Tornadoes Ravage Texas and Oklahoma
An active and slow-moving storm system delivered heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes to parts of Texas and Oklahoma, resulting in three fatalities. Severe weather warnings continued to linger on Sunday across the south-central and Midwest...
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An active and slow-moving storm system delivered heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes to parts of Texas and Oklahoma, resulting in three fatalities. Severe weather warnings continued to linger on Sunday across the south-central and Midwest regions of the United States.
On Easter Sunday, communities in Texas and Oklahoma began to evaluate the damage inflicted by the tornadoes. A forecaster from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center reported that seventeen tornado events occurred on Saturday, with five confirmed in south-central Oklahoma. One of these tornadoes caused significant damage to a small town that had been recovering from a March tornado.
Additionally, the storm unleashed heavy rain across a wide area of north-central Texas and central to eastern Oklahoma, with many locations receiving between 5 to 10 centimeters of rainfall from Saturday into Sunday.
In Moore, a city of 63,000 residents situated approximately 16 kilometers south of Oklahoma City, police received numerous reports of "high-water incidents" throughout the weekend, including two vehicles trapped in floodwaters on Saturday evening. One car was swept away under a bridge. Authorities managed to rescue some individuals, but tragically, a woman and a 12-year-old boy were discovered deceased.
In a further incident, a tornado touched down in Spaulding, about 130 kilometers southeast, resulting in another fatality, according to Hughes County Emergency Management.
The National Weather Service indicated that a preliminary damage assessment revealed the tornado was at least an EF1, with wind speeds ranging from 138 to 177 kilometers per hour. Another EF1 tornado was recorded south of Oklahoma City in Love County.
On Saturday, the storm system largely remained stationary over Texas and Oklahoma, creating a very active thunderstorm environment that led to large hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
A town in Oklahoma, still in the process of recovery from a tornado earlier in March, faced another assault late Saturday. The north side of Ada, home to about 16,000 residents, suffered damage consistent with at least an EF1 tornado, according to a preliminary survey by the weather service. Social media channels displayed images of roofs torn off businesses, blown-in storefront windows, and billboards knocked over.
At least two tornadoes were reported crossing west Parker County, Texas, on Saturday. Emergency crews were dispatched to several residences where roofs had been torn away, exposing their interiors. In one case, a detached roof was found smashed across a driveway.
By late Sunday, the storm system had accelerated its movement northeast but remained active, posing risks of hail, high winds, and heavy rain to Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southeastern Iowa. Thousands in Missouri were reported to be without power.
While the heavy rain began to lessen in Texas and Oklahoma by late Sunday afternoon, forecasts indicate that additional downpours are anticipated across parts of the Plains during the week. With already swollen streams and saturated soil, the region continues to be at risk for further flooding.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
On Easter Sunday, communities in Texas and Oklahoma began to evaluate the damage inflicted by the tornadoes. A forecaster from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center reported that seventeen tornado events occurred on Saturday, with five confirmed in south-central Oklahoma. One of these tornadoes caused significant damage to a small town that had been recovering from a March tornado.
Additionally, the storm unleashed heavy rain across a wide area of north-central Texas and central to eastern Oklahoma, with many locations receiving between 5 to 10 centimeters of rainfall from Saturday into Sunday.
In Moore, a city of 63,000 residents situated approximately 16 kilometers south of Oklahoma City, police received numerous reports of "high-water incidents" throughout the weekend, including two vehicles trapped in floodwaters on Saturday evening. One car was swept away under a bridge. Authorities managed to rescue some individuals, but tragically, a woman and a 12-year-old boy were discovered deceased.
In a further incident, a tornado touched down in Spaulding, about 130 kilometers southeast, resulting in another fatality, according to Hughes County Emergency Management.
The National Weather Service indicated that a preliminary damage assessment revealed the tornado was at least an EF1, with wind speeds ranging from 138 to 177 kilometers per hour. Another EF1 tornado was recorded south of Oklahoma City in Love County.
On Saturday, the storm system largely remained stationary over Texas and Oklahoma, creating a very active thunderstorm environment that led to large hail, flash flooding, and tornadoes.
A town in Oklahoma, still in the process of recovery from a tornado earlier in March, faced another assault late Saturday. The north side of Ada, home to about 16,000 residents, suffered damage consistent with at least an EF1 tornado, according to a preliminary survey by the weather service. Social media channels displayed images of roofs torn off businesses, blown-in storefront windows, and billboards knocked over.
At least two tornadoes were reported crossing west Parker County, Texas, on Saturday. Emergency crews were dispatched to several residences where roofs had been torn away, exposing their interiors. In one case, a detached roof was found smashed across a driveway.
By late Sunday, the storm system had accelerated its movement northeast but remained active, posing risks of hail, high winds, and heavy rain to Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southeastern Iowa. Thousands in Missouri were reported to be without power.
While the heavy rain began to lessen in Texas and Oklahoma by late Sunday afternoon, forecasts indicate that additional downpours are anticipated across parts of the Plains during the week. With already swollen streams and saturated soil, the region continues to be at risk for further flooding.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
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