Public Media from Michigan State University

Weather spotters gear up for Michigan spring

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Former WKAR staffer-turned-spotter Gene Purdum checks his rain gauge at his home near Williamston.
Kevin Lavery

Winter is slowly coming to an end in Michigan.  But the arrival of spring means watching out for severe storms.  Last Tuesday, three confirmed tornado touchdowns were reported in southwest Michigan.

When the storms strike, the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids relies on a network of volunteer weather spotters to keep an eye on the sky. 

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Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.