thank you for all of the tips. those are so important. I just hope I can get everything I need packed in my car! gonna see if the vet will give me tranquilizers for our two cats. :)
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/wxloop.cgi?wv_east_enhanced+12+-update+3600
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/float-vis-loop.html
Notice at the top of the noaa link there are little boxes to click on- makes for interesting perspectives...