Storms arrive as timely reminder of severe weather cautions

Right on time, tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms have appeared in the Golden Plains, reminding us that Severe Weather Awareness Week is next week, April 2-6.

A tornado drill is scheduled for Wednesday, but judging from last night's weather activities, spotters and the public should already be prepared to take cover, whether it's manning their lookout positions in the case of trained spotters, or taking cover, as is wise for the rest of us.

While many of the reports may have been duplicates, 11 tornadoes were reported across Nebraska on Wednesday night, with more in Northwest Kansas.

That included one described by the media as a half-mile wide and causing power line flashes, a mile east of Bird City.

More damage was caused near Wauneta, although the jury was still out early this morning as to whether that was a tornado -- our bet is, it was -- and 10 to 20 miles of power lines were down near Grant and some roads were blocked.

As if power crews don't already have their hands full, restoring power to Central Nebraska following the New Years ice storm.

If the 11 reports of tornadoes turns out to be accurate, that's already half the total number of twisters reported all of last year.

But, 2006's 22 reported tornadoes were slightly more than half of the yearly average of 42 tallied for Nebraska from 1950 to 2005.

The lowest number of twisters was in 1950, when only six were reported, and last year was the lowest since 1988, which saw only 20.

Stil, damage from 2006 twisters exceeded $5.5 million, with $4.5 million alone in Gage County on April 15.

And, of course, tornadoes are not the only storm to be wary of.

Last April, for example, a 14 year-old girl was killed by lightning and three others were injured playing in a park in Beatrice.

And, with Southwest Nebraska in a flash flood watch today, it was a good reminder of that danger, which kills more people each year than any other weather phenomenon.

Remember, as little of six inches of fast-moving water can sweep you off your feet, and 18 to 24 inches of water is enough to float a car and carry it away.

If you see a road barrier across a flooded roadway, follow the National Weather Service's new motto, "Turn Around. Don't Drown!"

Could the ice storm, snows and Wednesday night's thunderstorms mean that weather is returning and, hope against hope, the drought may be coming to an end?

Most of us will gladly take to the tornado shelter from time to time if it means that the storms also bring the rain we so desperately need.

That's not to downplay the danger that tornadoes represent, nor the suffering of those who are affected.

Thankfully, there seem to have been no injures in the area related to the storms, which arrived just in time to remind us to keep an eye on the sky and the forecasts, and pay attention to electronic media when severe weather approaches