Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday, Mel. May you spent the next 1,900 years giving us the laughs (or "laffs" as they in Hollywood) making us as happy as you have your first 100 years!!

The area in brown has a significant risk of tornadoes the rest of the day and this evening. Please keep an eye on the weather in these areas. 

Much of the nation is going to be hot! Right now, there is no specific indication of wetter or drier than average conditions next week except that I would add an areas of below normal rainfall from St. Louis east to Louisville and north to Indianapolis.  And, for Monday night (only).......... Especially with the heat, some people will experience the issues outlined above.  Have a wonderful , and safe, holiday week!!

Note that, in addition to strong  tornadoes, 80 mph thunderstorm-driven wind gusts and tennis ball-sized hail are also forecast.  Note: Tulsa is included. Oklahoma City and Wichita are not.  -- Original Forecast, Still Valid -- The areas in brown on both maps have a significant risk of tornadoes later today -- and any tornado may be strong. The threat may begin this afternoon.  In addition to the cities shown above, Joplin, Carthage and Neosho in Missouri are also included. 

From meteorologist Jan Null, who is an expert on the hot cars threat.  Put your phone, keys or purse in the back seat when you strap in your child. 

Girls evacuating during at the beginning of the flood from  cabins to the Rec Hall.  Some sad news out of Texas: Camp Mystic, the Christian girls camp along the Guadalupe River in Texas since 1926, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy . That means they are going to ask a court to deal with their debts with hope of reopening at some point.  Of course, Mystic was the camp where 28 girls and adults perished during the extreme flash flood the morning of July 4, 2025. The State of Texas has found the planning for flash floods, especially since the camp was right next to a river known for flooding, was wholly inadequate. The report of the Texas Senate was released yesterday and it is here . Given the nature of Chapter 11, it is likely the owners of the camp will lose their equity and the camp may be sold to others. Whether anyone will come forward is unknown.  While the owners of the camp deserve a great deal of criticism for the lack of meteorological preparedness (based o...