27 January, 20108:05 a.m.
New Hampshire’s Mount Washington has lost its distinction as the site of the fastest wind gust ever recorded on Earth, officials say.
The World Meteorological Organization posted a snippet on its Web site saying a panel of experts reviewing extreme weather and climate data turned up a 253 mph gust on Australia’s Barrow Island during Cyclone Olivia in 1996. That tops the the 231 mph record set atop Mount Washington on April 12, 1934.
“It’s obviously a big disappointment,” Scot Henley, the observatory’s executive director, told the Associated Press. “Having the world record for over six decades was such a part of the soul of this organization and for fans of Mount Washington around the country.”
27 January, 20107:14 a.m.
Sunny skies and highs near 50 are forecast for Wichita today. Consider it the calm before the storm.
A winter storm watch has been issued for a dozen counties in southern Kansas – including Sedgwick and Butler counties – from Thursday afternoon until Friday morning. A strong winter storm is expected to move into the region Thursday afternoon, bringing heavy snow to the area Thursday night and Friday.
The National Weather Service is projecting 6 to 10 inches of snow for southern Kansas, with the heaviest amounts near the Oklahoma border. Snow is expected to taper off Friday morning.
Monitor forecasts closely, and go to our weather page for more on conditions.