Sikeston Getting Hammered...and Finally a Much Needed 'AWOS'

[Arizwx]

More 'training'; Trsrtms evident on KLSX (St Louis 88-D) thru 09:46UTC 07 MAY03/Dbz Max '63' Sounding/ just North and ENE of Sikeston,MO.
Vector :Orig MARK at 09:47UTC 07MAY03/ 220Deg @35kt A line of mod/hvy RA RA+ /1.12"in/hr est per Doppler Trstrm+/CB at 56Kft alt:asl Mutlp CG/CC activity.
Nocturnal 'Pulser' type storms flowing in from SSW of POPLAR BLUFF,within SPC//NSSL Tornado Watch Boxed Region.This along divergece line below active STJmax(approx 165kt) responsible for 4th largest Tornado Outbreak in US history.This has the potential of eclipsing more records later today)07MAY),as Diurnal activity has not decreased significantly below Svr Limits along the STJmax.Upper level instability assco with a triple point Sfc low feature,the Northernmost edge,extending off the New England Coast,is pumping rich GOMEX moisture into the teeth of the EPAC born STJ.Ticka 1,in an earlier post,made the excellent observation that a Bermuda High has set up counter rotating the well positioned Sfc Lows.CAPE indices indicate another round of potential Widespread SEV WX including Tornadic events from MEM N Of ATL and Extending into the Carolinas and Virginia.An analysis od SKEW-T Charts bears a striking resemblance to earlier Tornadic activity.IOW..Heads UP Again!
**Note**This is not official NWS WFO Prog.This is my opinion only.
This situation is very fluid,and is likely to become very unstable as the Max heating index continues to favor High Rh and DP values.
Max Sheer is evident on a line from MEM to Chattanooga.
All persons within these areas,as well as Arkansas,N Miss.N Alabama,S/Central Missouri,E KS/E Neb/SW Iowa and eastward to the aforementioned Regions should stay alert.FF RA+ as far N as CVG(Cincy)can be expected.
As a side note.
Poplar Bluff,SSW of Sikeston,MO was the scene of a deadly Tornado a few years ago.Little Rock,Ark 88-D was down and El Dorado,Ark had just been leveled and AWOS offline.At the time,Doppler 88-D with the newest 'Build 10' Software was not available,to Poplar Bluff,albeit MEM and STl(KLSX) picked up some weak long range echos distanced:(Max 230Km+).
A local TV Media outlet had a small version of Algorithmic Commercial 'Doppler' sets up and running in a Beta phase,catching the oncoming Hook Echo signature.A last minute warning went out,albiet too late for some unfortunate residents.They lobbied and recieved funding for a NEXRAD system thru the Fed Gov.
However,Sikeston Memorial Muni Airport has no Doppler,not even an 'AWOS' system(Automated Wx Observation Station)...to relay Wx Obs including Temp/Rh/DP/Conditions/Wind Speed,Direction/Cloud Type and Cloud Hieght.This info is KEY to the safety of not only Aviation enthusiasts such as myself,it is very useful for the surrounding population..of which in the 13 Co area numbers some 374,000 according to MoDot(Missouri Dept Trans)who sponsored and funded the installation...Sikeston is the site of the Southern Mo region area for MoDot.12 other AWOS systems are due to be installed in closeby Reg/Muni Airports such as Hannibal and New Madrid reg.Construction and support will be handled by the very reputable 'Hanson' Systems Group starting in 2004-2008.Congrats Streetsoldier!You deserve the very best!Stay Safe.
~Be Well and Safe~

[vbhoutex]

Fortunately the storms have moved E of Bill for now. More could fire later though. Totally unstable all over SE up into Ohio valley with high dp's all the way up.. More like summer dp's even here in Houston!

I can't believe Sikeston didn't have an AWOS!!! I flew in there 25 years ago on business and I must admit it was a grass strip, but Sikeston is not a "tiny" little burg. It is small city. It is about time they got one!!

[ColdFront77]

There are several cities the size of Sikeston and larger in the megalopolis (from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Massachusetts) that do not have AWOS.

[streetsoldier]

The Sikeston Municipal Airport is hardly a "grass strip" any more...LOL

It is a well-paved single strip, and is at present home to three of those infamous "black helicopters" (a Chinook and two scout choppers) which are flown by Army pilots and serve mostly DEA/ATF interdiction missions.

The system Arizwx mentioned is on the table for installation soon, but with the State shortfalls in revenue, there's no telling when Jefferson City will get around to it.

[vbhoutex]

Good ole state and federal bureaucracy!!! Still alive and kickin' while needed equipment sits waiting!!

When I flew into Sikeston, or maybe it was Poplar Bluff, I was freaking because I thought we were taking the power lines into the strip with us. We landed right after passing over a road and power lines. Either way I hope that airport has been upgraded!!

[weatherlover427]

Stay safe Bill and I hope you get your AWOS soon!