Anticipation

It's Christmas Eve eve, and there's much anticipation in the air tonight. Santa will soon be on his way. And, he's bringing something with him: a major winter storm.

Kansas City weather is wonky. There's no other word for it. Here in the country's mid-section, we get hit with weather from everywhere. Sometimes it happens all at once. Today we were treated to rising temperatures as a warm front greeted us from the south. We did the last of our shopping dodging rain showers on this balmy 50-degree afternoon. Mother Nature is giving is a big tease before the big freeze.

Tonight's forecast calls for heavy rain, which will continue off and on through the morning. Tomorrow afternoon the stuff falling from sky is expected to change from rain to freezing rain to sleet to, finally, snow. By Christmas night the weather geeks are calling for four to six inches of the white stuff, which is expected to be accompanied by 30mph winds and temps in the teens.

Now, I'm the first to admit that when it comes to believing Kansas City weather forecasts, I don't. Between the area's naturally wonky weather, and each local TV station's quest to gain market share by making every night's forecast oh so dramatic, we've come to accept their predictions as wild guesses. But, as I perused the weather maps today, I recalled something from a Meteorology class I took in college.

When a big low pressure system passes south of Kansas City in December, we can bet on significant snow accumulation. Now, don't ask me to recall anything else from that class, but this learning has proven itself true time and again over the years. And, guess what? A great big red "L" appears to making a bee line to our south.

Yep. It looks like we're in for a white Christmas!

For now, we'll spend the evening wrapping presents to the sound of a steady pitter patter on our rooftop. We've even heard a rumble of thunder or two! We'll soak up the last of this Spring-like weather as we appreciate that we're not amongst the traveling throngs, for once. With our shopping done, our water tank filled and enough propane (we sure hope) to weather the storm, we're ready to let it snow.

Safe travels to all who are en route to their holiday destinations, including Santa, Rudolph and the other reindeer!