I would rather try to tap dance with a barbershop quartet outfit on Dancing with the Stars than try to catch a flight in or out of the NE today. Take your pick, they are both ugly.

Here’s the setup: a strong storm over SC/NC coast is heading northward this morning, and it is tapping into a major tropical airmass. The remnants of tropical storm Nicole are still off the coast of FL, and it’s feeding rain into the East coast storm. The end result is 5-10” rain for major cities from VA to VT. You can see the 24 hour rain map for yourself:

Looks bad. Especially in the Delaware Valley. Add to this mess a warm front on the move in the middle of this, and there is the threat of severe weather along the coast as well. I’m thinking at least 2 hour delays in NYC and Philly. DC gets slammed too. The winds will pick up to near 45 mph gusts for NYC this afternoon, so as Wilfred Brimley would say, "check your flight, and check it often. There’s no reason not too."

The rest of the country is very quiet.

See ya out there.

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Nicole • Rain • Severe Weather • tropical storm • Weather

TD 16 is moving into southern FL right now, with winds around 35 mph. The strongest winds aren’t around the center of circulation with this one, they are actually a few hundred miles out. Either way, there are tropical storm warnings up for southern FL. I’ll have that on the show. Miami probably gets around 4” of rain out of this thing, with more for the Carolinas over the next few days. If this TD does turn into a named storm, it will be Nicole.

The main threat will be the heavy rain sliding up the East coast. The storm itself gets absorbed into a front that is draped over the east, and that transports all the moisture north like a freight train. The flood watches go all the way up to VT! I have the entire thing covered for you all morning, no worries. The notorious BVD is on it.

Other than TD 16, the weather is quiet. It’s cooler out west, so no 100s in Los Angeles. Air travel will be rough in the East, but that’s it!

I have to run 6 400 yard sprints today, with two-minute rests in between. This is supposed to help me run faster in the <a href="http://www.active.com/donate/lv10georgia/LVBVanDi">Las Vegas half marathon in December. I want to beat my time I ran last year, around 1 hour 47 minutes. Not bad for a 200 pounder.

Later

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Flood • Rain • Severe Weather • Tropical Depression • tropical storm • Weather

113. That was the all-time record set yesterday in downtown Los Angeles yesterday afternoon. I would rather trudge through another promo shoot (see the pix from yesterday HERE) than deal with that heat. I’m awful at both those things! Any way, it was an upper level high pressure region and off-shore winds combined to make it feel like the inside of an oven for CA. The situation is similar today, but the high is a little weaker. Look for a temp. near 100 today for LA. San Francisco tied a record of 96 yesterday, and again I think you will be near 90. Inland areas will warm up fast, but the coastal spots will cool down by about 5-10 degrees today. Tomorrow a weak low will come out of Baja CA, and that will allow the winds to come back off the ocean for true relief Wednesday.

The rest of the country is quiet, until you reach the East coast. Then it goes straight down hill.

The jet stream drives way down to the Gulf of Mexico, and rides back up to ME. That is helping to add moisture to the storm that is currently over the PA. Heavy rain and severe storms are possible over the next few days, I’ll show you where. Even MI and OH are getting the wrap around rains this morning.

Also of note – a developing cluster of storms south of Cuba may turn into a tropical depression later today or tonight. It appears this gets scooped up by the jet stream and pushed over FL this week. That means even more potentially flooding rains for that state, plus the Carolinas all the way up to the NE. I’ll watch this developing weather story over the next few days, b/c it may turn into a huge rain maker for the East. Either way there are Flood watches up for FL right now, 2-4” of rain over the next few days near Miami.

The good news, at least for me is that the temps are in the 70s in GA. That means my 3.5 mile run today for the half marathon training will be a little easier. My little guys I coach for football tonight will have an easier time too. Fall is finally here, after a blazing summer.

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Extras • Facebook • Heat • Rain • Rock and Roll Marathon • Severe Weather • Tropical Depression • Weather

Filed under: Viral Video of the Day • YouTube

Travel along the east coast today is going to be like getting chased by an evil clown, a nightmare. There is a slow moving storm that is centered in the South and generating hard rain for FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, PA, DE and NJ right now. It looks like 3-5” rain could fall in the mid Atlantic today, and that’s why there are flood watches and warnings posted in the region. I’ll show you those and a quick estimate on how much will fall over the next 48 hours on the show.

In the wake of that storm, it’s cold out in the Great Lakes. Frost advisories for WI and MI, but no more rain for you. That will help dry you out from last week’s heavy flooding rains. Good news there!

The rest of the country is quiet, but the heat is building out west. Excessive heat watches are up for areas around Las Vegas today, with a high around 103. Los Angeles downtown may hit 106! San Francisco will be warm also, with a high around 86.

I am feeling the burn today, since had to run 6 miles yesterday (on a treadmill while watching the NY giants get their collective heads smashed by the Titans. What a waste of cash getting the NFL Sunday Ticket this year!). The Las Vegas Half Marathon is about 2 months away, and I’m looking forward to it. Check out my link HERE: everything goes to helping the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Thanks!

See you out there.

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Crohn's and colitis Foundation of America • Extras • Flood • Heat • Rain • Rock and Roll Marathon • Weather

Some might say that you've made it when you are the anchor of a national cable news morning show. Others might say that your made it moment is when you become a New York Times Best Selling author. And then there are those who know the REAL moment when you know that you've officially made it. It's when someone uses your face for their Autumn corn maze!

The folks at Grandma's Pumpkin Patch in Midland, Michigan contacted "Morning Express with Robin Meade" several months ago to ask if they could use Robin's noggin as the main feature of their corn maze this year. Of course we were thrilled at the prospect, but frankly, a little nervous too... what if it looked kooky or just plain bad? As you can see it is anything but! We are amazed at the artistry!

As soon as the photos showed up in our email the Morning Express writers and copy editors started in with the puns (prepare to groan):

Producer Marc: It’s an ear-ie resemblance…

Senior copy editor Mike: CALL IT WHAT IT IS, IT’S STALKING.

Senior Writer Heather: Hominy of these can we do?

Writer Matt: We’ve already COBbled quite a few together.

Senior Writer Heather (again): Did you notice? She’s grinning from ear to ear.

Writer Rick: I thought it made her look husky.

Now it's your turn... click the comment button and leave us a pun of your own!

Meanwhile, If you are near the Midland, Michigan area you too can get lost in Robin's face. Here's a little bit about this small business success:

Grandma’s Pumpkin Patch is in its 16th year. We have all kinds of activities throughout the week and weekends including hay rides, cow train rides for kids, inflatables, petting zoo, pig races on weekends, and more! In addition we have pumpkins, squash, caramel apples, apple cider, cider doughnuts, and much more on sale! It’s the fall family fun destination since 1994! The 2010 season begins September 25 and ends October 31.

Thanks so much to them and to photographer Terri Steih who took all the aerial pictures!

Posted by: HLN TV/Web producer Grayson
Filed under: Extras • Robin Meade

Matt Kirsch, lead audio engineer for the Chevrolet Cruze, spends more than 500 hours a year listening to car audio systems. Below are Kirsch’s Top 10 favorite songs for evaluating any sound system.

You can also go to iTunes to download these songs for your own audio test drive (iTunes required to download).

1. “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones – Listen for Norah’s voice to sound natural, and centered in front of you

2. “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez – Listen for strong vocals, and for the instruments to be set across a wide sound stage

3. “No One” by Alicia Keys – Listen for clarity in Alicia’s vocals and spacious background sound

4. “Hotel California” by the Eagles – Listen for the clarity and dynamic range during the opening guitar solo, and of course the powerful drum beat

5. “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas – Listen for powerful, accurate bass beats, even at full volume

6. “Rock that Body” by the Black Eyed Peas –Listen clear, intelligible lyrics over the powerful, persistent bass beat

7. “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap – Listen for the enveloping ambience of the song, building on the openness and dynamic vocals

8. “He Mele No Lilo” by Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu from “Lilo and Stitch” – Listen for the ambience and staging as the children’s chorus is offset by powerful bass

9. “Bird on a Wire” by Johnny Cash – Listen for the clarity in Johnny’s distinctive voice, and his guitar to sound natural and free of any coloration

10. “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” by Radiohead – Listen for the punch from the percussive bass, and the ring of the steel drums

*From General Motors

Filed under: Alicia Keys • Automotive • Black Eyed Peas • Chevrolet • Chevy • Extras • GM • Imogen Heap • iTunes • Joan Baez • Johnny Cash • Music • Norah Jones • Radiohead

Another basketball trick shot and it's awesome! Fore!

Posted by: Sports Anchor Rafer Weigel
Filed under: Golf • NBA • Sports • YouTube

If I had a twitter account (I don’t/won’t because HLN and I don’t trust myself), I would have tweeted this last night: "Finally this blasted weather pattern is going to change." I can't take the heat, and now it’s moving out west for the weekend.

If you live on the West Coast, be prepared. Your temps are about to climb about 10-20 degrees. That’s the big story for you.

For the rest of the country, it appears that wind will be a major concern for travelers today. The big rain maker from yesterday in the MW is climbing through the Great lakes and is throwing more rain and wind to the area, and that will move to the NE today. Ahead of that, it’s one more hot day for the Mid Atlantic and SE. 96 in DC today, that could break a record. Foggy starts in NYC and Philly will only be temporary, but the sun will come back out and heat things to the mid 80s. Rain is moving through the mid MS valley now too, and that stretches to TX. I’ll have all the radars and satellite photos for you on the big show.

Now Tropical Storm Matthew: Looks like it will be a Central America problem for the next few days, then heads to the Yucatan. I hope it doesn’t reorganize in the Gulf of Mexico next week, but if it does it could be trouble for the US or Mexico. Models are currently all over the place from day 4 onward. Here’s the latest form the NHC:

500 AM EDT FRI SEP 24 2010

...MATTHEW STRENGTHENS SLIGHTLY AS IT APPROACHES HONDURAS AND
NICARAGUA...

SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------
LOCATION...14.3N 79.8W
ABOUT 240 MI...390 KM E OF PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA
ABOUT 230 MI...375 KM ESE OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON NIC/HON BORDER
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...50 MPH...85 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 280 DEGREES AT 16 MPH...26 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1000 MB...29.53 INCHES

Half marathon training looks like this: 3 miles today, 3 miles fast Saturday, 6 miles on Sunday. Wretching all day Sunday night.

Later.

Support Bob in his efforts to raise funds and awareness for the Crohn's and Colitis foundation of America: CLICK HERE

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Behind the Scenes • Crohn's and colitis Foundation of America • Extras • Heat • Hot • Matthew • Rock and Roll Marathon • tropical storm • Weather

You want heavy rain? I have your heavy rain, right here! From NM to TX, OK, KS, NE, SD, MN, and WI – you all are getting the heavy stuff right now. There is a potent storm shaping up over the NE right now with a warm front ahead into the MW and a cold front behind into the Rockies. Couple this feature with the remnants of tropical depression Georgette from NM and you have a huge rain maker in store for the middle of the country. There are flood watches and warnings up all over the Plains and upper MW, and I’ll show you the spots on the big show. I expect 4-5” rain over WI and MI today and tonight. That’s not the only problem, b/c my guess is some of the rain makers may turn into severe storms with damaging winds and large hail later today, mainly over KS, IA, and WI. I’ll have that map too.

Air travel will be a problem around the region today, b/c the wind will be cranking ahead of the cold front as well. 35 mph gusts for Chicago today.

Other than that, it’s relatively quiet. The east is calming down after yesterday’s severe outbreak of damaging winds in OH, PA, NJ, VA area. The west is going to see a warm up starting tomorrow, and Lisa is no longer a tropical storm. She’s a depression with 35 mph winds. Poor thing, for a tropical storm that’s the equivalent of a huge zit appearing on your forehead on the day of the big ice cream social. It makes you self-conscious.

On another note, my run yesterday for the half marathon (see here: Rock and Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon) went well. 3 miles at a fast pace. Today the training is a 30 minute tempo run, where you gradually build for a sprint for 2 minutes and fall back to a jog in that time span. If I keep this up, pretty soon I won’t jiggle when I brush my teeth.

Posted by: Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen
Filed under: Crohn's and colitis • Crohn's and colitis Foundation of America • Extras • Georgette • Lisa • Rain • Rock and Roll Marathon • Severe Weather • Tropical Depression • tropical storm • Weather