VALE, N.C. -- Leonard Schrone, 84, stared up in the air from the back yard of his home in Vale early Monday. Hours earlier, hail rained down on his house and a funnel cloud was reportedly spotted nearby.

"We've had a couple of really bad storms in this area, and they are calling for more," Schrone said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

The severe weather and recent storms have Schrone wondering aloud what this week holds. It could be eventful, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Schrone said he has lived on Reepsville Road for 40 years.

"The rest of this week, if we have storms it will be the worst I've seen," he said.

NWS meteorologist Vince Di Carlo said recent storms are the worst he has seen in almost a decade. He went to Lincoln County on Monday to check on unconfirmed reports of a tornado. He said the current weather is Mother Nature's way of correcting conditions from the drought that has gripped the area for years.

DiCarlo said residents should expect to hear more reports of severe weather because the spring storms that normally end in late May or June are still going.

"What we are looking at are strong thunderstorms that are going to develop through out the mountains and piedmont of North Carolina," he said.

He predicted the spring storm season will last another couple of weeks.

DiCarlo said there is also a chance of small tornados, either at the F0 or F1 level. He said there is an obvious benefit to all of this – much needed rain.

"Basically it means more rain in the area, which we desperately need," he said.

He said normal summer weather returns, that benefit may be gone. He said in about two weeks the very hot days will come back and, with them, occasional afternoon thunderstorms that add very little water to drought-stricken rivers and streams.