Severe weather is nothing to play around with

Another blast of winter weather covered the area Sunday afternoon. Big flakes graced the grass and roadways -- not something we think of on March 16. Thankfully, the latest round of white stuff was not nearly as much as we've seen since December. With forecasts calling for more springlike temperatures today we hope we're on the way to spring.

Along with green grass, flowers and baseball, spring can be a time for severe weather in the form of strong storms and high winds. Severe Weather Awareness Week recently was recognized, and it's important that we keep an eye to the sky and take necessary precautions to stay safe.

It will be three years in May since an EF-5 tornado ravaged Joplin, Mo., a storm that killed 161 people, injured another 1,100-plus and left much destruction in the aftermath.

A story that moved across The Associated Press wire Monday said weather forecasters noted the long, cold winter could delay the spring storm season.

"We are predicting it will be a little cooler going into the spring and that this summer will be a little milder," Tony Lupo, chairman of the atmospheric science program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, told The Joplin Globe. "We'll get the rains that we need. This could be a better summer for agriculture."

About 50 tornadoes, according to the story, have been in the U.S. so far this year. Normally about 130 tornadoes are par by now.

We pray that the tornadic weather and severe storms miss us. Nevertheless, it's important to be prepared. Heed notifications of severe weather advisories, watches and warnings. Purchase a weather radio. If you would like to receive weather alerts, the Southeast Missourian offers text messages. We also try to keep our social media audience informed on severe weather.

Have a meeting place and emergency supplies. Be safe.