Storms possible for downtown parade / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, March 17, 2008

March 17, 2008

Today's St. Patrick's Day Parade could be hampered by predicted thunderstorms, but organizers said poor weather should not have adverse effects on the event.

"With the way it stands right now, we're going to proceed with our staging," said Mike Lohmann, one of the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee co-chairs.

6News Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Schack said heavy rain is a possibility between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Depending on what kind of heavy thunderstorms we're under, probably a quarter- to a half-inch of rain will accumulate, she said. Schack predicted a high of 50 degrees, with winds of 10 to 20 mph.

Lohmann said staging for the parade will occur at 10 a.m., with the parade beginning at 1 p.m. In case of lightning or other storms, Lohmann said, the parade could be postponed until later in the day.

"The main concern is once you get all the general public on Massachusetts Street, if there's lightning, where that's a big concern, we'd back it up," he said.

However, there are no plans to reschedule the parade for another day.

If the parade were delayed, updates will be available on the St. Patrick's Day Parade Web site, www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com, and the Journal-World's Web site, www.ljworld.com. Sunflower Broadband Channel 6 is broadcasting the parade and will also provide updates. Lohmann said KLWN-AM also will air updates.

"With a little luck of the Irish, the rain will stay south of us and we'll be good to go for the whole day," Lohmann said.