April is here, and anything can happen with the weather. By the end of the month our normal high is 60, but we have records in the 90s. Snow storms are still likely and back on April 5th 1982, the Brewer’s Home Opener was postponed due to 9” of snow. On April 9, 1973, 11.6” of snow paralyzed Milwaukee with 60mph winds and 10 foot drifts. Severe thunderstorms also return along with the threat of tornadoes. April 13, 2006 was the costliest hailstorm in Wisconsin history with 4” hail in Jefferson County. Back on April 27, 1984, a deadly F4 tornado hit Wales.

Last Thursday I revisited Wheatland to do a story on how families are doing 3 months after the tornadoes. It is amazing how fast they cleaned up, but this past winter just added more problems. The two families I spoke with actually started to rebuild their homes Thursday. All the snow and cold this winter just kept pushing back the start dates. In summer, you can start rebuilding as soon as you get all the plans together. After a January tornado, you are at the mercy of winter.

Their emotion is still raw and their stories sent chills down my spine. I could have talked with them all day. They are nervous about the storms returning and how they will react to the first sound of thunder. They did say that they will now take every warning seriously.