Not Gone Yet...

If you have watched Ch. 8 at all during the past week, you have seen the various tributes regarding my retirement.  I am humbled by the outpouring of support from so many of you.   But…I still have 2 months to work as my “final” day won’t be until March 2, 2016.   In addition, I will be available during the 2016 Hurricane Season as a special hurricane consultant to FOX 8.   So the bottom line is we still have more time together my friends.

 

I return on-air tomorrow and there have been some big changes since I went on my Christmas break.  1)  Air temps are 20-30 degrees colder from our record warmth December.  2) Lake Pontchartrain water temps have cooled into the 50s signaling the start of the “fog season” for Causeway commuters.  Anytime warm air returns from the Gulf and hits the cold Lake waters, dense fog is the result.  That won’t happen for the next couple of days as north winds are keeping the cool air in place.  3)  The Mississippi River has surged from 10 feet 2 weeks ago to over 13 feet today.  The crest is expected to be 17 feet in about 10 days and, unless more rain falls, the Corps of Engineers probably won’t open the Spillway.   If the crest is predicted to be above 17 feet, the Spillway could be partially opened.  Fortunately, we have enough control structures that can be opened to relieve the surge coming our way so that only the River pilots will have to deal with the high water.

 

Back to the cold, this is what it’s  supposed to be like in January.  What will be interesting to watch during the next 5-10 days is if any major storm develops.  With so much cold air in place, we could have the first real snowstorm for the eastern states.  Stay tuned!