Spring
March – May
Tornado season, severe thunderstorms, and spring flooding.
Spring brings the most volatile weather of the year across most of North America. Melting snow causes river flooding while unstable air masses drive violent thunderstorms and the peak of tornado season. It's also the best window to rotate winter supplies and garden-start your food resilience.
Top Threats This Season
Flash flooding
Snowmelt + heavy rain overwhelms drainage; deaths peak in spring
Severe thunderstorms
Hail, damaging winds, lightning — power outages are common
Mudslides & landslides
Saturated slopes collapse, especially after wildfires or deforestation
Priority Tasks
Test your NOAA weather radio
Spring is when you'll need it most. Check batteries, confirm alerts, and pre-program local SAME codes.
Identify your storm shelter
Basement, interior room without windows, or community shelter. Practice the route. Time yourself getting there.
Clean gutters and drainage
Clogged gutters cause foundation flooding during spring downpours. Cheap insurance.
Start the garden
Even a few containers of tomatoes, peppers, and herbs adds resilience. Compost winter food scraps now.
Rotate winter supplies
Use up older canned soups, check battery freshness, replace expired items.
Gear Focus
NOAA weather radio
Tornado warnings come 13 minutes ahead on average — radio works when cell towers fail
Rain gear + waterproof boots
You will be evacuating or clearing damage in the wet
Sump pump + backup battery
Basement flooding is a spring certainty in much of the US
Chainsaw or battery saw
Downed trees block roads and crush homes after severe storms
Skills to Sharpen
Seasonal Checklist
- Sump pump tested and running
- Storm shelter supplies stocked (water, lights, radio)
- Gutters cleared, downspouts directing water away from home
- Trees inspected for dead limbs (remove before storms take them)
- NOAA radio batteries fresh, SAME codes set
- Garden plot prepped, seeds or starts ready