It has been a very uneventful week once again. I have been training a new employee at work for the last two weeks and the training continues. It’s ok, but we train at my desk, which limits what I can do at my desk. I can really only check my emails on my lunch, or break. I can occasionally open one up while she is at my desk, just so I can send a quick answer. She is a quick learner and she seems to know what to do. Her biggest obstacle is routing calls to the right field rep. She is geographically challenged, so she is not good with routing calls yet. She still has some problems in that area. Tomorrow, we will be short-handed, so we have to work a radio. It will be a good day for me to watch and see how she does.
This week has been very boring. I have been home every evening (except for last night), so I have just stayed around the house and did chores and other things. The next several days appear to be severe weather days. Last night, many members of our REACT team had a conference call to discuss the weather for the weekend. Here is what we discussed….
Thursday: Severe storms are forecast for the western OK area from 3pm through late evening. Main impacts with these storms are large hail to tennis ball size, winds to 65 mph, heavy rains, and isolated tornadoes. I fully expect the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) to issue a Moderate risk (MDRK) for Thursday for all of Western OK, just West of OKC. Storms that can stay together and discrete are the main concern for tornado production. If storms congeal into a line, they will race to the east, possible into the OKC Metro area during the night. Hail, rain, and winds would be the concern for these storms.
Friday: Severe chances will be centered over the Western OK/Central OK area on Friday. Fully expect Friday to also be a MDRK from the SPC. Large destructive hail to baseballs or larger, winds to 70 mph, heavy rain, and tornadoes are all possible on Friday. Expect main time frame for storms to form near 2-4pm. Due to upper air energies, any storms that form and stay discrete have the best potential to produce tornadoes. These storms could be tornado producers after dark.
Saturday: Again SVR chances centered over Central OK. MDRK or High risk may be posted for Saturday. Too early to tell by models at this point. Saturday has the appearance of being a dangerous and destructive day.
Daily WX briefings will be posted on Central Oklahoma React FB page, Multi-county Fire Corps and by email. In discussions with the chain of command, alerts may be needed for each day, especially Friday and Saturday. It is in that regard, that we ask all team members who can be available to spot, and/or help with an EOC be prepared for activation. This is to include a "go-bag" with first aid kit, search/Rescue items, Reflective vest, whistle, flashlights, Team LTR radio charged and ready to go.
All available members are asked to meet at Keith’s church at 11AM on Saturday to discuss operations for that day, as Saturday has the appearance of being a TORNADO OUTBREAK day.
So, it looks like the metro will get hit with possible severe weather after dark on Thursday and early evening on Friday. Saturday will be the big severe weather day. As a matter of fact, I will be riding with a more experienced storm spotter on Saturday. I would go by myself, but they are predicting numerous tornadoes and flooding on Saturday, so it is safer to travel with someone who knows what they are doing. This guy has live radar and all equipment he needs to chase….I don’t. I guess we will see what happens.
http://www.centralokreact.org/
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