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Great weather, some of my fam is already leaving to vote! it's 6:11!

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Thanks for the voting update.

Gary

I voted early in Johnson County and I waited in line for two hours last Wednesday.  I was the 2106th voter at 4:30pm that day.  

Gary have you ever worked on election day that there was some kind of big weather? I was just curious how the priorities worked out for the news team.  Lines may be long however it is very worth it.  I hope this great weather today helps with voter turn out.

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It is much better when the weather is calm like today.  There was one year where we had thunderstorms moving through and so we would do little weather updates through midnight just to stay on top of it.  I would rather be able to go home at 10:45 PM tonight and watch all of the election results unfold.

Gary

I have never left a comment but have read the blog for almost a year now!  I love the blog and really appreciate all that you put on it.  It is very educational and informative.  Thank you!
As for voting this AM, I went to the polling place here in Grandview at 4:00 AM and was the 4th person in line.  I was able to vote right away and left by 6:05 in order to get to school on time (I am a HS teacher).  When I left there were 500+ people in line.  It stretched across a parking lot, and down the street!  It was great to see all the people turn out to vote - I am just glad I was there early!

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Thank you for the story.  Wow, 4 AM.  And, we are so glad that you are enjoying the NBC Action Weather Blog.

Gary

My wife and I voted second and third in line at our polling place in east Independence, MO.  We had to wait outside for about 30 minutes before the polls opened and it was very pleasant.  Over 100 folks in line by the time we left.

Hi Gary...I see where the NWS has northern MO (me!!) with a slight chance of rain/snow Friday.  What do you think?  Any chance it could changeover if enough cold air gets wrapped up with the storm?  We do our own first snowflake forecast at home with my daughters and I've got one who is anxiously awaiting the results!!  Have a great day.
EVERYBODY VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!
Jen

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Jen,

I doubt there will be any snowflakes.  Let's see where the upper low forms.

Gary

I took my daughter with me this morning (her 10th birthday) and we were the 14th in line at our polling place in Johnson County.  The weather was beautiful!  It was nice to have my daughter see the importance of voting and the number of people out so early was impressive.  Hopefully everyone will just relax and enjoy the awesome fall colors and weather as they wait in what are sure to be long lines.

I get to "vote" at my school today, if that counts. The staff want to see who all of us would vote for if we were able to. I'm sure the lines will be minimal and problems will be few(lol). I'm still anxious for snow.

WEATHER TEAM,
I'm looking for some information for around thanksgiving. See, I'm going to visit family in minnesota, and some of the long range forecasts show a WINTER STORM around then. I would love to have snow, but don't want to have to drive in it.

I voted by mail, no lines for me!  I did wait until late to mail it in, though, so we took it by the election office in Olathe late Saturday. My husband said during the day Saturday that the place was a madhouse, with police directing traffic.

I so love driving around, these days, lookinag at the beautiful trees!

I voted for 1st Time about 1 1/2 wks ago. Lines were long but went real fast at the election office on KC Road.        

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Thanks Andrew.  See you next week.

Gary

Well, I have done my civic duty already, here in St. Joe, the place where we go to vote was busy, but there really was not a line, it was pretty much in and out for me, I would say that I voted just a bit before or right around 6:30 a.m. or so and my ballot was number 70 in the machine(our polls opened at 6:00 a.m.).  One thing that was kind of neat was being able to get up in shorts and a t-shirt and go to vote on this NOVEMBER 4TH!   A far cry from the primary vote in Feb. that morning started with rain, then sleet/snow and THUNDER sleet/snow!

I got in line to vote at 6:00am - was out the door by 6:20am.  Line wasn't bad at all.  No problems - I recommend taking a "cheat sheet" so that you can fly through the ballot.  Just fyi, keep your "I voted" sticker and you can get free stuff (ie - cup of coffee at Starbucks, scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry's, star donut at Krispy Kreme...)

I voted this morning before work, no line and I was 73rd to vote an my location.  I live in a rural school district so it wasn't bad, took less than 10 minutes.  Time will tell if America makes the best decision today.

Went to my polling place and the line was 100+ only 15 minutes after opening. I will go back after work to vote as the wheels of this society do have to move today. Unlike Kansas, Missouri does not have early voting (maybe something we should consider)!!!

As for the weather, something this blog should stick to today as the political hot button should be left to the news staff, THE WEATHER IS GREAT!!!!!!!!

Gary,
When is the weather channel going to reflect your forcasts?  It needs to.  It's crazy cuz right now they show us with a 30% chance of snow on friday and you don't have that in your forcast at all...
Becky

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Becky,

This is why you don't need to watch TWC.  Anyway, this storm would have to track a lot farther south for any chance of snow.

Gary

I too did my civic duty this morning.  It was beautiful while I was in line at my polling place at 5:45am.  I did not get back into the car until 6:40am.  I was the 108th person in my specific pct to vote in Lee's Summit today.  

Just voted - No wait in Grain Valley, MO

The weather has been wonderfull..............Thanks Mother Nature....Keep up the good work guys.  Voting this morning...I was there at 5:30 line out the buiding maybe 75 ahead of me by the time they opened up line was down the street in East Independence.  It took approx 1 hour from the time I got there I was out by 6:30 and my sister and I went and had breakfast.  It was a wonderfull show of American Pride to see so many people up that early.  My daughter voted for her 1st time for a very historic presidential race.  How exciting. Good luck to anyone who has not voted yet. Have a great Day! And Weather Team I am ready for the SNOW!  LOL

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We are ready for snow too!  Well, I don't know about Jeremy.  I likes the warm climates.

Gary 

I got to the polling place right when it opened in Grain Valley, I waited about a hour...but by the time I left the line had shrunk considerably.

Gary, even if we don't get any severe storms is there any estimate on how much rain we might expect?

Jeff

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Jeff,

Not sure yet.  If we get the squall line then 3/4 of an inch will be possible.

Gary

Gary,
I was looking at their web site (yea I know it's a waste of time)  I don't watch them. I only watch you and if I miss your forcast on 41, I will go to the blog or wait for the next day.  I don't like to clutter my mind with the other guys.  lol... I just sometimes go there to see how much everything doesnt match.
Have a great day and I hope you don't have to wait long to vote!
Becky

Yea looking at the new NAM it is easy to see how the rain could miss St. Joe just to the northwest and then just to the east as the rear of the jet stream would catch up with the front just AFTER it passes through St. Joe, but timing can still change ect.  one thing is if we get some sun on Wed. to help mix the air, could be some pretty impressive wind gusts even without thunderstorms.

I got to my polling location around 7am in Shawnee, KS and was out of there by 7:30am.  I'm sure glad the wait wasn't very long.

My son and I went to vote at our voting place in Brookside about 8:00.  We were in and out in about 10 minutes- no lines except the line to pick up your ballot and there was only 3 people ahead of us.  It was my son's first time to vote for  President- something I hope he never forgets- especially this historic election!  Have a great day everyone and I hope the waits are short!  Dea

Gary,
I just voted around 8:30 on my college campus in St. Louis. I went when most people were in classes, so the line was extremely short. I am really excited because this is my first election!

Can't wait for the exciting weather to make it to St. Louis later this week!

David

Voting was easy this morning for me..thank goodness...from driving up to driving out - 30 minutes.

As far as this storm goes, I am suprised with the 60s for dewpoint.  Me thinks the NAM is overdoing it.  Looking at the surface now, the only 60s are on the Gulf coast of TX - just a few readings on the coast.

It will have a lot of work to do to get here...I think 50s are more reasonable.  Also, I don't favor the ULL track of the NAM...I think it is digging a bit too much.  I am thinking more northern Nebraska with a bit more of a negative tilt.

Regardless...thunderstorms with some embedded marginal severe potential.  I will have to look at the composites in a little bit to see what they show.

Voted in Grain Valley at 7:30, took just about 30 minutes, was not at all bad. I would love severe storms tomorrow, but would be happy just for some lightning and thunder at least. :)

Hello.... I live in Lees Summit, tried to incorporate my morning run this morning at 5 and run to the poll, got there at 545 and the line was wrapped around the parking lot and then out to the street,  it was the same way at 0730, but at 0830 it only took me 15 minutes... just glad to see so many people out voting!

voted in Liberty...about a 30 minute wait but it was so nice outside while we were waiting.  I think the trees are beautiful this week.  But I can't wait for the thunderstorm tomorrow & cooler weather.

I was in line at 5:15 am. this morning in Lee's Summit. Voted, and was headed to work by 6:20!!!

Good afternoon! What a great day but I am looking forward to a bit of a change. Do not get me wrong..the weather is nice and all but I like a variety, :o). I went to vote a few minutes ago and literally that is all it took. In and out....of course I am rural so lines really do not happen down here. We had 6 booths on one side of town and 6 on the other side. Hard to believe some places where the population is huge only has 3-4. Ours are done on paper so that may have something to do with it I suppose.  Enjoy watching the returns this evening...history is being made either way. So exciting for America right now, everyone in the world is watching this unfold.
Monica
Pleasanton, KS

I got to my polling place right at 6am this morning in Lee's Summit and had to walk about 1/3 mile from my car to the line.  I waited in line about an hour.  I'm so stoked to see so many people out voting!

I was out voting at 7am at the Northland Cathedral (Nashua Area).  Glad I had a jacket while waiting in line outside the church because of the breeze.  From start to finish( getting into the parking lot, standing in line to get into the church, standing in line to actually vote, waiting in line to get OUT of the parking lot) it took me an hour and 45 minutes.  Craziness, compared to other experiences that I am reading here in the blog.  On a brighter note.......love the weather outside now!!!

David,

Was it possible for you to get the weather graphics for me?  No rush...just wondering.

Thank you.

The southwest winds have really started to pick up today, yes the whoosh of the wind combined with the rustling of hurried leaves... the first mark of this storm system... I guess the winds of change are blowing on election day and I'm not talking about politics;)  

***IMPORTANT POLL STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Just voted in south OP...no wait at all!  Poll workers said there was a long line prior to people heading into work and then the wave crested.  Now it's just a steady stream, but no line.  The wait may reappear as people get off work and vote on the way home.

Forecast for the warned area is for a 50% chance of a steady stream of voters until 5 PM with little or no wait in line.  Chance of a wait goes up to 80% by evening with lines accumulating 40 people or more after dark.  Look for at least a 45 minute wait from 5 PM until polls close.

We got to poll about 10:00, it only took about ten mins. to vote. It took a lot longer for our free coffe, free doughnuts and chicken sandwich. We passed on the body piercing.

I live in west Olathe and we got to our place to vote at 8:30. There were only about 8 people in the whole place, so we got right in and out. Glad for that. Weather was so awesome we had walked there, so got some good exercise in too! Looking forward to some thunder!  Janet

went to vote at 7:25. line was out the door. they had it broken down by alphabet and G-Z were in and out.  Unfortunately I was in the A-F category and that line was about 30 minutes long. Not too bad but stinks when you see others coming in and going out in 5 minutes. Got out by 8:15.

Eyecandy anyone?

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/dwm_500ht_20080921.html

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/dailywxmap/dwm_500ht_20081103.html [today]

Goes to show a few things..the first I won't mention since it isn't determined yet, but the second is looking at how seasonal amplitude can make things move [kinda neat to see in this example as it is so closely matched]...yet being the same, and the third..well...we could see that this was going to come in negative tilted.

Next week will be fun from a LRC perspective.  Some minor changes.

;-)

My husband and I got to our polling place off of Colbern Road in Lee's Summit about 6:45 this morning. From when we got in line to when we got done, it took about an hour. The line did get shorter as time went on, but it was constantly moving so that is good. I feel for my daughter who is going to end up voting the last half an hour because of work. The husband and I then went to Lamars donuts and we were given a free donut because we voted. We had a choice of donuts, as long at they were the type that had a hole in them. The drive thru line at Starbucks was rather long so we skipped them. Who knew that you could eat for free most of the day on a little "I voted" sticker. I am proud to be part of an election that will be historic and talked about in the future.

What time approximately do you think the weather will hit tomorrow night. The husband I have date night, but I don't like to go if the weather is going to be too bad. We are usually home by 10 so if it hits after that, then that is cool.
Audra

It took me less than 5 minutes to vote in Overland Park.  I walked right in, no line, voted and was out.  I think so many in Johnson County advance voted that it really made a difference. Plus we have tons of polling places.  I was at my children's elementary school.  Out of 7 mom's I talked to, we had 4 different polling places among us.  This is not a large school. We have 300 kids.  So if that many polls serve our small area, we are in good shape.

Kudos to Johnson County, Ks !!
2 wks ago I was able to go to the Election Office website and printed out 2 applications (for spouse and I) for paper Advance Ballots. We filled those out, mailed them, and got our 2 Advance voting ballots in mail 4 days later. Followed instructions, voted, and I hand delivered them the next day to the Election Office on Kansas City Rd in Olathe.
I could have phoned in for the applications, but then would have had to wait to get them in the mail. So, being able to go to the website and print them out made it so easy !

It used to be "Absentee ballots"..and you had to give a valid reason for not being able to vote in person. But now it is Advance ballots. Makes it so nice!
Also, Johnson County has also had advanced voting(in person) at 4 locations for the last 1 1/2 wks I believe.
Any city, county, or state that does not allow advance voting, I think is missing the boat.

campaigning for rain tomorrow!!

1 hr wait in Lee's Summit around 7:30 this morning, more people than usual so who knows!

talked to parents in Blue Springs and the lines were long

"Brittany Hill Middle School.  At 6:30 a.m., there are cars everywhere!!  They are almost to my house, all the way around to Acorn in one direction and Pecan in another as well as in the front of the school.  If your not familiar with the area, that's quite a bit of cars!!  Of course, both parking lots are full including the driveways.


At very least, people care enough to vote today. "

Scott, I would be interested in what changes you see for next week.......

I voted early on Saturday. There were about 100 people in line and I waited about an hour. But it was worth it and it felt great to know I took part in a history-making election!

There was a line 10 deep at 5:30AM while I was walking my dog this morning in Leawood.  I joined them about 15 minutes later and by the time the polls opened at 6 there were more then 35 people in line.  After I voted, on my way out (by 6:30) the line was 50 people deep.  It was nice to see how many people were excited about the election.  

gary:

voted at 119th & state line. got there at 10:30 or so. no waiting. was in & out in 15 min or so.

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Thanks, it took me around 15 minutes as well.  Elizabeth Alex lives on the Missouri side and it took her over an hour.

Gary


jeff

I got to my polling place at 68th and Holmes at around 6:25am, was back in the car at 7:35.  The line was long when I got there but moved at a steady pace and was not nearly as long by the time I left.  All in all, people were in good spirits and seemed pleasantly surprised that it was moving as quickly as it was.  

Gary,
I was just wondering if you knew when the rain might start tomorrow night? My son's football team is supposed to practice from 6 to 7:30 to get ready for the big championship game on Saturday.  Think we'll get rained out tomorrow night?

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I will time it out on our weathercasts tonight, but at this moment I am expecting the rain after 7:30 PM.

Gary

Just voted in midtown KC, took about five minutes total.  I was braced for a long wait but there were plenty of empty machines waiting.

I voted in LS off Colbern at 1050 am and there was no line.  I was a bit disappointed that we were CRAMMED into a hallway...very claustraphobic and very LOUD.  

No lines where I voted today near La Cygne. It was in and out and computerized too! Beautiful day! I could take days like this all winter long. I'm with Jeremy that warmer is better!!

Of course I'm a bit concerned with tomorrow's severe weather potential. Just got everything fixed from June 2nd nasty storm. Literally just got the last damaged item fixed this week - the chimney. Please no more strong straight line winds or hail!!!!

Heres some good current election status from msnbc. Obama 103
                                                                             McCain 58

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Juba, with all due respect, I come to the weather blog for weather.  If I want election data, there are numerous other well known venues for this data including the homepage of NBCACTIONNEWS.

While Gary did solicit responses on polling experiences, he made it clear that would be the extent of any politics in this venue.

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Scott,

It's O.K. to talk about the results coming in.  But, we have to just keep it to the results and not go into a political battle of emotions. 

Gary

Sorry Scott, but I have to put this data out...

Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States. No President has ever won the election without winning Ohio, and it just came in that Barack Obama has taken Ohio. His electoral college votes are near 200 already and he only needs 270 to win. This looks to be a total blow out for Barack Obama. Being a big republican, this is a bad night! Looks like I won't be up too late tonight...

Bring on the SNOW!!!  

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Jacob,

And the weather is exciting too. 

Gary

kcwxguy, I do appologize for any inconvinince do to what what my previous entry said. However I did read this right when He published around 6:11 in the morning (first comment) it and there for was liable and did forget about what he said. Sorry.
                        ~Byan Avery/Juba~

The wind here is beginning to pick up right now.  If I had a weather station I could report what it is but I dont!  It seems to be coming in bursts and not so much steady yet.  I am just going off the trees I hear in the backyard.

Gary, I'm in the midst of leaving Kansas City for Des Moines.  I lost my job in KC and took a job up here three weeks ago.  In the meantime, I'm travelling on Monday morning and coming home on Friday nights.  I noticed you said there may be snow in Iowa on Friday.  Where will it fall and what are your expectations?  Thanks!  I'll miss seeing you on NBC Action News each night.

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The upper low is spinning away by Friday so I doubt Iowa will have too much in the way of accumulation...more of just snow showers.  We will miss you, and hopefully you can stay in contact through the blog.

Gary

I heard one station refer to next week's storm as the storm that could bring accumalting snows to our area.  So do you see this too?

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Some of the computer models do have it close to being snow here early next week.  I am not ready to make that call yet. 

Gary

I voted at 7:45 this am and waited about 25 min.  My SIL who votes at the same place waited 2 hours to vote on Saturday!  I can't vote early because I love the experience of voting on election day!

Gary,

Make us smile...put a few snow flakes in the 7-day!

IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT BARACK OBAMA IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.


=(  =(  =(

=( =(  I am with you jacob.....

Ready for some fun thunderstorms!!

I understand what you mean with not wanting to put them in the forcast since there is likely some error in those models. I know we're all tired of 77 degree days in November for now and would love see some snow or cooler temperatures around here.

Well the wind is still blowing tonight and we are getting "drifting" with the leaves!!
Well whether your guy won or didn't this will be a night that will be talked about for decades.  
Looks like a fun storm tomorrow and tomorrow night!!!!

Good Evening Everyone,

Wind seems to be picking up a bit here as well at 130th and State Avenue. Temps are still holding into the mid 60s at this hour, and it does appear that the dew points are on the rise from about 3-4 hours ago. Looking forward to some rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, and some cooler weather! So Gary, when do you think you might bite on this potential snow next week the models seem to be showing? Have a great evening everyone…it’s finally time to put this election behind us and move forward.

Bryan

Very good point made tonight NickRau, what we witnessed tonight was pure history. This is something we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Bryan

I hope there isn't any storm on tuesday! That's when I go see a Live 5pm newscast!!