Storms impacting Brown County, KS on Monday, March 6, 2017. Credit: Greg Buser

(MSC News)--Severe thunderstorms rolled across the region Monday evening, bringing with them strong, damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain.

That followed the issuance of a Tornado Watch during the afternoon, with tornadic activity developing as day turned to evening.

Tornado Warnings were issued for such nearby locations as Leavenworth County, Kansas and Buchanan County, Missouri.

In Brown County, storm spotters report the development of what they are calling gustnadoes, which are commonly mistaken for tornadoes, but are not the same.

The severe weather breakout happened on the first day of Severe Weather Awareness Week, underway now through Friday.

The time is set aside annually to prepare for times of springtime severe weather, and will again include the statewide tornado drill for Kansas.

National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chad Omitt says that is planned for Tuesday morning at 10:00. “Think about where you're at, think about where you go and what you do in the event that it's a real warning.”

April, May, and June is the peak severe storm season in Kansas, but the extreme activity Monday was a reminder that such dangerous weather can arrive whenever conditions are favorable.