Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend

Its one of the most impressive shows that we can see here on Earth. Bits and pieces of rock flying though space interacting with our atmosphere, creating small balls of fire. No matter how many meteor showers you have seen, it always seems different.

We are treated two weekends before Halloween to a marvelous sight, the Orionid Meteor Shower. Despite the last visit from Haleys Comet 26 years ago, rocks and dust that will produce this weekends event are remnants from the famous comet.

The Orionids last from October 17th to the 25th. However, the time from Saturday night though early Sunday morning, will be the shower's peak. A time frame lasting midnight Sunday through dawn should produce 25 meteors per hour. However, the only drawback will be a 1/4 full, waxing crecent moon. Therefore, some of the meteors will be dimmed, if not impossible to see with the naked eye.

For best viewing, make sure to get as far away from city lights as possible. Have some hot cocoa handy and enjoy!

Yes, the weather here in the Brazos Valley will be perfect for viewing as the sky should remain crystal clear.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

A Blue Norther Sweeps In

Before I dive into the new blog I want to take some time here to say thank you to viewers and followers such as you. Today is a monumental day for KAGS-HD News. We mark our 1 year anniversary for being on the air delivering weather, sports, and news coverage for this area. Back on October 17th, 2011 we aired our first broadcast. From then to now, we stand tall and this operation continues to grow. Without you, we would not be where we are today. Thank you for watching us and giving KAGS-HD your support.

Now....lets get to business.....the weather.

There is only one way to say it; "what a difference a day makes." Yesterday, we were stuck under the clouds, along with well below average temperatures and widespread rainfall. Today, a complete 180° turn. Sunshine is in full force this afternoon, the wind has been wicked, plus the temperatures have sky rocketed.

 

Over the past 24 hours, the difference in temperature is over 20°F. Many areas in southeast and central Texas warmed into the 80s and low 90s. However, take a look at Amarillo and Oklahoma City, the air is cooling. Those locations are now behind a cold front that will swing by later this afternoon. With it, much cooler and drier air will filter in. As far as any precipitation?.....slim to none. Best chance for any storms will over the Texas Gulf Coast.

 

 

Despite the summer like feel this afternoon, a more Autumnal air mass will move in soon.

 

 





  Expect a ton of sun tomorrow with a gust wind at times, plus lower temperatures.

 

 

From the 60s yesterday, to the low 90s today, to the 70s tomorrow, its like a weather yo-yo. That's how Autumn is here in the Brazos Valley. Transitional seasons get the best of cold and warm air masses. Always remember to enjoy the weather we have outside.

 

 

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

 

Lexington and Caldwell Tornado Touchdowns Saturday

It seemed like a surprise to many, especially of those that were ready to hear the musical tunes of Roger Creager at the Texas Reds Festival in Downtown Bryan. However a dynamic storm that spun up in Lee County moved across our viewing area and washout the tail end of the festival. Additionally, two tornadoes were sighted.

The following is the information released from the National Weather Service and the Storm Prediction Center from yesterday's storm.

Well ahead of an approaching cold front Saturday evening, a supercell developed in Lee County and took on a classic hook echo shape. With just enough lift in the atmosphere along with sufficient wind shear a tornado spun up around 6:45pm near Lexington along Co Rd 408. Storm spotters on the scene indicated that this tornado only touched down for 20 seconds in a rural area. Following an assessment this morning, it was found that a house near Lexington was seriously damaged in the following picture.

Good news is that no one was injured, despite the grim look of the damage.

Once this storm left Lee County, it took aim on Burleson County. Despite weak rotation indicated by Doppler Radar, law enforcement eye witnessed a weak tornado about 4 miles to the west of Caldwell. This tornado landed near Co Rd 102 and Sugar Hill Rd in Caldwell. No damage or injuries were reported..

Nonetheless, it was a wind night with a pop up supercell storm, with additional heavy rainfall during the overnight hours. Easterwood reported 1.15" of rain with isolated spots in Burleson County picking up over 2" or rain.

To keep informed about the weather 24/7 you can download our free weather app for iPhone and Android. This will let you know if there is a watch or warning for your area. This is the best tool in our region during severe weather.

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/plushnickweather  or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Cold Air Is Soooo Close, Yet, Soooo Far

I am proud to announce that this is the 100th post on this blog site. I want to thank everyone who has taken time out of their day to read this blog and watch KAGS-HD. We are closing in on our 1 year anniversary, and KAGS-HD continues to grow and serve the Brazos Valley with local News, Sports, and Weather coverage.

Anyway......the weather over the past week or so has been like a see-saw. Temperatures go up and down, some days are sunny, some are cloudy with heavy rain. Its a sign that the season has changed and Autumn is a transitional time for us. As we move closer to Winter, temperatures will bounce around, and yes, the heat will eventually be completely wiped away. Take a look at temperatures over the past 5 days, quite a difference from the weekend to this afternoon.

Following a cold front, the high Sunday only reached 63°, which is the same as our average temperature for December 9th. This afternoon however, we bounced right back into late summer with highs near 90°. Within a few days, we go from one extreme to another. The remainder of the week seems to be favoring a warming trend with high sticking around the upper 80s to near 90 with mid-90s by next week. Yikes!!!! That's hot!

Additionally, a front that was moving towards us this morning, decided to stall and is currently receding back north. Behind this front, it felt more like the middle of winter this morning in parts of Texas.

 

 

Folks in Amarillo woke up to bone chilling cold for this time of the year. While we remain on the warm and humid side of the front with lows in upper 60s along with patchy fog. Expect more of this right through the rest of the week, until another front tries to get going by the second half of the weekend.

 

Right now, the next weather warrior sits outside of California and could cause some big trouble this weekend.

 

 

This upper level system is harmless at the moment, spinning in some clouds and showers along the California coastline. However, it's upper level energy will strengthen rapidly with a few more crucial ingredients.

 

 

By Friday, the upper level energy you can see above 500mb chart, illustrated in yellow and orange over Kansas and Nebraska will shoot out of the Rockies and blossom into a larger scale storm that could produce severe weather well to our north. Not only is the increase in strength taking place at 500mb, but even higher up at jet stream level.

 



 

Notice the patch of blue from New Mexico towards Nebraska. This is called a jet streak. Jet streaks are important for storm amplification. From the shape and movement of this feature, it is apparent that storms will erupt on Friday and Saturday from the Central Plains to the Upper Mid-West. Additionally, this jet streak will not only generate long lived thunderstorms, but help to twist storms, increasing the chance for tornadic development. 

 

 

According to the GFS model above, rain will spread from Wisconsin to north Texas on Saturday, with the heaviest storms around Illinois. For us in the Brazos Valley, there is a slight shot of a few showers early Sunday, most indications show that this front will fizzle out and we could be left hanging dry once again.....I will keep you updated.

 

For more news and weather you can log onto: www.facebook.com/KAGSweather or www.facebook.com/KAGSTV. You can also check out our twitter feeds: @KAGSweather and @KAGSnews. Furthermore, you can download our new weather app. Search: KAGS Weather, in the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.