Live chatting about Oklahoma news
Live chatting is not a new concept in journalism, but it’s one the NewsOK breaking news team is looking into using more.
You’re probably familiar with our sports team chatting with fans on the Sports page in a Cover It Live window. It’s a pretty simple way to communicate with readers and allow them to be part of the conversation.
Recently, the breaking news team has tried to use the chats as a way to provide real-time information. (more…)
December Winter Storm Chat
Oklahoma Red Cross calls community earthquake meeting in Prague
The American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma has organized a community meeting to discuss recent earthquakes.
The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Prague Community Center, 1319 N Westlawn Drive, local Red Cross spokesman Rusty Surette said. The meeting had to be moved to the community center from a smaller venue because of an expected large turnout.
Officials from the Oklahoma Geological Survey, state Emergency Management Department, Lincoln County emergency management office, state Insurance Department, Salvation Army and other groups are expected to attend.
Officials will answer questions residents have about the earthquakes, their aftermath and preparedness for future disasters, Surette said.
Our reporters have written about the earthquake damage in Lincoln County lately, and we want to know if the meeting was helpful to residents? Did you learn anything about earthquake preparedness or insurance? Let us know below.
Photo by Sue Ogrocki: Chad Devereaux works at cleaning up the bricks that fell from three sides of his in-laws home in Sparks, Okla., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, after two earthquakes hit the area in less than 24 hours.
People have been talking, tweeting about Oklahoma’s recent earthquakes
Looking back at the Edmond wildfires
Edmond Wildfire from Insight Visual Media Productions on Vimeo.
It’s been nearly three months since wildfires ripped through Edmond and destroyed several homes. I remember it and the Oklahoma City wildfires pretty well, considering our team of breaking news reporters spent days reporting on the fires and structural damage.
I was trying to find something to blog about and came across this Vimeo video of the Edmond wildfires by Insight Visual Media Productions. After posting my second time lapse video, it’s probably obvious that I love this effect. But this video shows much more than colorful footage. I think it really captures the cloud of smoke and devastation that could be seen for miles.
The production company explains more about the video in a blog post on its website.
When I saw a huge tower of smoke billowing over Edmond this weekend I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get out and shoot some time-lapses. I actually went outside to look at the cumulus clouds from a storm that was rolling over the north edge of town and when I saw the smoke I immediately knew this would be a good opportunity to shoot bracketed.
I’ll let you watch and decide what you think of the video.
I-44 exit ramps reopen Tuesday
Exit ramps between Classen Boulevard and Interstate 44 were reopened Tuesday afternoon.
The westbound I-44 exit ramp to Classen Boulevard and the eastbound entrance ramp from Classen to I-44 were closed all day Monday, said Cole Hackett, an Oklahoma Department of Transportation spokesman.
“We knew with that rain coming in this weekend that these problems might come up,” Hackett said. “We were doing some inspections in that area about a month ago. Where it is supposed to drain, there is a pipe. We noticed the flow wasn’t very good. Once we looked into it, we realized that pipe had been damaged and was pinched off where no water could get through there.”
Crews were able to pump the water out of the area and clear the ramps.
Photo by Paul Southerland: Westbound off ramp and eastbound on ramp to I-44 closed at Classen Boulevard due to flooding from weekend rains in Oklahoma City Monday, Oct 10, 2011.
Families rebuild after tornado damage
I’m visiting residents in Piedmont today to talk about the recovery process since the May 24 tornadoes. It’s part of my weekend story about financial assistance and people rebuilding their homes.
If you’re a resident in Piedmont or were affected by the tornadoes, I’d like to hear from you. Or if you have questions or concerns regarding the recovery process, send me an email at tgibson@opubco.com or comment below.
Photo by Jim Beckel: Kiley Witte, 34, far right, is comforted by a woman as they look at what remains of his home on SH 74 east of Cashion after a tornado destroyed it Tuesday afternoon, May 24, 2011, Witte and his dog were in a storm cellar in his front yard.
Tornado Watch until 10 p.m.
WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION FOR WATCH 307
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 307 IN
EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN OKLAHOMA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 16 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
KINGFISHER
IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA
GARFIELD GRANT KAY
NOBLE
IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA
ALFALFA BLAINE DEWEY
ELLIS HARPER MAJOR
WOODS WOODWARD
IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA
BECKHAM CUSTER ROGER MILLS
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF…ALVA…ARNETT…BUFFALO…
CHEROKEE…CHEYENNE…CLINTON…ELK CITY…ENID…FAIRVIEW…
KINGFISHER…MEDFORD…PERRY…PONCA CITY…SAYRE…TALOGA…
WATONGA…WEATHERFORD AND WOODWARD.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
If you enjoy following weather, these are informative and interesting. This discussion talks not only about today, but also about tomorrow and Friday. Notice how they mention that Friday may be similar to today.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
313 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2009
.DISCUSSION…ANTICIPATING AN ACTIVE EVENING OF SEVERE WEATHER AND
HEAVY RAIN. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY DAYS…THE ENTIRE REGION WAS
IN THE WARM SECTOR RELATIVE TO THE FRONTAL ZONE THAT HAS BEEN
OSCILLATING ACROSS THE REGION IN RECENT WEEKS. MOISTURE WAS
DEEP…WITH MIDDLE TO UPPER 60S DEWPOINTS COMMON. THE MAXIMUM IN MID
LEVEL TEMPERATURES AND CAP STRENGTH HAD MOVED OUT OVER THE
DRYLINE…MAKING THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPMENT LESS LIKELY IN WESTERN
OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS COMPARED TO YESTERDAY. BASED ON SATELLITE
AND UPPER AIR ANALYSES…AND A CONSISTENT MODEL SIGNAL…WE DO
ANTICIPATE THE CAP WILL WEAKEN ALONG THE COLD FRONT. STORMS WILL
DEVELOP THIS EVENING FROM NORTH CENTRAL INTO AT LEAST CENTRAL
OKLAHOMA…WITH A LOWER CHANCE FARTHER SOUTHWEST.
THE NAM HAS BEEN REMARKABLY CONSISTENT IN ITS RUNS OVER THE PAST 48
HOURS OR MORE. IT PLACES A STRONG MAXIMUM IN PRECIPITATION OVER
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AFTER DARK TONIGHT…PERHAPS SIGNALING WHERE
THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WILL MEET WITH THE LOW LEVEL JET DURING ITS
MAXIMUM INTENSITY. THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF OUR FLASH
FLOOD WATCH LOOK WELL WARRANTED…ALTHOUGH THE MAXIMUM COULD ALSO
OCCUR A LITTLE FARTHER EAST DEPENDING ON CAP STRENGTH. THE FAR
NORTHERN PORTION OF THE FLOOD WATCH WILL SEE THE STRONGEST ACTIVITY
EARLY THIS EVENING…BUT THERE IS A SECOND TROUGH ANALYZED AT
700-500 MB…THAT WILL SUPPORT SCATTERED REDEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER
BASED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHERN OKLAHOMA AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD IN
WESTERN OKLAHOMA. MODELS DEPICT A 50 KNOT…NORTHERLY LOW LEVEL JET
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. COLD ADVECTION SYNCED WITH STEEP LOW LEVEL
LAPSE RATES WILL LIKELY BRING WINDS TO THE SURFACE FOR AT LEAST A
FEW HOURS. THE EVENT COULD BE MARGINAL…BUT WOULD RATHER COVER IT
IN ANTICIPATION…TO LIGHTEN THE WORKLOAD FOR THE BUSY EVENING SHIFT.
IN THE WAKE OF ACTIVITY TONIGHT…WIDESPREAD CLOUDS WILL FILL THE
FRONTAL ZONE AND EXPAND BACK NORTHWARD ON THURSDAY. THIS SHOULD KEEP
TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S TO LOW 70S. FARTHER SOUTH…THE FRONT IS
FORECAST TO STALL NEAR THE RED RIVER. ALTHOUGH WE MAINTAIN LOW RAIN
CHANCES THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT…THE CAP WILL BE REBOUNDING
FROM THE SOUTHWEST…AND UPPER SUPPORT WILL BE MINIMAL OR SLIGHTLY
NEGATIVE FOR SUSTAINING THUNDERSTORMS.
FRIDAY THEN LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO TODAY…IN THAT THE WARM FRONT
WILL LIFT NORTH…ALLOWING TEMPERATURES AND INSTABILITY TO
INCREASE…JUST BEFORE ANOTHER COLD FRONT ARRIVES FROM LATE IN THE
DAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IS
POSSIBLE. THIS COULD BE THE FINAL IN OUR SERIES OF SYSTEMS…
HOWEVER…AS STRONGER…DRIER HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS DOWN THE FRONT
RANGE OF THE ROCKIES AND INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS LATER THIS WEEKEND.
WIND ADVISORY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NORMAN OK
256 PM CDT WED MAY 13 2009
…STRONG NORTH WINDS BEHIND A COLD FRONT TONIGHT…
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN OKLAHOMA THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL DEVELOP BEHIND THE FRONT
AS AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVES ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND
NORTHERN PLAINS.
ELLIS-WOODWARD-MAJOR-ROGER MILLS-DEWEY-CUSTER-BLAINE-BECKHAM-
WASHITA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…ARNETT…WOODWARD…FAIRVIEW…
CHEYENNE…TALOGA…WEATHERFORD…CLINTON…WATONGA…ELK CITY…
SAYRE…CORDELL
…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM CDT
THURSDAY…
GUSTY NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BE COMMON BEHIND A COLD FRONT THIS
EVENING. WINDS SPEEDS WILL AVERAGE 25 TO 30 MPH THIS EVENING WITH
FREQUENT GUSTS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS WILL GRADUALLY
SUBSIDE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES INTO
SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTH TEXAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 30 MPH… OR
FREQUENT GUSTS OVER 40 MPH… ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN
MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT…ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.
USE EXTRA CAUTION.
