Tornado Watch, Storms Coming, Wilmar NOAA Station Down

I'm staying up later than usual tonight. There's a tornado warning on for this area until 2:00 a.m.

Folks in the Willmar area, about 45 miles south of here, seem to be missing a NOAA Weather Radio station. I read this a few minutes ago, online:

"Statement as of 9:34 PM CDT on May 30, 2011

"... The Willmar NOAA Weather Radio station is not transmitting...

"A local citizen alerted the National Weather Service of possible problems earlier this evening. After confirmation that information was being sent to the radio... but was not distributed from the transmitter... mndot sent a technician to the site to evaluate the problem. The technician suspects that the tower was struck by lightning as several components have melted. Parts will be ordered on Tuesday but it may take several days for the transmitter to be fixed.

"Those individuals that use the Willmar transmitter as their primary transmitter are encouraged to try the St cloud transmitter... the Olivia transmitter... the Appleton transmitter or the Kensington transmitter as alternates to receive weather and warning information. Another option is to refer to the NWS Twin Cities web Page at www.Crh.NOAA.Gov/mpx
(Sauk Centre weather, Wunderground.com)

Here's what radar for this area looked like at 10:44 p.m., about 10 minutes ago:



Trees here in Sauk Centre are thrashing around a bit, but the storm hasn't quite arrived yet.

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

Sunday, May 29, 2011. It's the midpoint of Memorial Day weekend. I'm taking it easy this weekend, in sharp contrast to the folks in Charlie Company. Here's an excerpt from the Sauk Centre Herald's website:

"The community of Sauk Centre said goodbye, for the next 12 months anyway, to the 131 soldiers in Charlie Company on Wednesday, May 25, at the VictriVillage Campus as the unit prepares for their 12-month mission in Kuwait.

" 'We will deploy to write the final chapter of the Iraq war,' said Lieutenant Colonel Brian Melton, commander of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor (1-194 CAB). He addressed the friends and family who gathered to support the troops that afternoon...."
(Sauk Centre Herald (Friday, May 27, 2011))

There's quite a lot more at the Herald website (saukherald.com) about Charlie Company, and their sendoff. Including photos.

Our Lady of the Angels church had a special collection for tornado relief this weekend. Weather around here has been, thankfully, much less interesting.

I plan to be back, before next Sunday, with a photo or two: but we'll see what actually happens.