Welcome back to work, school and traffic as the first full week of 2009 is underway. As the holiday season is now over you could tell by one look at our traffic cameras that the morning rush had returned to normal. Although schools are not back in session until tomorrow, lots of cars were back on the “I” this morning and folks were pushing through the clouds and fog.

The week ahead looks fairly mild as we are still way above average with our highs in the 70s! Our typical high this time of the year is only in the upper 50’s and I really don’t see us getting back into “normal” territory over the next seven days or so. There may even be a few rumbles of thunder in the forecast by Tuesday night as a cold front moves through. We are not looking at anything strong although it is a good reminder that we are not far from our start of severe weather season. We have had numerous bouts with strong storms in December and January so they can pop up about any time.

Hope you enjoy the day and the week ahead…just wanted to take the time this morning to get back to bloging more in the new year…another one of my hopeful resolutions!

Chad Watson
Live 5 Meteorologist

2009 started on the cold side with highs on New Year’s Day not getting out of the 40s.  That cold weather is a distant memory as we head into the first weekend of the new year.  Not much sun in the forecast over the next few days, but at least temperatures will be on the mild side.  A complex storm system continues to effect parts of the deep south and will keep our weather very unsettled through midweek.

A stationary front will begin to move north during the overnight and into the day on Sunday.  This will keep plenty of clouds and scattered showers in the forecast for the second half of the weekend.  Highs on Sunday will be in the mid to upper 60s.  Not much sun expected for the start of the work week as a cold front begins its trek towards the area.  There is a slight chance for showers on Monday and Tuesday, but the best chance for rain looks to be Wednesday as the front sweeps through the area.  High temperatures will remain above normal through midweek.  Have a great Sunday !!

Brad

We’ll, I hope you all had a great New Year’s & holiday season.  Spent a few days with the family and away in North Carolina.  Also flew an Air Force trip to Honduras and Dominica.  When you visit those other countries, you really are thankful for everything we’re blessed with here in the United States.

Our weather has run the table up and down on temperatures.  The other day it was in the upper 60’s and this morning we woke up to some 20’s!  Look for a moderate weekend in the 60’s with a few clouds here and there.

I am now part of the IPOD generation.  My wife gave me one of the little things that hold more music inside something about the size of a tic-tac box than we had in the entire radio station I started at.  Now I’m downloading music from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s etc.  I feel like I’m programming my own radio station.  I even found some Frank Sinatra  and Glenn Miller.  Oh, just thought about this, I’ll have to add some Doors and Three Doors Down.  (someone coming in the studio door reminded me.)  That’s the problem now.  When I think of a good song, I have to download it. 

 The thing to remember though is that it costs around a buck to get a song.  I noticed after a hundred or so that I was running up a bill.  So I’ll have to watch it.  What a way though to listen to music.  The thing is so small you can run with it and drive with it.  I’ve got a plug in the car and it’s a pleasure to hear all those songs you like.  Now I’m singing down the highway.  Got to watch it though.  When Prince comes on, I start moving a tad too fast and people look at me like I should be given some sort of medication.

 Well, hope you have a fine start to 2009 and we’ll keep you updated on the weather and other songs if I can remember them!

Bill

Not too many complaints this hoilday season about the weather.  The Southeast continues to bask in the 70s while other parts of the U.S. contend with cold and snow.  If you are travelling around locally the next few days, the weather will remain quiet for the most part. As of right now, it doesn’t look as though there will be any major storm systems affecting us.

Look for the unseasonably warm weather to continue for the remainder of the weekend.  Dense fog will once again become an issue for Sunday morning, but the sun will eventually shine by late morning and into the afternoon.  Temperatures will respond to the sunshine as high temperatures are expected to soar into the mid and upper 70s.  A cold front will move across the area Sunday night bringing with it a slight chance for showers and cooler weather for Monday.  The record high by the way is 78 today and 79 on Sunday.  Both were set in 1971.

Have a great Sunday and enjoy the final weekend of 2008 !!

Brad

Christmas week is here and so is the cold weather. A strong cold front has moved through the area and will send our temperatures below normal for the next few days.  Skies will clear out tonight as low temperatures drop to near freezing.  Expect sunny skies on Monday, but highs will only be in the mid 40s.  Monday night will be clear and very cold as lows drop into the mid 20s.  Temperatures will moderate through the holiday week reaching into the 70s by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day along with partly cloudy skies.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.  Stay tuned to Live 5 News in HD for all the latest news, sports, and weather throughout the holidays and into 2009 !!

Brad

After a week of 70’s and springlike weather; we’ll see some cooler weather into Monday.  Ironically, winter officially begins at 7:04 a.m. on Sunday morning.  We’ll still be near 70 on Sunday, but a strong cold front will move east and we’ll get those winter temperatures back by Monday as we kick off Christmas week!

Look for a few cooler days into the beginning of Christmas week.  By Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our temperatures will moderate a bit.  I expect highs in the 60’s on Christmas Eve and Christmas day with about a 3o% chance of a few showers.  We’ll keep you posted on the holiday weather as we get closer.

Busy shopping weekend underway with lots of parties and holiday festivities.  Don’t forget to check out the lights at the James Island County Park.  It’s well worth the 10 bucks for a carload and very well done indeed.  It’s fun to park and explore the “Winter Wonderland” they set up every year complete with a fire pit to roast marshmallows on a stick.

Enjoy the weekend and the festive spirit.  We’ll get back with you Monday on what is to be a big week ahead.  I hope you join us for tonight’s broadcast and the weekend editions of LIVE 5 NEWS.

Have a great weekend!

Bill

Wow…we almost forget that we live on a large fault which is a focus for earthquakes.  That is until a quake hits like this morning’s 3.6 magnitude on the Richter Scale centered near highway 61 at highway 165.  This was the largest in quite a few years, but not uncommon to the area. 

History shows us that earthquakes can strike at anytime and can be devastating like the one that leveled Charleston in 1886.  The bottom line is that we need to remember earthquake safety and have earthquake insurance on your homes.

I was broadcasting on the radio at WTMA with Richard Todd when the quake hit.  The phones went crazy with people reporting the quake.  We took a bunch of phone calls and talked about the quake and told folks where they can get more information. 

It’s always amazing to see our newsroom swing into action whenever breaking news happens.  Our producers and morning news anchor team jumped on the story and were first to bring this news and coverage of the event to the Lowcountry.  Stay tuned to LIVE 5 NEWS tonight for more information on the earthquake.

Busy here in the Storm Center; so we hope you join us for tonight’s evening broadcasts and back here at 11 for a live update before you go to bed.

Bill

Oh…how I love this weather!!  I am a warm weather guy.  I know a lot of you are cold weather lovers and snow lovers, but when you grow up in the great snowy northeast, you get your fill!

Look for 70’s all week!  We’ll cool down a bit towards the weekend. 

Busy here in the Storm Center getting ready for the holidays and the parades.  We enjoyed parades in North Charleston, Hollywood, Hanahan, Charleston, Summerville and Mt. Pleasant this year.

Speaking of Mt. Pleasant, I think it’s now the largest watched parade in the area.  I’ve been doing local parades for 22 years and for years the downtown Charleston parade was the most attended.  It’s my opinion only, but comparing them and with the experience of all these years; it’s clear to me that Mt. Pleasant has the biggest parade attendance. 

 All the parades were well done and it was super to be part of the fun.  We look forward to doing them again next year.  Thanks again to all the organizers, including all the firefighters and police officers who make it all happen.

A busy week for me as Chad takes some time off.  Brad and I will be doing the shows plus I will be flying an Air Force mission towards the end of the week.  It’s an interesting diplomatic mission and I’ll let you know about it when we get back.  

Christmas is in full swing and the holidays are just around the corner.  Don’t forget to take some time to enjoy family and friends while not getting too over done by all the extras added on this time of the year.  We attended the Spine Institute party the other night in Charleston and our thanks to the great folks who put on this shindig.  It’s a who’s who of Charleston and a fun time to get together held at the Mills House Hotel.  Many of the LIVE 5 team were spotted at the party including Bill Burr, Harve Jacobs and Chad Watson.  Fun was had by all.  Along with lots of other things like good food and beverages.

Thanks to all who made our Day of 1000 Toys a huge success!  Debi Chard says we went way over the 1000 and that means more kids will get gifts this year.  All your support makes this great toy drive a winner year after year.

Don’t forget our Ronald McDonald House Lights of Love campaign.  Go to www.lovebuilds.org and lend a hand if you can to help families of sick children.

Well, time to get ready for tonight’s broadcast and we hope you can join us for the early evening shows and fresh update before you go to bed at 11.

Bill

Mother Nature sometimes is difficult to figure out.  Today, we saw plenty of sunshine but high temperatures only reached into the low 50s.  A change in the overall pattern across the country will bring a warmup across much of the southeast. High pressure will continue to move out into the Atlantic over the next few days.  This will allow for an increase in clouds, but also a warmup for the Lowcountry.  Expect mostly cloudy skies for Sunday with highs in the low 60s.  Can’t rule out a few showers along the coast, but most areas will make it through the weekend rain free.  More clouds than sun for the start of the work week, but temperatures will remain mild with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s.  Have a great Sunday !!

DON’T FORGET OUR 1000 TOYS DRIVE ON MONDAY…DROP OFF A NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY HERE AT LIVE 5 OR ANY WALMART!

Brad

The potent storm system that brought snow across parts of the South including Houston and New Orleans is on the way out.  This also brought some severe weather to our area, but thankfully no damage except for a few trees and wind gusts. 

Look for better weather for Friday and Saturday then a few clouds with a slight chance of a shower into Sunday.

Busy here in the storm center the last couple of days tracking weather with Super Doppler HD.  I did note one weird thing.  After Hurricane Hugo in 1989 we had snow around the holidays, in December.  The only white Christmas ever recorded here in Charleston.  Ironically, Houston also had a category IV hurricane this year and indeed, snow in December.  Perhaps a coincidence, but something to note none the less.

Hope your holiday plans are going well.  We will be out in the parades again this weekend in Summerville and Mt. Pleasant with the StormTRACKER.  Even with the crazy economy, it seems to me from being in the stores, that people are out helping to stimulate the local businesses which is good news.

Well, in all the hustle and bustle, remember to enjoy the season, take time for family and have fun.  We hope you join us for the broadcasts this evening and right back here before you go to bed for an update at 11.  Have a great weekend!

Bill