After one of the coldest winters in several years, we can finally enjoy the spring season and turn our attention to lawn care. Typically, we experience beneficial rains throughout most of the spring. When combined with balanced chemical applications, these rains can help create a lush summer lawn. Hopefully, the extreme cold has also reduced some of the bug populations in the soil.
This spring appears fairly typical, with long-range weather patterns indicating periods of beneficial rain and seasonable temperatures. However, we are also seeing an increase in severe thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging winds as the primary threats. As we transition from a weak La Niña winter, the jet stream remains strong and active, which can contribute to tornado outbreaks. We have already seen significant tornado and severe thunderstorm activity across the Deep South and Midwest, with some storms extending into the eastern U.S. This pattern is expected to continue into April.
Severe thunderstorms are defined by the following criteria: winds exceeding 58 mph, hail 1 inch or greater in diameter, or a tornado.
A great weather radar app for tracking storms is Radarscope. I recommend the Pro version, which costs $9.99 per year and includes lightning data—an essential feature if you’re on the lake. Remember, if you hear thunder, it’s time to seek shelter.
Now, back to your lawn… A healthy, sustainable lawn is both an aesthetic and ecological asset to your property: actively growing turfgrass produces oxygen, dense blades of turfgrass help keep the soil cooler, and a healthy lawn prevents erosion and reduces chemical runoff into Lake Anna.
Achieving long-term success with cool-season grasses through spring seeding can be difficult due to competition from weeds and the stress of hot Virginia summers.
Spring is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control products, which prevent weeds from growing. Crabgrass is one of Virginia’s most persistent weeds, so early treatment is crucial before soil temperatures reach approximately 60°F.
Post-emergent weed control products target weeds after germination without harming the grass. Dandelions and clover are two of the most common post-emergent weeds that require attention. April is the ideal month to manage turfgrass with weed control applications.
Lake Anna Weatherman Michael Eckert with the help of local lawn expert Steve McCormick run The Lake Anna Weather Facebook group, keeping us informed weekly and sometimes daily.
I grew up an Air Force Brat. Traveled the country and lived in Georgia, Maine, New York, Hawaii and Oklahoma.
I fell in love with the weather in Oklahoma. My father was transferred to Tinker AFB in 1973. While in Temporary housing (a mobile home, which is the standard in Oklahoma) I experienced my first severe thunderstorm with strong winds and hail the size of baseballs. The next day I was in the base library looking up books on weather. The rest is history.
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology. The first two years we took Calculus, Differential equations, Physics, Chemistry and Computer science classes with the Engineering Students. It was a grind. My degree is actually from the College of Engineering. The last 2-3 year’s focus was on Meteorology including Observational networks (Satellite, Radar, Surface), Physics, Thermodynamics, Dynamics, Synoptic, Winter Weather, Severe Weather and Climatology.
My first job out of college was with a small forecasting company in Oklahoma City. I was immediately put on TV (OETA) and Radio (WKY) as their broadcast Meteorologist. After two years in broadcasting, I decided to pursue the National Weather Service route and got a position in Toledo, OH as an intern. After a couple of years, I was promoted to a forecaster position at the Cleveland Forecast office. I quickly moved into the Weather Preparedness position and was responsible for all the preparedness activities in the state of Ohio.
In 1992 I decided to pursue other forecast opportunities and moved to the Meteorological Operations Division of the National Meteorological Center in Washington, DC. This group is now called WPC (Weather Prediction Center). There I fine-tuned my forecasting of Synoptic Weather with my focus on Heavy Convective Rainfall and Winter Storms, under the supervision of Dr. Louis Uccellini. He has written several books on East Coast Winter storms. I was promoted to a Senior Branch Forecast position during my tenure at MOD. Part of my job was to teach weather classes at COMET (Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training).
In 2012 I was given the opportunity to start up a new weather support group with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in Warrenton, VA at the ATCSSC (Air Traffic Control System Command Center). The ATCSCC is where the FAA identifies solutions to air traffic inefficiencies in the NAS (National Air Space) for the CONUS (Continental United State). Weather impacts are the biggest impact on Aviation with yearly losses over 20 billion dollars. My job was to help lower these inefficiencies/costs by providing weather impact briefings and forecasts in order to keep the air planes moving as safely and efficiently as possible.
I retired in 2022 and now am running Lake Anna Weather, LLC.
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After one of the coldest winters in several years, we can finally enjoy the spring season and turn our attention to lawn care. Typically, we experience beneficial rains throughout most of the spring. When combined with balanced chemical applications, these rains can help create a lush summer lawn. Hopefully, the extreme cold has also reduced some of the bug populations in the soil.
This spring appears fairly typical, with long-range weather patterns indicating periods of beneficial rain and seasonable temperatures. However, we are also seeing an increase in severe thunderstorms, with large hail and damaging winds as the primary threats. As we transition from a weak La Niña winter, the jet stream remains strong and active, which can contribute to tornado outbreaks. We have already seen significant tornado and severe thunderstorm activity across the Deep South and Midwest, with some storms extending into the eastern U.S. This pattern is expected to continue into April.
Severe thunderstorms are defined by the following criteria: winds exceeding 58 mph, hail 1 inch or greater in diameter, or a tornado.
A great weather radar app for tracking storms is Radarscope. I recommend the Pro version, which costs $9.99 per year and includes lightning data—an essential feature if you’re on the lake. Remember, if you hear thunder, it’s time to seek shelter.
Now, back to your lawn… A healthy, sustainable lawn is both an aesthetic and ecological asset to your property: actively growing turfgrass produces oxygen, dense blades of turfgrass help keep the soil cooler, and a healthy lawn prevents erosion and reduces chemical runoff into Lake Anna.
Achieving long-term success with cool-season grasses through spring seeding can be difficult due to competition from weeds and the stress of hot Virginia summers.
Spring is the best time to apply pre-emergent weed control products, which prevent weeds from growing. Crabgrass is one of Virginia’s most persistent weeds, so early treatment is crucial before soil temperatures reach approximately 60°F.
Post-emergent weed control products target weeds after germination without harming the grass. Dandelions and clover are two of the most common post-emergent weeds that require attention. April is the ideal month to manage turfgrass with weed control applications.
Lake Anna Weatherman Michael Eckert with the help of local lawn expert Steve McCormick run The Lake Anna Weather Facebook group, keeping us informed weekly and sometimes daily.
I grew up an Air Force Brat. Traveled the country and lived in Georgia, Maine, New York, Hawaii and Oklahoma.
I fell in love with the weather in Oklahoma. My father was transferred to Tinker AFB in 1973. While in Temporary housing (a mobile home, which is the standard in Oklahoma) I experienced my first severe thunderstorm with strong winds and hail the size of baseballs. The next day I was in the base library looking up books on weather. The rest is history.
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1983 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology. The first two years we took Calculus, Differential equations, Physics, Chemistry and Computer science classes with the Engineering Students. It was a grind. My degree is actually from the College of Engineering. The last 2-3 year’s focus was on Meteorology including Observational networks (Satellite, Radar, Surface), Physics, Thermodynamics, Dynamics, Synoptic, Winter Weather, Severe Weather and Climatology.
My first job out of college was with a small forecasting company in Oklahoma City. I was immediately put on TV (OETA) and Radio (WKY) as their broadcast Meteorologist. After two years in broadcasting, I decided to pursue the National Weather Service route and got a position in Toledo, OH as an intern. After a couple of years, I was promoted to a forecaster position at the Cleveland Forecast office. I quickly moved into the Weather Preparedness position and was responsible for all the preparedness activities in the state of Ohio.
In 1992 I decided to pursue other forecast opportunities and moved to the Meteorological Operations Division of the National Meteorological Center in Washington, DC. This group is now called WPC (Weather Prediction Center). There I fine-tuned my forecasting of Synoptic Weather with my focus on Heavy Convective Rainfall and Winter Storms, under the supervision of Dr. Louis Uccellini. He has written several books on East Coast Winter storms. I was promoted to a Senior Branch Forecast position during my tenure at MOD. Part of my job was to teach weather classes at COMET (Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training).
In 2012 I was given the opportunity to start up a new weather support group with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in Warrenton, VA at the ATCSSC (Air Traffic Control System Command Center). The ATCSCC is where the FAA identifies solutions to air traffic inefficiencies in the NAS (National Air Space) for the CONUS (Continental United State). Weather impacts are the biggest impact on Aviation with yearly losses over 20 billion dollars. My job was to help lower these inefficiencies/costs by providing weather impact briefings and forecasts in order to keep the air planes moving as safely and efficiently as possible.
I retired in 2022 and now am running Lake Anna Weather, LLC.
Subscribe for Updates
Sponsors
latest articles
April 14, 2025
“Zero Crashes Since the Roundabout” Reported at 2025 Lake Anna Summit
April 10, 2025
Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation Awarded $1 Million HUD Grant to Help Older Adults Age in Place
April 8, 2025
National Art Honor Society Gallery Show
March 26, 2025
LASER Teams Excel at State Championship
March 26, 2025
Louisa Knights Checkmate Their Way to Success at State Tournament
March 26, 2025
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