It’s hard to sit back and say it’s not going to be an active storm season when preliminary reports indicate five tornadoes touched down in Kansas over the weekend, Chance Hays, warning coordinator meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Wichita, said Monday morning.
"We’re in Kansas. It’s March," he said. "It’s certainly not uncharacteristic for Kansas to start getting storms this early."
More tornadic weather occurs in Kansas during April, May and June. More tornadoes occur during the month of May, according to Hays.
There have been no reports of property damage or injury from the weekend storms in Kansas. Eighteen tornadoes were reported across the country on Sunday. At least two tornadoes packing winds of up to 120 miles an hour damaged or destroyed dozens of homes in Illinois.
"It looks like another chance of storms firing up (today) east of the Kansas Turnpike, primarily later this afternoon and evening,"?Hays said. "Large hail and damaging winds will be the biggest threat but you can’t rule out tornadoes."
It is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas. The statewide tornado drill will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. In case of inclement weather, the test will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
"During this test, please respond as if it were a real event," Brian Stone, Cowley County Emergency Manager, said. "This is a good way to test your tornado safety plans whether you are at work, home or school."
