US: First tornadoes in Great Plains of 2018 recorded May 1

Event

The first tornadoes in the Great Plains of this year were recorded in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma on Tuesday, May 1. Over a dozen twisters reportedly struck Kansas and Nebraska on Tuesday, including a large tornado in Cloud County (Kansas) which knocked over power lines. In Oklahoma, a tornado was reported to the north-northeast of Buffalo (Harper County). Tornadoes are expected to occur frequently in the Great Plains (Kansas; Nebraska; North Dakota; Oklahoma; South Dakota; Texas), Midwest (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kentucky; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Ohio; Wisconsin), and parts of the southeastern US (Alabama; Arkansas; Georgia; Florida; Louisiana; Mississippi; Tennessee) through June.

Context

Peak tornado season in the US is generally between April and June. Typically, the most affected areas are the Great Plains, Midwest, and southeastern states.

Advice

Individuals in the above areas are advised to be aware of local weather forecasts and take appropriate precautions. The safest place to be in a building in the event of a tornado is in the basement or on the ground floor, or in an interior hallway or stairwell. Avoid doors, windows, and walls. If a tornado is approaching, crouch face down as low as possible to the floor and cover your head with your hands, or a mattress if possible, to protect your head from falling debris.