MORE AND MORE RAIN FOR ARKANSAS

[okieboater]

Like many of you, I have friends in the coastal areas of the Gulf. Like many of you, they are in my prayers.

I have to say, Arkansas, MO, Oklahoma, Texas, the high plains and much of the mid American grain producing states are bone dry. Crops, grass, tree cover and most waterways are just not there.

I live south of Tulsa OK. This area has lots of those short oak trees our part of Oklahoma is blessed with. All of these trees have shed their leaves. This is the second year of super hot temps, hot winds, low humidity and I think many of the trees we depend on for holding moisture in the earth are either dead or will not recover even if it rains big time multiple times. What grass is left is crisp and brown - local grass fires in the hot wind have burned down entire communities in our part of the world. The corn crop is slim to none, wheat not much better. West TX and OK panhandle areas are super dry and ranchers have sold off their herds of cattle. No hay meadows produced feed this year to speak of.

It is gonna take months of soaking rains over these areas to replenish the top layers of soil. Probably never replace the aquifers that have been drawn down by deep drilled wells.

Gas at the retail level is headed skyward like a helium balloon. Corn is being put into gas by Federal Law which would not be done if it were not for Congress. This act alone pushes up the cost of corn based food products. Another one of the good intentions with zero thought of the consequences. Food costs quietly go up every time you go to the market. A lot of this might have been handled given adequate rain fall - but it did not happen and maybe may not ever happen.

Bottom line for me is my heart goes out to those living on the coast and experiencing this weather event and probably more hurricanes brewing out in the Atlantic Ocean, but if we can get even a bit of inland drought relief, I appreciate it.

[Louiscov]

Butch and Richard,

If you, or any of my other friends, have family or friends living in high threat areas, my wishes for their safety would be as yours are. It's terrible when people loose their lives and property, and I know it's not funny when you're a friend or family member just waiting and worrying about folks.
My family lived in a home 3/4 mile off the beach at Sunnyside, Fl. for 10 years, and in Puerto Rico for 3 years, both had high hurricane threats.This experience makes me wish all the more that people would not choose to, or have no choice otherwise than to make their permanent homes in such places. Their safety is often at risk, and when they vest so much of their lives in these places, it can often be no less than a tragedy.
I will continue to enjoy these weather related threads as good fun among friends, be it wishing for rain or a good snowstorm. I hope those who know me will always read it that way, and not something to be gained at the expence of someone else's misfortune. BTW, besides certainly looking forward to the floating potential, I'm also a farmer. We need som rain

Worthlessly Yours

Jim

Nicely put, Jim!!

As much as we love paddling, of course NO ONE wanted a hurricane. I don't think anyone is cheering for Isaac or will be thanking God for the "blessing" of a hurricane in their prayers tonight. I CAN tell y'all that many times in my prayers I have thanked God he blessed me with a love of the outdoors, the privilege of living my life in Louisiana/Arkansas where the swamps and rivers and mountains and pines are so unbelievably beautiful, energizing, and enjoyable!!! And given thanks for incredibly awesome friends who share those passions. I too will continue to enjoy these weather related threads as good fun among friends. My four years in the ACC have been the best of my life and I just wish I'd met y'all twenty years earlier.

In 1969 a cousin stayed with us 4 months because his house in Metarie was flooded over the rooftop by hurricane Camille. I've helped a tearful aunt in Pascagoula pick through the soggy, moldy remnants of her poessessions of a lifetime when a hurricane collapsed the roof of her second story apartment & she couldn't get to it for a few days because the first story below hers had 6 ft of water. It's a serious, sometimes deadly event. Yet one of my all time favorite sermons was entitled "As you go through life enjoy a little honey." It was about keeping perspective, finding some kind of encouragement and thanksgiving and a chuckle in anything. So I hope y'all get a wonderful rain, Louisiana is spared as much as is possible, & I hope you'll send some snow our way down here this winter. And your salutation "Worthlessly Yours" is hilarious but not correct!
louis c

[Richard]

I just got a call from my son in NOLA. They are without power but otherwise doing well. I could hear the wind and rain in the background. He was wanting to know where the eye was and how fast it is going. It looks like he will still be getting rain and wind until morning.
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tr ... radar.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BTW, I was in Betsy in 1965 while stationed at Biloxi, MS. We spent the night hunkered down in the barracks hallway. Last year, I paddled my canoe through the streets of Metairie. I am sure there will be damage and maybe even some loss of life but nowhere to compare with Katrina. At this moment, I am in Nauvoo IL. Like the rest of us who have endured the horrendous drought, the people here are looking forward to some rain from Isaac.

[okieboater]

Yup, been watching it on radar most of the day. Stalled out big time with lots more rain to come before it moves out of NOLA.

Here is the hi res radar link I use (one of many but a favorite), have to scroll around but it shows the entire US in HI Res radar. Hope it works.

http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/full_loop.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Richard]

Thanks Dave.
And the forecast changes again. If this forecast holds, the Buffalo will be in flood and a substancial part of Illinois will too.

[gma06001-]

I just looked at the latest forecast as well..holy cow..it just keeps getting better and better. Warmer air temps and high water, that's not something that happens very often in Arkansas.

Mitch

[SteveGabbard]

As excited as I am to possibly get to boat over the weekend, many of the farmers in eastern Ar who have battled the drought are ready to harvest. They have expressed concern that this will ruin their crops.

It's such a double edged sword...

[Jim Krueger]

Hot Dog! That's a great 'latest' map Richard! I've been out working on projects all afternoon and haven't had time to see what new developments were in the works.

Steve, the thought you have expressed is also one I've had on many ocassions too. I was thinking of a couple of farmer-friends of mine recently who probably had one of the worst growing seasons they've ever had this year. No amount of rain now, at this late date, could possibly help that situation to increase their yeilds, only hurt.

One of my grandfathers once told me, "Farmers sometimes pray for rain, and they sometimes pray for it to stop."


Best Regards
Jim

[R_Corter]

Yes we need the rain, and some don't at this particular time. I work for a rice mill. The farmers in the southern and central areas should be getting close to finishing there harvest. It was a bit early this year and there have been no hiccups in the harvest due to no rain. The late beans in the field will be glad to see this rain. I drove to St Louis Wednesday up 61/167. Needless to say they are just beginning there harvest in NE Arkansas of the rice crop. I am most certain it will lay some of the rice crop down. The rice can still be harvested. It is just a little slower. I have many family members who have cattle and hay ranches in North Central Arkansas and know numerous hay and cattle farmers. I can tell you they are counting this as a blessing if it makes it here and holds up. I wish no misfortune and definitely no harm to those on the cost. I am most certain those needing the rain in our borders do either. Severe weather often accompanies rain in the spring, many still count the rain as a blessing while morning for those that have losses, whether it be life or property. I truly hope I don't offend anyone while I enjoy the rain over the next few days. I will pray for those tonight on the coast! I would have rather not had the hurricane and just got the rain. The hurricane will effect us negatively several ways here. Via the gas pump, agricultural and some other ways. It will also bring some positives too. I truly hope and pray there is no loss of life on the coastal areas.

P.S. My pond is almost dry, I have a place near Calico Rock. I hope she gets to running over my spillway!!! I was worried if the record temps didnt break I was going to have a total loss on my fish!!!!

[nproctor]

What do yall think...Well Piney be up to yak????

[Jim Krueger]

Today has been just a 'blue sky' day here in Benton, but pretty breezy, steadily all day. Just now, at 9:30 p.m., I took a look outside and can see a stream of clouds passing by the moon, heading due west. I can only guess it's on the leading edge of the system coming this way.

Best Regards
Jim

[R_Corter]

What do yall think...Well Piney be up to yak????

I was thinking an talking last night and I think Upper Buff, Piney and Mulberry will all be float-able/flood stage. I think they will fall out EXTREMELY fast due to the drought. I know there are more experienced that can answer but that's my .

[Richard]

Now it looks like the Buffalo is going to do good to get 2 inches. Oh well.

[nproctor]

Not saying anything

[cpresoz]

My group was antsy, so we went ahead and reserved a group site at Tyler Bend for Saturday and Sunday. Hope she comes up a little, but right now it's looking like possible float on Saturday before she drops out. Doesn't look like Upper Buffalo is hopeful. Of course I'm not talking about r@#n. Wouldn't want to jinx it.