Here is the forecast issued 27 hours before landfall .  When you view the forecast issued a year ago today, scroll down and read the location-by-location storm surge (inundation) forecasts. They clearly showed the high water threat, including Lower Manhattan. Also, keep in mind all of the people on Staten Island who said they had no warning of the flooding. If you look at the map at the bottom of the forecast, you see Staten Island is yellow -- almost completely covered by water, in plenty of time for people to leave. 

The multi-day heavy rain event we were forecasting much of last week began in Texas and southeast Oklahoma yesterday. Heavy rains fell in a number of areas, some of which prompted flash flood warnings. Here is the National Weather Service's updated seven day rainfall amount forecast: Yes, that is a four inch maxima south of Kansas City. Do not take these bulls-eyes too literally. That said, a great deal of rain is going to fall next week. Most will be beneficial. The threat for tornadoes and large hail (mentioned below) this week still exists. Please check in here and at AccuWeather.com from time to time for updated information.

Blizzard conditions are forecast over the northern Rockies and High Plains: AccuWeather has additional details.  There is a real risk of tornadoes, along with 2-3 inch diameter hailstones tomorrow: The hatched area is where the probability of violent tornadoes and very large hail is most likely.  Note: It is likely  there will be additional tornadoes and severe thunderstorms Tuesday through Thursday and we will cover that threat as it evolves.  Here is the forecast rainfall the next five days. Please check back during the week for additional severe weather coverage. 

Symphony in the Flint Hills Friday's WSJ  had an interesting, and fair, article about people from larger cities moving to rural Kansas. It is available here . [if they move it behind their paywall, Google "Selling the Good Life on the Great Plains" and you can access it] The article does not mention some great tax incentives: If you move to one of these rural counties, the state waives your state income tax for give years. All Kansans receive tax-free income from sole proprietorships, LLCs, and S-corporations. I am not a native Kansan but I love it here. People are extremely friendly. Some of the articles' complained about the stereotype of the "intolerant" small town person. I have found that to be just that -- a stereotype. There are a minority of intolerant people everywhere. Kansans tend to be "live and let live." So, if you are thinking of moving, give us a try.

Two days and five hours before landfall: Here is the  entire forecast . As you review that posting, consider the high degree of specificity and the quality of the suggested preparatory measures. That evening, another  complete update was posted . However, earlier in the day, the National Weather Service made a terrible decision: Not to issue hurricane warnings. This caused many people, including  New York's Mayor Bloomberg, to conclude the storm was weaker than 2011's Hurricane Irene, when the opposite was true .

Forecast rainfall (snow melted down in the High Plains) over the next seven days.

The British government posted the graphic below after Big Environment called it "unhelpful." click to enlarge The full story is here .