Wis. officials warn tornado season is here

MADISON (AP) -- State officials are warning people tornado season has arrived. Wisconsin Emergency Management officials say people should seek shelter immediately when they hear a tornado warning, rather than checking multiple sources of information, calling friends or going outside to look at the sky.

They point to a National Weather Service study, which found people who lived through the tornado that destroyed Joplin, Mo., last year needed between two and nine warnings before they took shelter.

Wisconsin sees an average of 23 tornadoes annually. The National Weather Service confirmed 38 tornadoes in the state last year, with the earliest outbreak coming on April 10.

A string of tornadoes devastated the Dallas-Fort Worth area earlier this week.