Area residents had more than a few rocky hours Monday night and Tuesday as a series of spring storms rolled through the area.

Record breaking or at least near record breaking temperatures had preceded the arrival of the unsettled air on Monday.

The storms brought heavy rain, flooding, large hail, high winds and even tornadoes to parts of Kansas and Nebraska Monday night and Tuesday.

Radar depicted rotation in the skies after midnight Monday. Storm sirens were sounded in at least Lawrence and Nelson and residents throughout the area took shelter in their basements, safe rooms or storm caves.

The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado touchdown northwest of Smith Center and another near Cowles. Both were weak and rated EF-0 with estimated wind speeds of 65 MPH. The Cowles tornado traversed open country before crossing Highway 281. Minor tree damage was noted.

The Smith County tornado was near Reamsville. It was 35 yards wide and traveled 6.9 miles damaging trees and turning over a small mobile building. It passed near a limestone quarry.

Nuckolls County appears to have missed most of the nasty stuff but there was some hail, rain and wind reported. There were several reports of property damaged by the high winds in the Burr Oak area. Flooding and heavier rains were reported elsewhere in Nebraska. Several funnel clouds were reported by trained spotters Tuesday in other areas of Nebraska.

CoCoRaHS observers based in Nebraska submitted the following rainfall reports: 1.5 miles north of Nora .60, South south east edge of Lawrence 0.25, 6.5 miles northeast of Superior 0.72, 6.7 miles south south east of Lawrence, 0.32, 8.4 miles northwest of Superior, 0.33, southwest edge of Nelson 0.32 , 4. 8 miles south southeast of Deweese, 0.39, .62 mile northwest of Superior 0.73, 4.3miles east of Red Cloud 0.34, south southeast of Guide Rock, 0.27, 4.7 miles south southwest of Deshler 0.76, one-half mile southwest of Deshler, 0.68, west edge of Davenport 0.63, and 2.4 miles northwest of Edgar 0.55.