Missouri State Climatologist Patrick Guinan says we could be in for another harsh winter, the third in a row. Guinan says La Nina seemed to be fading last spring but revived over the summer and is now going strong. La Nina was a factor in the last two winters.

Guinan says we could still get lucky. La Nina causes winters that are colder and snowier than normal in northern states, and drier and warmer than normal in southern states. Guinan says with Missouri right in the middle the weather could go either way, but it went the wrong way for us the last two years. 

Searchers have found the bodies of three more people killed in the weekend grain elevator explosion in Atchison. The Saturday night blast killed six people and injured twoothers at the Bartlett Grain Co. elevator.

Three bodies were recovered earlier but unstable concrete, hanging steel beams and other damage forced crews to delay the search for the three found today.

The men who were recovered Monday were identified as Travis Keil, 34, of Topeka; Curtis Field, 21, of Atchison; and Darrek Klahr, 43, of Wetmore, Kan. Keil and Klahr were Kansas state grain inspectors and Field was a Bartlett Grain employee.

Officials identified the three Bartlett employees confirmed dead Sunday as Chad Roberts, 20, and Ryan Federinko, 21, both of Atchison, Kan.; and John Burke, 24, of Denton, Kan.

“Saturday’s grain elevator explosion is a terrible tragedy and I am saddened by the injury and loss of life,” said Governor Sam Brownback in a statement.

“On behalf of the citizens of Kansas, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, M.D. and I offer our condolences to the families and friends whose loved ones died in the explosion. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as well as with those who sustained injuries.”

Investigators from the Kansas Fire Marshal’s office continue their probe into the cause of the explosion and fire.

The blast occurred Saturday night at the elevator, at 320 Riverfront Road. Twelve individuals were believed to have been inside the structure at the time of the explosion. Four escaped uninjured while two others were transported to the University of Kansas burn unit in Kansas City, Kan.

The fall open burning period in Saint Joseph begins in one week. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved the dates November 7th through November 27th.

Only yard waste may be burned, and fires must be contained in upright cylindrical metal containers with a capacity of up to 55 gallons. Burning is allowed only between the hours of 10 am and 3:30 pm, and may be canceled at any time for safety reasons, such as when the wind is too high.  

Here's a detailed rundown on the rules:

 Burning for yard waste of residential properties only. 
 Burning shall be allowed between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 
 All fires must be in an upright cylindrical metal container with a volume equal 
to no more  than 55 gallons.   Containers must be  located at  least  fifteen  (15) 
feet away from any building. Only one burn container per residence is 
allowed. 
 All fires shall be monitored from a point on the property where the fire is 
located, by a person capable of containing a fire, should containment become 
necessary. 
 ONLY dry yard waste such as leaves, brush and logs grown on the property 
can be burned.  NO trash, paper, lumber or building debris may be burned.  Fire-fighting material, including but  not limited to, a garden hose or a 
container of water sufficient to contain any fire started shall be at the site of 
the fire.   
 If weather conditions such as high winds indicate the safety of the 
community or the public may be endangered or if open burning may create a 
health hazard, the Fire Chief or Health Director may invoke a temporary 
burning ban.

Organizers of tonight’s Chiefs Tailgate Party at the Indoor Practice Facility have permission to broadcast the Chiefs Monday Night Football contest on Big Screen TV. The event is a fundraiser for the Adventure League, which plans to build a Tree House accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. The tailgate party starts at 6 tonight at the Indoor Practice Facility at Missouri Western.