Dave Morris » weather

Spring, winter, spring… I’d prefer summer

davemorris — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:25:33 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, spring and winter and then spring, all in the next few hours.

According to the National Weather Service there is a chance of thunderstorms today in the evening and nighttime hours. In southern parts of the state, the storms could be severe. Expect heavy rain and hail. Tornadoes are also a possibility.

By Friday morning, a winter storm is expected to affect NW Oklahoma, spreading south and east throughout Friday and into Saturday morning. Snow accumulations could be up to a foot in the NW.

Your OKC forecast: today, cloudy, a high near 57. 30 percent chance of storms, that increases to a 70 percent chance tonight.
Tomorrow: Temperatures fall to around 36 by 4 pm, rain before 4 pm, then sleet and possibly snow. On Friday night, there is a 70 percent chance of precipitation.

By Sunday, temps expected to return to near seasonal norms. Go figure.

Reporting from Lone Grove

davemorris — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:32:03 +0000

We sent Tanner Herriott to Lone Grove earlier this morning. His mission to report from the scene and send back video. He caught up with The Oklahoman’s Steve Sisney, who left last night to shoot photos and video. Tanner reports the town is in bad shape. He drove to a nearby Burger King where residents were still in their pajamas trying to sort through their plans. Tanner used the wifi to file a video (below) and spoke with me via phone for a quick recap (above).

Here’s how we did that. Obviously he used his cell phone to call into our studio. We have a RemoteMix C+ JK Audio box that feeds the calls into our board which sends the audio to Final Cut Pro. We taped in front of the plasma screen. Covered the video with Sisney’s photos from the scene in post-editing and created a full screen graphic to show who I was talking with. Very simple stuff.

I just spoke with Tanner about 12:30 pm. Gov. Brad Henry is expected to be in Lone Grove at 2 pm for a tour and press conference. We have two more videos to post before then. Also the trailer park residents may be let back in this afternoon to tour their homes, properties and damages.

Enough of the cold weather. Let’s talk pork… and welding… and bagpipes?

davemorris — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:22:07 +0000

Many emails requested more live driving this morning. But we know OKC is a grown up city. It’s even a big league city as Mayor Mick might say. So we left the driving to the every day road warriors.

We did tape a town hall meeting at OPUBCO this morning. And the usual energy segment. And some Parties Extra with Helen Ford Wallace.

Our crews were also around OKC at various assignments:

Tim Money went to a 911 call center to see what it takes to become a 911 operator.

Kyle Roberts and Angi Bruss got an update on the damage the slick roads caused to our vehicles.

Tanner Herriott went to the grocery store. Uh, right… to check out how proposed legislation for a grocery tax might effect our receipts.

Of course, Damon Fontenot will file two videos from the Ford Center later tonight. Or possibly early in the morning, sometimes those deals run long. Press conference and the Jackie Cooper BMW Post Game Show with The Oklahoman (longest title for a current NewsOK segment) will be posted following the final buzzer. Thunder and Grizz, tips at 7.

Update on the OKC weather conditions

davemorris — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:09:19 +0000

Reading through the comments on the live chat was encouraging. The live stream and live chat and live everything of Monday and Tuesday really worked well.

3:17
[Comment From Jake]
This is quite possibly one of the coolest features I’ve ever seen on newsok. Excellent work!
3:17
[Comment From Josh]
nice blog post on the tech stuff… might want to give that props again there in the studio
3:17
[Comment From earl]
will okc school be close tomorrow
3:18
Twitter NewsOKTV: You may have to refresh your browsers to see the video.
3:18
[Comment From @votemikejones]
This is really great. Amazing job NewsOK, this is making me proud of Oklahoma/
3:18
Twitter NewsOKTV: We are moving at 45. I’m guessing it looks a lot faster. http://bit.ly/15ubf
3:19
[Comment From earl]
eep up the good work
3:19
[Comment From Dave]
Yeah, thanks for the details on the setup
3:21
[Comment From JimRat]
I hope you guys win all kinds of awards with this. I just discovered your Twitter stream at the bottom. Even cooler!
3:21
[Comment From earl]
keep up the good work
3:21
Twitter NewsOKTV: Reports of road closure ahead. We will check it out.
3:21
[Comment From Lanie]
Any idea yet what the weather will be like in the a.m.? While I might enjoy another snow day… there are also things to do at work.
3:22
Twitter NewsOKTV: Thanks for the feedback. We appreciate it. Here’s our location.. http://bit.ly/2VVS
3:25
Mike Koehler: Stand by.
3:27
[Comment From Jim]
Make me! I mean OK. Seriously, this is an excellent way to stay entertained and updated on road conditions. Really ingenious. Stay safe guys!
3:27
Twitter NewsOKTV: Heavy S bound traffic I44. Left lane only is clear. Working on the stream. http://bit.ly/3tu5 http://twitpic.com/17yly
3:29
[Comment From Eric]
This is cool but can you guys pull into an empty parking lot and do some donuts
3:32
Twitter NewsOKTV: As you can see traffic is stopped. ODOT just passed us. Lots of HP ahead. http://bit.ly/niBN
3:35
[Comment From Josh]
you guys should get in the paper version of the paper for this… it’s pretty much the best coverage of the ice storm there is, timely, appropriate instant information… good stuff… someone should buy you a beer…
3:35
[Comment From Jason]
Center lane fender bender?
3:35
[Comment From Lanie]
That doesn’t look good. That’s over by the OSU-OKC campus and the State Fairgrounds it looks like.
3:35
[Comment From Kurtis]
You should have headed to Yukon.
3:37
Twitter NewsOKTV: Reports of a hole in the road. We will investgate. http://bit.ly/179HC
3:39
Twitter NewsOKTV: Whatever it was…it’s clear now. Traffic moving again but slow.
3:40
Twitter NewsOKTV: Well head north on Hefner and take kilpatrick east.
3:41
[Comment From tmc]
Just came back from the post office and NW 36th at I-44 is an ice rink..suggest that everyone stay away from there.
3:45
Twitter NewsOKTV: N on HEF. traffic moving@35mph. No wrecks. All lanes N and S are grated. http://bit.ly/16G9r
3:46
Twitter NewsOKTV: We will check out Broadway Ext. next.
3:49
Twitter NewsOKTV: car stuck in snowplow on the right lane just N of 63rd on HEF.
3:52
Twitter NewsOKTV: Overall roads on N side of the city are in decent shape. Traffic has greatly increased.
3:56
Twitter NewsOKTV: E bound on kilpatrick now. #OKice http://bit.ly/6hXwL
3:58
Twitter NewsOKTV: Moving along @45mph. #OKice.
4:02
Twitter NewsOKTV: We will head downtown next. Let us know if there are any routes we need to check out. http://bit.ly/24Em8L
4:05
[Comment From jenna]
how bad is broadway ext?
4:05
[Comment From @bestone - Brad Stone]
how are the streets in North Edmond?
4:05
[Comment From earl]
no shool for okc
4:05
[Comment From jenna]
how fast is your driver driving? seems like he is able to keep a decent speed
4:05
[Comment From Alesha]
Is it slick at all???
4:06
Twitter DavidJones2: Still streaming. Check out our live, interactive coverage on NewsOK.com/live
4:06
Twitter NewsOK: #OKIce No school for OKC Public Schools on Wednesday
4:06
Twitter NewsOKTV: We are moving at 35mph. It’s still slick in spots.
4:07
Twitter NewsOK: #OKIce Mustang and Yukon closed on Wednesday
4:13
Twitter NewsOKTV: Broadway is passable left & center lanes clear. N bound appears to be the same. I’m attaching geo-tags to each twitter http://bit.ly/HTO
4:16
Twitter NewsOKTV: Downtown now. We will check out I40 next. http://bit.ly/tAkg
4:18
Twitter NewsOKTV: Downtown vacant. Sidewalks uncleared. http://bit.ly/pgDt
4:20
Twitter NewsOKTV: Downtown shot. #OKice http://bit.ly/O7xE
4:26
[Comment From ale]
broadway looks bad
4:27
[Comment From SB]
Looks like you are going much faster than 35
4:27
[Comment From Dispatch]
I am hearing the arbuckles are tough to get through and the sand trucks are doing now good.
4:27
[Comment From astudent]
Woot! OU is closed again…no long commute
4:27
Twitter NewsOK: #OKIce UCO will be closed Wednesday
4:27
[Comment From Chris]
OU is closed tomorrow.
4:27
[Comment From ale]
looks like a ghost town
4:27
[Comment From Sixta]
how bad is 39 expessway
4:27
[Comment From JoAnn]
Do you know about schools canceled for Moore Public Schools for Wednesday
4:27
Mike Koehler: No word on Moore for Wednesday
4:28
Mike Koehler: Wednesday’s closings http://newsok.com/weather/closings?getdate=2009-01-28
4:28
Twitter NewsOK: Wednesday’s #OKIce closings: http://tinyurl.com/b56gyh
4:29
Twitter NewsOKTV: I40 now. We will check out 39th EXP #OKice http://bit.ly/cJYn
4:30
[Comment From daaph]
this is the coolest stuff … I’ve been watching for two days and have loved the tour of the city during the storm. You deserve an award for this kind of coverage. thanks
4:30
[Comment From Dispatch]
Moore schools out wed
4:30
[Comment From Tyler]
Moore Public school classes canceled for tomorrow
4:30
[Comment From earl]
can you guy to sw 25 and commce please
4:30
Mike Koehler: Thanks for all the nice comments. We’re trying to give you guys great coverage while everyone is stuck inside.
4:31
[Comment From SB]
This is extremely cool. Stay safe – there are a lot of crazy drivers out there…
4:32
[Comment From Guest]
move that pickup!
4:32
[Comment From earl]
can you guy go s w 29 and may ave please
4:32
[Comment From Sharon]
Chris, Where did you get the info that OU is closed tomorrow?
4:33
Twitter NewsOKTV: I second that. thanks for the nice comments. “we go out so you don’t have to”
4:33
Mike Koehler: No word on McGuinness, but PC, OKC and Casady are closed. So is Elizabeth Ann Seton.
4:33
[Comment From Sixta]
This is just too cool.. how fast are you driving?
4:34
Mike Koehler: We’ll keep you advised.
4:34
[Comment From erik]
how are the roads going to the airport
4:37
[Comment From David]
Congrats guys….this is pretty awesome
4:37
Twitter NewsOKTV: Roads to the airport are slow going but decent. Left & center lanes are cleared both ways I44 watch for slick spots on bridges.
4:37
[Comment From Dispatch]
seems worse the further you go south towards ardmore….got reports from guymon on up to west kansas its clear…..Usually they catch the worst up there.
4:37
[Comment From SB]
That truck was facing the wrong direction….
4:37
[Comment From Sharon]
According to OU’s website, they’re closed tomorrow!!! Yay!
4:37
[Comment From SB]
We just got the call that Saint Eugenes is also closed tomorrow.
4:37
[Comment From JJ]
how late will these “live drives” run today?
4:37
Mike Koehler: Yesterday we went until about 5.
4:37
[Comment From bob]
Be safe out there!
4:37
Mike Koehler: The Road Warriors hit the road at 7 this morning. Racking up the frequent driver miles.
4:39
[Comment From NewsOKTV]
JJ- thru drive time at least
4:39
[Comment From Dana]
NewsOk is numero uno!!!!!
4:39
[Comment From Guest]
I’ve enjoyed the ride!
4:39
[Comment From Dispatch]
good thing fuel is under $2!
4:41
Twitter NewsOKTV: It looks like we are driving faster than we really are…about 45mph. #OKice
4:45
Twitter NewsOKTV: E bound on 39th EXP. traffic slow, roads passable and yes…snow. http://bit.ly/eOu0
4:51
[Comment From NewsOKTV]
we get freq. driver miles? Nice.
4:51
[Comment From Dan 737]
how are the streets twords midwest city?
4:51
[Comment From f5alcon]
is it still rain/sleet,snowing
4:51
[Comment From SB]
The picture is so clear you can see the tag # of the person in front of you!
4:51
[Comment From SB]
ITS SNOWING HERE
4:51
[Comment From SB]
I live near 178th & Penn
4:51
[Comment From Guest]
looks like West bound on NW Highway right now?
4:52
Twitter NewsOKTV: Location update. E bound 39th http://bit.ly/b1gp Roads still passable. Traffic moving at 20-25mph
4:53
Twitter NewsOKTV: Correction: W bound 39th
4:54
Twitter NewsOKTV: Heading E on 39th now. Sleet/snow letting up.
4:55
[Comment From Dispatch]
now its snowing……..what happened to “taper off by noon” from those “other” channels?
4:55
[Comment From SB]
Sorry – but that isn’t 39th at all.. that is NW EXpressway
4:55
[Comment From Guest]
I believe you are several miles north of 39th
4:55
[Comment From Dan]
I thought you guys were on Nothwest Expressway
4:56
[Comment From Guest]
I know how to drive on ice and snow very well now.
4:56
Twitter NewsOKTV: Guess I want to be on 39th, helps to take my nose out of the screens and look up. Thanks.
5:01
Mike Koehler: UPDATE FROM OU
Due to inclement weather, the University of Oklahoma’s Norman, Health Sciences Center and Tulsa campuses will be closed Wednesday, January 28. Information will be posted on this page and distributed to the news media if there are any further developments or closures.

The Union has made plans to stay open 24 hours. Food services will still be available for those students living in residence halls.
5:01
Twitter NewsOKTV: Location update. http://bit.ly/reyB E bound and down NW Expewssway. Yes we are loaded up and truckin.
5:04
Twitter DavidJones2: At least we aren’t outside doing live shots…yet.
5:06
Twitter NewsOKTV: Near Penn square. Light traffic.
5:06
[Comment From hfwallace]
time to go home.
5:09
[Comment From Skye]
tv saying metro bus wreck at 50th and portland
5:09
[Comment From Skye]
now you are very close to my house
5:09
[Comment From Guest]
how fast are you driving?
5:10
Twitter NewsOKTV: Belle Isle bridge snow packed.3 plows W bound clearing all lanes. Traffic backed up behind them. #OKice
5:11
Twitter NewsOKTV: Driving @30 mph.
5:12
Twitter NewsOKTV: N bound broadway.
5:14
[Comment From Tyler]
Bishop McGuinness canceled classes tomorrow
5:14
[Comment From Guest]
looks so much faster on video feed
5:14
Twitter NewsOKTV: Headed to home base. Thanks for your comments and staying with us today.. Stay with NewsOK for continuing weather coverage. Drive safe!
5:15
[Comment From daaph]
thanks guys hope to see you soon.
5:15
[Comment From Lee]
I am wondering if the State will keep offices closed again tomorrow?
5:15
[Comment From Guest]
Have a good night – and thanks for the view
5:15
[Comment From Dan]
hope you’ll be back on tomorrow if it’s kind of a mess
5:16
[Comment From JimRat]
It’s been fun to follow you today.
5:16
[Comment From JimRat]
You’ve cut across three lanes!
5:16
[Comment From Lee]
OU HSC is closed again tomorrow.
5:17
[Comment From NewsOKTV]
its an optics illusion of sorts. I know we have scared some folks thinking we are flying thru ice covered streets.
5:20
Twitter CityofOKC: A few wrecks being reported. For live traffic information, check out the City’s online traffic report: http://www.okc.gov/Traffic #OKIce
5:22
[Comment From Lee]
Have enjoyed the ride as I didnt get out today.
5:22
[Comment From Guest]
Thanks for doing that today. that was interesting to watch
5:22
[Comment From Todd]
When the camera is slightly zoomed it looks odd, and distorts thing. Makes it appear they are following close, not the case, odd things like that.
5:22
[Comment From TO]
You are scaring me to death!
5:26
Mike Koehler: The Road Warriors are done for the day. Thanks for checking in.

Live streaming video of OKC roads

davemorris — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:30:17 +0000

If you haven’t already, check out NewsOK.com/live. It’s a pretty cool tech mashup.

Live video, live chat, live blog updates, two live Twitter feeds, live Flickr photo feed, updated traffic reports for OKC and Tulsa…

David Jones

Tim Money

Isn’t this what the Internet is supposed to provide? Instant information. On demand. Live.

So here’s what we’re doing:

David Jones and Tim Money are driving a silver Jeep Cherokee around the streets and interstates of Oklahoma City.

Honk if you see them.

We are using a Sony Vaio, a mini laptop.

We’d like to experiment with a netbook, which are pretty cheap these days. This Vaio is running Windows XP, and we’re making it work. We’ve plugged a wireless card into the Vaio for mobile Internet access.

We have a Sony HVR camera (similar to this one) placed on the dashboard, using a Firewire connection to the netbook. We are using Adobe Flash for the actual encode before it goes to Mogulus, which is then embedded onto the template of newsok.com/live.

Very simple. But it’s working very well.

Yesterday morning, I met with Jones about this idea. We decided to go for it and see what level of quality we got. We’ve used the wireless cards in Norman during our live Campus Corner Pre Game Shows. The quality hasn’t been this good. But, we’re not using any audio on purpose to save bandwidth. We suspect this may be helping. Also, we are not running into thousands of people using their cell phones like at the game day situations.

So the live video has been successful. We had a steady audience of about 300 people on Monday watching the afternoon drive. Today’s crowd was been lighter as expected. Fewer people are actually in the office.

Then we embedded a smaller Mogulus player on the NewsOK home page. We’re around 500 viewers, lurkers, voyeurs this afternoon.

Jones is using his iPhone to Twitter updates of their location. We created the #OKice tag and are pulling that onto the page. Jones is also using bit.ly to shorten his geo location from his Tweets.

But it’s not just the video. It’s the whole mash up of technology. Right next to the video feed is an embedded live chat. We use CoverItLive. It’s free (there is a new premium version) and works well. We used it on game days, primaries, election nights and for the Thunder basketball games.

I kidded Mike Koehler about being our virtual Magic 8 Ball. He has been monitoring the chat room, feeding stories and information from the NIC and moderating the online discussion. But he’s also been asked for advice, which shows the power of the mash up to generate conversation. I asked him what I should consider for dinner.

If you scroll down, you’ll see the traffic map of OKC and Tulsa and more Twitter feeds. We also pulled in a Flickr feed for user submitted photos.

Yesterday this page was visited more than 5,000 times. We are promoting our live coverage page from the top of the home page of NewsOK.com.

Live, streaming traffic video

davemorris — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:58:56 +0000

We put up a live stream of the Broadway Extension traffic today. Mostly to see if there were delays for the morning drive, and the evening. Traffic didn’t seem to be slowing much after 9 a.m.

Here’s a screen cap of the view, just south of Britton Road off Broadway Extension. We used Mogulus to stream the video. A Sony HVR to handle the image captures…

News update

davemorris — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:04:58 +0000

‘you’ll never catch me’

Those words were scrawled in marker on a roadside memorial cross in rural Okfuskee County, one month after 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker, were gunned down at the same county roadside, just a few hundred yards from Taylor’s house. The Oklahoman’s Johnny Johnson reports nearly six weeks later, there are still no arrests, no suspects and no motive. And a sketch of a suspicious mystery man with a long ponytail who is listed as a “person of interest” has produced hundreds of leads but no notable results.

The ex-husband of Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller has ended up in bankruptcy court in Seattle, months after abruptly shutting down his laser eye surgery business. Nolan Clay reports Dr. Christopher Phillips was the subject of critical news accounts in Seattle earlier this year because some patients complained they had no notice of the closure and did not know what to do next.

Gov Brad Henry visited the Panhandle yesterday. That part of the state is suffering from an ongoing drought that has been compared to the devastating Dust Bowl drought of the 1930s. The Oklahoman’s John Sutter reports Gov. Henry also collected a $50 bounty for his appearance, to be donated to a local charity. Read more at NewsOK or the front page ot today’s Oklahoman.

Today in OKC expect highs in the lower 90s, with winds around 10 mph.

sharedVideo(1672104374)

This Bud’s for… InBev

davemorris — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:28:06 +0000

Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser and Bud Light, has agreed to a takeover by a giant Belgian brewer, a union that creates a global beer leader and brings to an end one of the most iconic names in American business. The deal, still is subject to shareholders’ and regulators’ approval, would create the world’s largest brewer and create the fourth-largest consumer product company worldwide.

Scrambling to bolster eroding investor confidence, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department announced steps to brace slumping mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The plan, unveiled Sunday, is intended to signal the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to prevent the credit market troubles that erupted last year with losses from subprime mortgages from engulfing financial markets.

Oklahoma City native Bobby Murcer, a longtime New York Yankees player and broadcaster, passed away at Mercy Hospital Saturday at the age of 62. A five-time All Star outfielder and three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Murcer was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in December of 2006.

You can find a Bobby Murcer photo gallery and virtual guest book online at NewsOK. And columns from Jenni Carlson, Berry Tramel and John Rohde.

The Oklahoman and NewsOK also rank the 50 greatest baseball players from Oklahoma, tomorrow is baseball’s all-star game, at Yankee Stadium, no less.

Today in OKC: Mostly sunny. Highs about 90. Southeasterly winds about 10 mph.

sharedVideo(1667900178)

New OKC school super takes 1 year deal

davemorris — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:43:27 +0000

- The Oklahoman’s Wendy Kleinman reports new Oklahoma City Superintendent
Karl Springer signed on Monday to join the district under a one-year
contract at his request, saying he wants to be subject to the same treatment
and evaluation as teachers. Springer, a former teacher, has been the
superintendent of Mustang Public Schools since 1999, and has been working in
Oklahoma schools since 1977.

- The Oklahoma City NBA franchise opened its summer league season yesterday
in Orlando, losing to Indiana but sporting black jerseys with Oklahoma City
on the front. The Oklahoman left voice mail with Seattle judge Marsha
Pechman about how she would have ruled before the settlement was reached
last week. Monday she delivered a response through a law clerk. “She is not
going to reveal how she would have ruled,” the law clerk said.

- A cold front moved slowly overnight, bringing a chance of rain today and
Wednesday in most of Oklahoma. Today in OKC: Partly cloudy. Highs in the
lower 90s. Southerly winds 10 to 15 mph. Twenty percent chance of
thunderstorms. That increases to a 50 percent chance of storms tonight.

sharedVideo(1653764314)

Oklahoman’s less charitable on income tax refunds

davemorris — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:33:40 +0000

The Oklahoman’s Nolan Clay reports Oklahomans have been a lot less charitable with their income tax refunds lately. Donations made through Oklahoma tax forms were down over the last 12 months, a reflection of a nationwide trend. Only $147,404 was raised off Oklahoma tax forms in the latest fiscal year, which ended last week. That’s the lowest total in years, records show.

A hole the westbound lanes of the Crosstown Expressway was repaired Sunday. Transportation Department officials said the repairs were completed and the roads reopened about 10 p.m. after having been closed for more than six hours.

A public hearing is planned at the state Capitol this week to discuss whether a four-day work week for state employees would save money as energy prices continue to rise. Scott Barger, the deputy director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, said cutting one commute a week would be one way to help defray costs for state employees. The hearing is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Today in OKC: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid-90s. Southerly winds 10 to 20 mph.

sharedVideo(1650049434)