Rain, storms, wind possible today

Thunderstorm timing Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)
Thunderstorm timing Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)

Severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)
Severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)

The Wyandotte County area has moved into the “marginal risk” area for thunderstorms predicted on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

It is no longer as high of a risk as thought on Tuesday.

However, Wyandotte County and the surrounding area is still under a wind advisory and there is still the possibility of thunderstorms today, according to the weather service.

Severe storms are expected to move through the region early Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Storms will be capable of strong winds and tornadoes, and will be moving around 50 to 60 mph, according to the weather service. Storms will be east of the area shortly after sunset.

For Wyandotte County, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3 p.m. today, according to the weather service. The high will be near 68. A south wind will be 18 to 23 mph, becoming west southwest from 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds may gust as high as 41 mph, the weather service said.

With strong winds today come an increased chance of rapid fire growth, according to the weather service.

The strong southerly winds with gusts approaching 40 mph may create a fire hazard. Relative humidity will be in the 30 to 40 percent range, but with such strong winds, there is still a concern about rapid fire growth, the weather service said.

By Wednesday evening, the winds will switch from the south to the west-northwest and pick up to around 20 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 40 mph, according to the weather service.

Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy, then becoming mostly clear, with a low of 40, the weather service said. The west northwest wind of 25 to 30 mph will decrease to 17 to 22 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.

On Thursday, skies will be sunny with a high near 58, according to the weather service. It will be windy, with the west northwest wind of 11 to 18 mph and gusts as high as 29 mph.

Thursday night, expect a low of 32 with a west wind of 6 to 10 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday’s forecast is sunny with a high near 55, the weather service said. The west northwest wind will be 5 to 7 mph.

Friday night, it will be clear with a low around 39, the weather service said.

For up-to-date weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Wednesday wind gusts. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wednesday wind gusts. (National Weather Service graphic)

Wednesday night wind gusts. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wednesday night wind gusts. (National Weather Service graphic)

Wednesday minimum relative humidity. (National Weather Service graphic)
Wednesday minimum relative humidity. (National Weather Service graphic)

Sen. Roberts celebrates Marine Corps’ 240th birthday

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., the most senior Marine in Congress and founder of the Senate Marine Corps Caucus, today celebrated the U.S. Marine Corps’ 240th birthday.

“It is a privilege to serve my fellow Marines in the U.S. Senate, and it was an honor to be with our new commandant and many of my fellow Marines last week to celebrate 240 years of service,” Roberts said. “The Marine Corps is unlike any other fighting force in the world and has played a crucial role in our national security for the past 240 years. I am proud that we have established the new Senate Marine Caucus to make the support our Marines have here in Congress even stronger.”

Last week, Roberts was joined by Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. Robert Neller and members of the Marine Corps for a ceremony in the Senate celebrating the upcoming birthday.

To view footage of the ceremony, visit http://www.roberts.senate.gov/video/Marine-Cake-Cutting.mp4.

Following the ceremony, members of the caucus, including co-chairs Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., along with Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., met with Gen. Neller, who took over as commandant on Sept. 25, 2015.

The Senate Marine Caucus was established in June and is co-chaired Roberts, Sullivan, and Blumenthal, the three Marines in the Senate. The caucus focuses on issues related to the unique war-fighting capabilities of the Marine Corps, including the safety, security, training, and wellness of the Corps.

Roberts, whose father was also a Marine, joined the Marine Corps as an officer in 1958, where he achieved the rank of captain.

Offices closed for Veterans Day

All Unified Government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observation of the Veterans Day holiday.

UG offices will reopen Thursday, Nov. 12, during regular business hours.

Veterans Day is also a federal and a postal holiday. The state of Kansas offices also are closed on Veterans Day.

Deffenbaugh is picking up trash as usual on Wednesday and this week.