA Reporter from January to read more on Emergency Preparedness & Management.

They’re Ready for Snow

At the American Public Works  Association’s Snow Expo drivers and mechanics gracefully maneuver their snowplows through narrow courses, trying to steer clear of “curbs” and “pedestrians” along the way. Others got behind backhoes, wheel loaders and excavators to learn new techniques through friendly competitions.

Snow Plow CompetitionTraining is critical for first responders. The Snow Expo held annually by the Heart of America Chapter of the American Public Works Association(APWA) in the Kansas City area is an important component to that training, by improving performance through competition.

Congratulations to all of the individual competition winners and to Overland Park, KS, the 2011 team competition winner.