Updraft: October 15, 2009 Archive

Forecast: Mixed bag

Posted at 8:14 AM on October 15, 2009 by Paul Huttner

Twin Cities NWS doppler showing rain snow line just north of the metro with mixed precip in the Twin Cities.

What a difference 3 degrees makes.

A mix of rain and snow is greeting metro residents this morning. Temperatures have been hovering around 35 degrees this morning. If it was just 3 degrees colder at the surface, our wet morning commute could be a traffic nightmare. We can be thankful for small atmospheric favors this morning.

Expect temperatures to hover near and just above freezing today in much of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Precipitation may change from rain to snow and back again more than once. It is possible a slushy inch or so of wet snow may accumulate in the metro on rooftops and grassy areas today. 1 to 3 inches may accumulate north of the metro and into northwest Wisconsin.

The last in a series of chilly winter-like weather disturbances will glide through the area Friday. This will bring one more shot at rain and snow showers to the region.

Brighter Weekend Ahead:

Ridges in the atmosphere generally bring good weather. We've got one moving in just in time for the weekend. Here's what you can expect the next few days.

Today: Rain snow mix. A slushy inch possible. High near 40.

Friday: Clouds hang in, scattered rain or snow showers. High near 43.

Saturday: A few morning clouds then mostly sunny and milder. High near 50.

Sunday: Breezy and milder with bright sun. High near 60.

Enjoy the improving weather this weekend!

PH

6-year-old missing balloon boy found alive

Posted at 3:14 PM on October 15, 2009 by Paul Huttner

Update 5:10pm: It appears the 6-year-old boy has been found alive. Reports are he was hiding at home in the garage attic.

And of course, there's already a T-Shirt.

PH

This one is too bizarre to be believed, and may be just as tragic.

Authorities in Colorado are still trying to piece together a strange set of events surrounding a 6-year-old boy in Colorado who appears to have launched himself thousands of feet into the air in a homemade weather balloon.

Reports are that 6-year-old Falcon Heene was launched from his back yard in Fort Collins, Colorado in a homemade weather balloon that was airborne for about two hours. The balloon crashed in a field some distance southeast of Fort Collins.

The cable networks are wall to wall with coverage on this today.

The story is even more bizarre as this family was featured on the show "Wife Swap" recently. The family members are amateur storm chasers. The Denver Post did a feature on the family in 2007.

Witnesses say they saw an object fall from the balloon during the flight. The Denver Post has a photo of something that appears to be falling from the balloon. It is feared the boy may have been inside. The ballon landed in a field near Platteville, Colorado southeast of Fort Collins after a two hour flight.

I'm not making light of this, but this definitely falls under the category of "don't try this at home." The NWS takes great care in launching weather balloons and they do not send people up in the air to collect weather data.

I'll have more on this today as events unfold.

PH