Emergency officials in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas are bracing for two types of disasters as spring gets into full swing: The start of what's historically the most active time of year for tornadoes plus wildfire threats brought on by severe drought.
April, May and June are the most active months in the U.S. for tornadoes. At the same time, the three states on the southern end of Tornado Alley are experiencing extreme and exceptional drought that could fuel wildfires.
Tornado Alley extends from northern Texas and covers much of Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota, plus slivers of New Mexico and Colorado, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center.
The past three years, the U.S. has seen an average of more than 600 tornadoes during April, May and June, according to the center. That's more than half the average of 1,186 tornadoes per year during that time span, although the numbers from the last three months of 2017 are still considered preliminary.
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas are accustomed to preparing for multiple emergency situations happening at once and train with various agencies to account for different possibilities.
"We're typically preparing for worst-case scenarios year-round anyway," state Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said, noting that the SPC reports Oklahoma City has been struck by more tornadoes than any other U.S. city, with more than 100 known twisters. "We do have some experience at that. We plan for all hazards anyway."
Denise Collcutt
Hail in Plano Legacy and Independence
Denise Collcutt
Hail in Plano Legacy and Independence Sent from my iPhone
deb and raul g
poor truck �� Coit & Hedgcoxe, Plano ~6:30
Josh Whetstone
Hail in Rockwall The storm moved in and strengthened right before it got to us. Caused some damage to vehicles and patio lights.
Josh Whetstone
Hail in Rockwall The storm moved in and strengthened right before it got to us. Caused some damage to vehicles and patio lights.
Josh Whetstone
Hail in Rockwall The storm moved in and strengthened right before it got to us. Caused some damage to vehicles and patio lights.
Frank Guckes
Hail 2.5 inch in North Plano (Hwy 121 & Custer Rd.) Hail today in North Plano that fell during the National Weather Service tornado warning at 6p today.
Megan Fish
Hail Hail storm Prosper
David Hoover
Hail in Plano large hail falling during tornado warning.
Roxanne Minnish
Hail is Rockwall large hail reported in Rockwall
Salas
Irving Hail 183 and Story Road
Kim Smith
Hail storm Hail storm
Salas
Irving Hail 183 and Story Road
Emilio Garcia
Hail in Irving This is a few pieces of hail that fell in northwest Irving in today's storms.
michelle goclano
Large hail watters crossing neighborhood, Allen, Tx
Renana Ezrin
Rockwall 3 inch hail
simone
Crazy hail video from Allen!
Roxanne Minnish
Hail in Rockwall Hail storm. Larger than a golf ball
Mickaela
Hail in Rockwall large hail
David George
hail in Wylie
Jim Schieck
Hail in Plano 4/6/2018 Hail next to quarters near Springcreek & Alma in Plano.
Justin Langley
Hail Golf ball size hail in Rockwall,Tx
Sara Wonder
Hail Storm in Plano At 6:50pm on April 6th 2018. Golf ball size hail began to fall until 7:20pm April 6th 2018.
Amy Walbeck
Hail storm! Hail here in Plano, TX!
sandy.kulkarni3
untitled Baseball size hail in Plano:https://twitter.com/SandyKulkarnee/status/
Ashley Sellers
[EXTERNAL] Hail Hail in Allen, Texas Ashley Sellers Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
raj chaudhari
plano, golfball size hail
Stephen Kurtz
[EXTERNAL] Hail from Legacy and Custer in Plano From 630pm 4/6/18 stormPics of Wall Cloud from 530pm Tornadic Storm Stephen Kurtz / President
Brandy K
Hail in Rockwall lots of hail out here
Donna
Plano gets hit with large Hail Around 6:30 PM tonight sirens went off and large hail hit. Rain continued for 30 minutes along with hail and wind.
Brenda Foster
701 Legacy Drive, Plano Golf ball size hail
Sarah Butler
Golf ball size hail McKinney Texas hail storm
untitled
Ashley Sellers
[EXTERNAL] Hail Hail in Allen, Texas Ashley Sellers Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
Karen Bosso
Rockwall Texas hail
sandy.kulkarni3
[EXTERNAL] Baseball size hail damage in Plano Baseball size hail in Plano and skylight damaged.https://twitter.com/SandyKulkarnee/status/
Kick Rocks
[EXTERNAL] Hail Storm in Dallas Pea to Quarter size hail in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas as the Severe Storms rolled through!!Stephanie CookDallas TexasApril 6
Kick Rocks
[EXTERNAL] Hail Storm in Dallas Pea to Quarter size hail in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas as the Severe Storms rolled through!!Stephanie CookDallas TexasApril 6
Nicole Ubl
Huge hail in Plano (Legacy & Independence)
Rachael
Plano Texas Hail at 6:30 pm
Scott Pittman
4-6-189 Rowlett 66 and Dalrock Strong Winds
Miles Evans
[EXTERNAL] Pics of hail from Allen Texas
John Engstrom
PlanoHail Hail from thunderstorm that moved through Plano around 6:35 PM.
Kim Fry
[EXTERNAL] Hail Pictures These were taken an hour ago in Aubrey, TX. We live 3 miles North of Hwy 380 on FM 1385 Thank you, Kimberly Blythe
Agi Cholka
Hail in ano near 121 Hail near 121
Chris McCourry
[EXTERNAL] Hail Valley Ranch irving
Kim Fry
[EXTERNAL] Hail Pictures These were taken an hour ago in Aubrey, TX. We live 3 miles North of Hwy 380 on FM 1385 Thank you, Kimberly Blythe
Adrian Cobb
hail in prosper
Mitchell Gropper
Our courtyard Hailstorm inProsper
Manny
Irving Hail Golf ball size hail in Irving. About three blocks from Irving Baylor Hospital.
Lindsay Carter
Large hail in NW McKinney Large hail in NW McKinney
Krista Bryant
Beautiful Promise Rainbow east of NRH
Lynne Kennedy
God showing off in thunderstorms Allen, before hail arrival.
Kim Fry
[EXTERNAL] Hail Pictures These were taken an hour ago in Aubrey, TX. We live 3 miles North of Hwy 380 on FM 1385 Thank you, Kimberly Blythe
Shelley Alexander
First round of storms moving into Prosper Looks like a hook forming
Anjan Gunde
[EXTERNAL] INSANE HAIL INDEPENDENCE AND HEDGECOXE (PLANO) Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
Anjan Gunde
[EXTERNAL] INSANE HAIL INDEPENDENCE AND HEDGECOXE (PLANO) Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
Anjan Gunde
[EXTERNAL] INSANE HAIL INDEPENDENCE AND HEDGECOXE (PLANO) Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
Anjan Gunde
[EXTERNAL] INSANE HAIL INDEPENDENCE AND HEDGECOXE (PLANO) Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
Anjan Gunde
[EXTERNAL] INSANE HAIL INDEPENDENCE AND HEDGECOXE (PLANO) Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
K.T.
[EXTERNAL] Hail in west Allen golf ball McDermott and Waters crossing Sent from Verizon Wireless.-------- Original message --------From: "K.T."
ray norton
hail fell near legacy & custer in plano
Naureen Mithani
Savage Dr Plano TX 75023 Hail in Plano
Heather
Hail in Irving
Catie Quirk
Plano Tornado Warnings Just a typical evening in Texas! Closet time done right: helmet, dog, and iPad! Oh and typical Texan cloud watching fun!
Data Onion
[EXTERNAL] Hail
Earhart, Erin
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Allen!
Earhart, Erin
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Allen!
Hail in West Plano.
Dolores Flynn
Allen TX Hedgcoxe and Alma
Lindsey Huang
Hale storm in Plano Hale storm
Monica and Javi
[EXTERNAL] Murphy hail -Monica Landeros-Jimenez-- ...Happily Ever After
Matthew Humphries
West Allen Hail bigger than golf ball
Andrew Dawson
Dawson residence Plano Texas Incorrect reporting of quarter size hail
hail in Allen
Victor de Souza (parent)
[EXTERNAL] Weather station at Lebanon x 423. In Frisco Here is a view from my weather station, temp in Celsius. Victor de Souza Get Outlook for iOS
Bryson Henderson
It's storming over in Plano! It was quiet right after a brief shower then it started pouring, and it continued to increase til we got hail!
Nandini
Hail Apr 6 2018
Trisha Link
Golf Ball Hail at Custer and McDermott I put on a helmet and went outside to collect some crazy hail! Located near Custer and McDermott
Alex
Hail 75025 Hail
Matt Duffy
Hail snow 121 / Custer
David Agius
Hail in Frisco This is hail from my backyard.
S V
[EXTERNAL] Hail @ Craig ranch mckinney
Abhay Dabholkar
Golf ball hail in Allen TX Golf ball hail in allen texas
Matt Brenner
Golballish size hail Frisco near 121 and Coit @ 18:30
Odi Matityahu
Hail in plano Picture of hail
Monique
Hail storm Hail in McKinney texas
Sara Free
Hail Im Frisco Storm pic
ray norton
hail stones 1.25 inch hailstones. fell at around 6:30. this photo was taken after the rain stopped
Morgan Porter
Hail in Plano Golf sized hail in Plano Texas
Katie Webb
Hail on 121/Sam Raybrun and Alma Golf ball sized hail
Amanda Mann
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Wylie Hail in Wylie at Hwy 78 & FM 544
Chris Van Deusen
Hail in Frisco Hail
Katie McCally
Hail in McKinney Hail off 380 & Coit at 5:45PM
Daniel Dehart
[EXTERNAL] Hail in north Richland Hills Sent from my iPhone
Chris McCourry
[EXTERNAL] Hail Valley Ranch Irving
Veda Valek
Prosper hail Today 4/6 a hail storm came in around 5:30 which produced golf ball sized hail into our yard.
Monica Holley
Hail in McKinney Near Eldorado and Alma
Clark Williams
Hail in Prosper Picture of Hail in Prosper
untitled T-Mobile Hail in Mckinney, TX today around 6:40. From Nicole Rhodes.....thanks!
stephanie gould
hail in frisco frisco hail golf ball size
Jeanie Simmons
Prosper Hail
Jay Acosta
Celina Hail Storm with a rainbow photo bomb picture
Tammy White
[EXTERNAL] Hail in NE Bedford We are approximately 4 miles west northwest of your studio
Lisa Greenup
untitled Lisa Greenup McKinney
Lisa
wylie hail dime to nickel sized hail
Ames C. Meyer
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Prosper From Julie Dominguez
Jenna Hill
Hail Hail @ Virginia and Green Ash McKinney
Mallory Njuguna
[EXTERNAL] Weather photo Sent from my iPhone
untitled Hail in McKinney at White and Community. Kim
dave
hail mckinney hail
Ben Nehama
The Calm Before the Storm 6:03 PM East Allen near Allen High School
Kristen B.
Prosper hail
Holly Draper
[EXTERNAL] Prosper hail Taken at least 20 min after the hail fell....
Diana Smith
[EXTERNAL] Hailing in Bedford! 4/6/18
Lisa Greenup
untitled Lisa Greenup McKinney
Trumaine Johnson
Tornado Pic Plano and Park
Sue Reynolds
hail quartee sized hail fell in McKinney at 380 and Ridge Rd.
Michelle Zeis
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Prosper Sent from my iPhone
Caroline Leding
Hail Hail in Euless from the storm 4/6/18 6p
the.return.of.j
[EXTERNAL] McKinney Hailstorm about 5:49pm 380@Custer
Troy ODonnell
Menacing Clouds Wall cloud
Michelle Zeis
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Prosper Sent from my iPhone
[EXTERNAL] 4/6/18 Before tornado warning Frisco
Richard Lopez
Hail in Prosper Good size hail in Prosper
Miranda Moyes
Hail in Irving Near 183 and Beltline
Brady Small
hail in prosper Hail in Prosper - 380@Teel
Erin O'Connell
[EXTERNAL] Hail from McKinney McKinney at Independence and Virginia Sent from my iPhone
Baven
Hail in Euless TX Double the size of quarter
Allison Wilson
hail in McKinney Texas golf ball size?
Ames C. Meyer
[EXTERNAL] WX Clouds In Frisco From Ryan Snoderly
Tradonna Colgan
Hail in Hurst Hurst/Colleyville
Katie Webb
View from Nebraska Furniture Mart Stormy Sky
Bobby Bowyer
Hail in Prosper
Michelle Zeis
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Prosper Sent from my iPhone
Michelle Zeis
[EXTERNAL] Hail in Prosper Sent from my iPhone
Barbara Monzingo
[EXTERNAL] Bedford at 5:45
Cliff Cook
[EXTERNAL] Hail in NRH This is in NRH near Rufe Snow and Bursey. This was about 10 min ago.Cliff Cook
Molly Dalke
Oh hail Hail in Prosper
Gage
Hail Azle Texas Hail next to pecan in Azle, Texas
Dave
Size of hail in Celina
peter villa
Hail in McKinney
Sarita
Hail in Celina
Wiley
Hail Marble size hail Azle, TX
Mavis
Hail Hail in Prosper
Jennifer Koes
storm is coming in nrh nrh storm sky
Brian Kuennen
Hail Prosper TX April 6 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" hail fell in Prosper, TX
Dakota Hoes
Hail In Saginaw pea sized hail in Saginaw
Tom Goulter
north meadows. Aubrey Th
Tom Goulter
north meadows Aubrey Tx cold front circular moment
Castro, Bianca (NBCUniversal)
20180406_173931_ From a viewer in celina. 5 minutes ago
Pam Smith
Hail Hometown North Richland Hills Hail
sharon Simmons
hail in Springtown hail
sharon simmons
rain and Hail hail and rain
Amand H
Hail in North Richland Hills Quart size hail and larger
Amanda H
Hail in North Richland Hills Pea sized hail in NRH
sharon Simmons
hail in Springtown hail
sue reynolds
hail in Mckinney on 380 marble size hail
Krista Bryant
Hailstorm in NRH
Peter villa
hail in mckinney
William Cogwell
Hail in Sachse Getting bigger
Trisha
[EXTERNAL] Golf ball hail in Plano I am in Plano off custer and 121. I put my roller derby helmet on and ran outside to collect these guys!
Kristina Bielecki
Allen Hail Storm Major hail
Aaron
Hail in Wylie Hail in Wylie
Randall van Heyst
[EXTERNAL]
Aaron
Hail in Wylie Hail in Wylie
cole maguire
plano hail hail stones
untitled
Patti Chant
Golf ball size hail damage Broken skylight
sandy.kulkarni3
Baseball size hail damage in Plano Baseball size hail in Plano and skylight damaged.https://twitter.com/SandyKulkarnee/status/
Katie Horner, spokeswoman for the Kansas adjutant general's division of emergency management, said last year the state dealt with a blizzard, an ice storm, fire, flooding and a tornado warning all in the same week. "We train not only for one or two events in a day, but three or four events in a day," she added.
Chip Orton, the emergency management director for Amarillo, a city of about 200,000 in the Texas Panhandle, says, "My job is to be worried."
"That's why we come to work every day. Is it likely? Probably not. Could it happen? Sure," he said.
While tornadoes are the result of thunderstorms, which are created from conditions that include moisture, the current dry conditions in the area do not preclude twisters, said Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Patrick Marsh. He noted that two tornadoes were reported in the Texas Panhandle on March 18, even as the area was rated in extreme drought.
Some private forecasting services are predicting an increase in tornadoes during the coming months, based largely on the fact that there was the climate phenomenon La Nina during the past winter. They're expecting weather patterns in the coming months to be wetter and warmer than usual, particularly in the southeastern U.S. and along the Gulf Coast.
"(Those conditions) would be a petri dish for thunderstorms. You need to add an additional ingredient for tornadoes. You need wind shear. Wind shear is best described as a change in wind speed and direction," Marsh said, and is created when cold air and warm air collide at the surface.
The national Storm Prediction Center, however, does not forecast severe weather more than about a week in advance.
