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National Weather Service website features helpful information for farmersKansas Severe weather season has already had a profound impact on the 2010 Kansas wheat crop, with hail and straight-line winds flattening fields in northern Kansas in early May and severe thunderstorms and tornadoes racing across the landscape in southern Kansas. Meanwhile, the effects of a Mother's Day weekend cold snap on the wheat crop are still unknown. Meteorologist Chance Hayes with the National Weather Service from Wichita says this year's severe storm season will likely be quite active, with tornadoes and hail posing significant problems throughout the state. Hayes, who manned a booth at the 3i Show May 5 to 7, says the combination of a wet winter and strong front systems could pack a powerful punch. "We're anticipating that if those fronts continuing to be strong with that moisture still in place, we could have a very volatile severe weather season through May and June," he explains. "Once July gets here, hopefully we will get enough heat to squash most of those storms." At his booth during his 3i Show, Hayes demonstrated some of the new features of the National Weather Service website, which are designed to help folks make crucial planning decisions based on more detailed weather information. Folks who visit www.weather.gov may click on their area of the state to hone in on the home page of either the Topeka, Dodge City, Wichita or Hastings, Neb., weather service office, where local information is displayed. Hayes encourages folks to click on "Weather Story," which focuses on the upcoming week in weather. "We create a graphic look at the most significant weather event for the next seven days," Hayes says. "Whether it's freezing weather when we're not supposed to have freezing temperatures or a major outbreak for severe weather two, three or four days in advance, we're going to give people a heads up so they can start planning," he says. The traditional satellite and radar sweeps also are featured on that page, as is the "Top News of the Day," hourly weather recap and short- and long-term weather forecasts and severe weather warnings and alerts. Hayes says the NWS website isn't the only resource for people interested in the weather, however. A weather radio is still the most common source of severe weather information and should be in every Kansas household. Also, many radio and television stations offer text messages when severe weather is imminent. Folks also can subscribe to services from private companies who will make a personal phone call if their home is in a warning box. Still, for many farmers and ranchers who work outside on a daily basis, there is no substitute for experience. "There are many different things folks can utilize, but the best thing to me is to use your eyes. Use those eyes and if it doesn't look right, it probably isn't right and you need to go to safety," Hayes says.
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