So far in this young year of 2009, 0.18” of rain has fallen in the WNCT “backyard” rain gauge.  Elsewhere in Eastern Carolina, New Bern has officially had only 0.01” of rain since the 01 / 01 / 09.  These totals will swell in the next 24 to 72 hours!

Our first shot at widespread showers will occur late Monday night into the first half of Tuesday.  A cold front will sag southward across Eastern Carolina from Virginia, stall, and then lift back northward as a warm front in this time.  This front will focus ample atmospheric moisture into widespread showers.  Rain amounts will likely range from 0.25” in the Jacksonville - Beaufort area to as much as 1.25” near the Virginia state line - potentially a healthy soaking!

Next, a new cold front will sweep into and across Eastern Carolina during the day Wednesday.  This second front will bring its own round of showers - some heavy - and even some thunderstorms.  Widespread rain amounts of 0.50” or greater will be possible with this frontal passage - potentially another healthy soaking!

Thanks for checking into my blog.  Stay with Storm Team 9 through this unsettled weather week!

From an ongoing drought to the massive and smoky Evans Road Wildfire to Tropical Storm Hanna, 2008 has been another challenging year to forecast the weather in Eastern North Carolina.  Thanks for depending on your Storm Team 9 forecast through it all!

Amid the forecasting challenges, 2008 was a good year for the Storm Team 9 3-Degree Guarantee.  My January to December record was 214 correct forecasts out of 227 forecast opportunities - a 94% success rate!  Our Chief Meteorologist, Phillip Williams, also forecasted with greater than 90% accuracy on the year.  I hope you’ve had a chance to see our Weekend Meteorologist, Von Gaskin (who joined our team toward the end of this year) bring some great - and certainly - accurate forecasts to you as well.

Happy 2009, viewers and web surfers, and thanks again for depending on your Storm Team 9 forecast in 2008! 

Gannon Medwick
Storm Team 9 Meteorologist

I love forecasting for Eastern North Carolina because we have all types of weather.  This past year, we had just about everything but a snowstorm.  Drought, a tropical storm, and several tornadoes hit the area in 2008.

The least likely time for a tornado is on an early February morning, but a tornado hits a Greene County home at just such a time.  With winds around 120 mph, a tornado forces a two story home off its foundation, startling the family sleeping inside.  Luckily, no one is seriously hurt.

On Mother’s Day, I track a tornado with Live VIPIR 9 roaring into the Maysville/Belgrade area.  An EF2 tornado damages or destroys twenty five homes and businesses.  Six people are hurt, but advance warning helps save lives.

The long term drought extends into 2008.  As rainfall remains sparse in the early half of the year, river levels drop to all-time lows.  Many communities issue water use restrictions.

Some help for the drought comes from the tropics.  Tropical Storm Hanna hits the East with 70 mph winds and heavy rains.  Two to five inches of rain falls on the area and the gusty winds produce some scattered damage. 

While the East doesn’t get a hurricane, the 2008 hurricane season sets records.  Hurricane Fay makes a record 4 landfalls in Florida as it crisscrosses the sunshine state.  Six consecutive tropical cyclones hit the US Mainland.  For the first time ever, five consecutive months have a major hurricane to form.  Hurricane Gustav tests the rebuilt levee system of New Orleans.  They hold.  In September, Hurricane Ike swamps the Upper Texas Coast with a storm surge of more than 20 feet.  With the storm surge and 110 mph winds, Ike becomes the third costliest natural disaster for the US behind Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew.

Back in the East, a deadly tornado hits the Kenly and Lucama areas of Wilson County on an early morning in November.  This predawn tornado drops from an individual thunderstorm that produces at least 4 tornado touchdowns along the I-95 corridor.  Two people die from the tornadoes.

The turbulent weather pattern of November brings air cold enough for snow showers on two different days before Thanksgiving.  November 21st sees snow showers throughout the East.  2008 doesn’t have any snowstorms, but at least we get to see a few snowflakes.

Phillip Williams

I love forecasting for Eastern North Carolina because we have all types of weather.  This past year, we had just about everything but a snowstorm.  Drought, a tropical storm, and several tornadoes hit the area in 2008.

The least likely time for a tornado is on an early February morning, but a tornado hits a Greene County home at just such a time.  With winds around 120 mph, a tornado forces a two story home off its foundation, startling the family sleeping inside.  Luckily, no one is seriously hurt.

On Mother’s Day, I track a tornado with Live VIPIR 9 roaring into the Maysville/Belgrade area.  An EF2 tornado damages or destroys twenty five homes and businesses.  Six people are hurt, but advance warning helps save lives.

The long term drought extends into 2008.  As rainfall remains sparse in the early half of the year, river levels drop to all-time lows.  Many communities issue water use restrictions.

Some help for the drought comes from the tropics.  Tropical Storm Hanna hits the East with 70 mph winds and heavy rains.  Two to five inches of rain falls on the area and the gusty winds produce some scattered damage. 

While the East doesn’t get a hurricane, the 2008 hurricane season sets records.  Hurricane Fay makes a record 4 landfalls in Florida as it crisscrosses the sunshine state.  Six consecutive tropical cyclones hit the US Mainland.  For the first time ever, five consecutive months have a major hurricane to form.  Hurricane Gustav tests the rebuilt levee system of New Orleans.  They hold.  In September, Hurricane Ike swamps the Upper Texas Coast with a storm surge of more than 20 feet.  With the storm surge and 110 mph winds, Ike becomes the third costliest natural disaster for the US behind Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew.

Back in the East, a deadly tornado hits the Kenly and Lucama areas of Wilson County on an early morning in November.  This predawn tornado drops from an individual thunderstorm that produces at least 4 tornado touchdowns along the I-95 corridor.  Two people die from the tornadoes.

The turbulent weather pattern of November brings air cold enough for snow showers on two different days before Thanksgiving.  November 21st sees snow showers throughout the East.  2008 doesn’t have any snowstorms, but at least we get to see a few snowflakes.

Phillip Williams

As the year winds down, it’s a good time to make some moves to save money on next year’s tax return.

Here are a few ideas to do just that in this wallet watch.
   
It’s all about taking advantage of tax deductions.

One thing you can do is pay some big bills before the new year like your mortgage and medical bills.
   
You can write them off when you file your return.
   
Also, add whatever you can afford into your 401-K plan.

Those contributions are tax free and will lower your taxable income, which translates into a cheaper tax bill.

Don’t forget to donate to charity.
   
It doesn’t have to be money.
   
Clothes, old furniture and other household items are eligible for tax donations.
   
Make sure you get a receipt as support documentation for your donation.
.

There’s a good chance someone thought of you this year with a gift card.
   
Only, you have one problem.

It’s for a store you never go to.

That doesn’t mean it has to go to waste.

There are options available if you have a gift card you don’t want and you don’t want to get stuck with it.

Several websites can help this situation.

Some buy, sell and trade gift cards.

Depending on the card, you could get anywhere from 65% to 83% of its value in cash.

It usually has to be worth at least $25.

Another option is to name your price to sell to someone else through one of these sites.

The sites charge a fee for this.

Read the terms to find out how much.

Check out the links below to these websites if you want to see how it works and whether it’s worth it for you.

http://www.swapagift.com/getcash.aspx

http://www.giftcardbuyback.com/index.cfm

https://secure.techxpress.net/monstergiftcard.com/

Alright, so Christmas is only hours away, the stores are closed and you still don’t have all the gifts you want for people.

Well, hope is not lost.

Here are some more ideas that cost nine dollars or less at the very last minute.
 
But, you’ll have to do the work yourself.
   
The first idea comes from a viewer.
   
Tina says make your own gift basket and fill it with all sorts of things mementos, pictures and holiday treats.  Anything you like.
   
We also have a couple of websites with some homemade ideas.
   
Try http://www.crafts.suite101.com.
   
Some thoughts there include personalizing stationery or customize a mouse pad for someone.
   
All you need is a computer and a printer.
   
There are also plenty of homemade edible suggestions as well.
   
And, there’s the website http://www.cathiefilian.blogspot.com.
   
Check it out and learn how to make ornaments out of recycled cards.
   
You’ve got to be handy at this late hour.
   
For more information about how to do all the handy work for these homemade ideas, click on the links below.

http://crafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/homemade_christmas_gift_ideas

http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/2008/12/make-it-recycled-card-ornament.html

  THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, MOST STORES HAVE ALREADY CLOSED THEIR DOORS.
  BUT YOU CAN STILL CREATE YOUR OWN THRIFTY GIFTS.

IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH:  THERE ARE SOME USEFUL WEBSITES THAT CAN HELP:

  ONE IS DLTK’S CUSTOM COUPONS: http://www.dltk-cards.com
[YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN MONEY CARD, OR CHORE CERTIFICATE BOOKS, USING PICTURES OF CANDY CANES AND BELLS, FOR EXAMPLE.

  OR TRY: http://www.familyfun.go.com:
FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON LAST MINUTE HOMEMADE GIFTS LIKE SACHETS, PLANTERS, WRAPUP RECIPES, CUSTOM COASTERS SPECIAL KEY RINGS AND TREASURE BOXES.

If you’re still looking for gifts, you’ve earned the label procrastinator.

Anyway, we’re here to help with some last minute ideas that won’t hurt the wallet.
   
All of them are for $9 or less.
   
First, you can help that someone special in your life create some lasting memories.
   
Try giving a disposable camera to take pictures.
   
Staying with that theme, how about putting together a photo scrapbook or collage of those unforgettable moments? 

It’s simple and it’s personal.
   
Or, you can shift gears altogether and go healthy.
   
Give a fruit basket.

Pick and choose a variety of different fruit and present them nicely in a basket.

  IT’S DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR GIFTS, BUT THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF BARGAIN BUYS OUT THERE.
  AS WE CONTINUE OUR WALLET WATCH QUEST, FOR GIFTS THAT COST LESS THAN NINE DOLLARS:
  FOR THE PIRATE FAN ON YOUR LIST: YOU CAN GIVE AN ECU KADDY CAN HOLDER 5.49 OR A PIRATE BOOK COVER, 5.99 FROM http://WWW.SPORTSFANFARE.COM.
  FOR FANS OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA BARBECUE, CHECK OUT THE CAROLINA SAUCE COMPANY, OFFERING FOR EXAMPLE, CAROLINA SWAMP SAUCE FOR 6.50, AT http://WWW.CAROLINASAUCE.STORES.YAHOO.NET.
  BUT SOME OF THE BEST GIFTS COME FROM THE HEART: AND PARENTS ON YOUR LIST MIGHT LOVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR FREE BABYSITTING.