Spring has officially arrived in Kansas, at least in the weather reports if not by the calendar.

Yesterday scattered areas reported hail (mostly a "springtime phenomenon") although the largest reported were only "about an inch in diamter."

There were also a few reports of thunder accompanying the most recent precipitation - mostly something that happens only in warmer air, although we had a couple of unusual "rumbles" during snow earlier.

Class schedules for recruiting and training new "Tornado Watch" observers have also been announced. Meteorologists predict a "longer than usual" tornado season, due to prevailing major air mass movements; but they decline to make predictions about "relative severity" of expected weather disturbances.

Low temp this morning in my town 11F (-11.6C) but prediction is for at least 40F (4.4C) by late afternoon. (Possibility of 60F in a couple of days.)

John