Severe storms and reported tornadoes swept across Oklahoma early on Sunday, injuring at least six people, and causing injuries and widespread power outages.
Those injured were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, the Oklahoma city police department captain Valerie Littlejohn said.
The damage from the storms, which cut a destructive path of severe weather in the Oklahoma City area, included downed power lines, gas lines, trees and traffic signals and signs. Local television reports showed flipped cars, downed trees and power lines and damaged homes.
More than 80,000 customers were without power in the state, according to PowerOutage.us on Sunday morning.
The national weather service issued a tornado watch warning for an area of eastern Oklahoma City towards Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base. A tornado warning was issued for over 300,000 people in Moore, Midwest City and Del City.
The warning stated: “If you’re in the path of this storm, take cover immediately!”
Later Sunday morning, the NWS warned: “Folks, don’t let your guard down too much – we’re already starting to see the atmosphere begin to recover ahead of yet another round of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, flooding, and potential severe weather today.”
“Multiple rounds of severe storms are possible this weekend into early next week across the southern + central Plains. All hazards are possible including damaging wind, large hail, and tornadoes,” the NWS said in a broader statement on X.
The Oklahoma department of emergency management said it was monitoring the severe weather.
The storms came as weather researchers have said nighttime tornadoes are more than twice as deadly as daytime ones, in part because people are sleeping and they are difficult to see coming.
Police in the city of Choctaw shared on Facebook on Sunday that there had been “significant damage to homes in the area” and those in need could shelter in “the gymnasium at Choctaw elementary”.
“Work to clear roadways will continue in the addition as the morning progresses. Many power lines are down in the area, please be patient with police and fire if they tell you to take another route, it is for your safety,” the police department wrote, before adding that the City of Harrah had also sustained damage.
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As of 28 October 2024, there have been 1,515 confirmed tornadoes in the US, a figure that trails only 2011’s 2,156 confirmed twisters.
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