At least 4 deaths result from Oklahoma's tornadoes, with dangerous storms persisting in Missouri and Texas.
A number of massive and hazardous tornadoes were reported to have struck Oklahoma during the night on Saturday, as per the National Weather Service. Consequently, two fatalities emerged in Holdenville, while another one was reported near Marietta on I-35. Keli Cain, the public affairs director for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, provided these details. An additional fatality was confirmed in the damaged town of Sulphur in Murray County, Oklahoma, according to Governor Kevin Stitt at a Sunday press conference.
The weather service documented 22 tornadoes in the Norman area. The weather service confirmed that the tornadoes with at least EF-3 strength impacted Sulphur and Marietta on Saturday night, with EF-3 classifying wind speeds of 136 mph or more.
"It appears that every business downtown has been destroyed now in Sulphur," Stitt said. "This is the most damage I've seen since I've been governor."
Around 30 people sustained injuries in Sulphur, but their conditions remained unknown. Stitt announced an emergency disaster declaration and planned to tour storm damage in Sulphur and Holdenville.
According to various reports, injuries, property damage, flooding, and downed power lines and trees occurred across multiple counties on Saturday night. The extent of the damage was unclear early on Sunday.
The tiny town of Sulphur, around 80 miles south of Oklahoma City, experienced injuries and consequences from what appeared to be at least two large tornadoes overnight as a flood warning was issued for the city, as reported by the weather service.
"A large and extremely dangerous tornado is located south of Sulphur, moving north at 35 mph. First responders should prepare for additional tornado impacts immediately!!!” the weather service in Norman issued a dire warning.
Over 47 million people are at risk for significant weather on Sunday, starting from eastern Texas and continuing through the upper part of the Mississippi River Valley. Cities like Dallas and Austin in Texas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma, Wichita and Topeka in Kansas, and the Kansas City metropolitan area could experience powerful tornadoes while storms move east across the southern Plains.
Almost 4 million people are under tornado watches for Sunday evening. Watches extend from sections of eastern Texas to northwestern Louisiana, western Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, and southwestern Missouri as of late Sunday. These areas include cities like Fort Smith in Arkansas and Shreveport, Louisiana.
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The Storm Prediction Center anticipates that the storms might produce hail as big as ping-pong balls and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph.
The weather service reported two tornadoes crossing Oklahoma's Highway 9 between Goldsby and Blanchard at the same time late Saturday, as well as a sighting just east of Tinker Air Force Base. The University of Oklahoma cautioned students and staff: "Seek shelter NOW inside the building you are in. Move to the lowest floor/interior room."
Oklahoma's emergency operations center was activated on Saturday, as per a Facebook post from Governor Kevin Stitt. "Please remain weather aware and know where you'll take shelter if a disastrous storm threatens your region," he urged locals.
In addition to the tornadoes, storms are also expected to bring heavy rain that could worsen the critical situation.
Over 10 inches of rain had fallen in Trinity County, Texas, by Sunday night, prompting a flash flood emergency with crews engaged in evacuating residents due to the "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation," according to the National Weather Service in Houston. The service raised the alarm about a "violent and perilous situation."
The Severe Storm Prediction Center increased the severe weather threat for Sunday to level 3 from 5 on a scale ranging from eastern Texas to southern Missouri, including Shreveport, Little Rock, and Springfield. Areas from southeastern Texas to southern Iowa are under a level 2 storm threat.
Inclement weather is projected to persist across the mid-section of the nation into Monday.
"In addition to the severe weather, intense rainfall rates will accompany these thunderstorms at times, resulting in a moderate to locally high potential of flash flooding," the National Weather Service observed.
Sweltering weather unleashed numerous tornado reports across at least six states on Friday and Saturday. Visuals of flattened homes and debris littering communities were observed in Nebraska and Iowa.
One person passed away in Minden, Iowa, when a tornado touched down during the winter storm outbreak on Friday, according to Pottawattamie County Emergency Management. Four storm-related injuries resulted, with three individuals being treated and discharged, while a fourth person, initially reported in stable condition, ultimately succumbed to their injuries, said Pottawattamie County spokesperson Craig Carlsen.
Omaha resident Jason Sunday and his family had resided in their new Elkhorn residence for just 30 days when a tornado resembled a "runaway train" hitting it, as Sunday described to CNN affiliate KETV. As the tornado approached on Friday, he took cover inside his house.
We were sitting in the basement bathtub, and just like in the movies, it felt like a freight train was coming, observed Sunday to KETV. The roof was rumbling as it flew off due to the loud pop and sucking sound. It was really scary.
The tornado inflicted severe damage on the family's new house, leaving them with the task of rebuilding.
"We're grateful to be alive. We're extremely thankful," Sunday proclaimed.
Many residents throughout Omaha and Nebraska are presently coping with severe damage to their homes following the multiple reported tornadoes on Friday.
Elkhorn in Omaha, Nebraska, experienced significant destruction. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen told journalists on Saturday that it was a miracle there were no fatalities.
"Nebraskans are no strangers to extreme weather, and just as they've done countless times before, Nebraskans will assist Nebraskans to reconstruct," the governor remarked in a Facebook post.
One of the tornadoes that struck Douglas County was rated EF-3, with winds over 135 mph, according to Chris Franks from the National Weather Service. The other, which hit Omaha's airport, appeared to be an EF-2, he added.
A tornado outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, ripped off the roofs of residences and crossed a section of I-80 as it passed by. Several trains cars derailed near Waverly after being hit by a tornado, as per a train spokesperson.
Pillen on Sunday evening issued an emergency declaration for Douglas, Lancaster, and Washington counties subsequent to the severe thunderstorms and tornadoes on Friday. The emergency declaration permits these Nebraska counties to receive recovery aid funding through the state, the governor stated.
In Iowa's Pottawattamie County, approximately 120 homes and businesses incurred damage, disclosed county emergency management officials.
A huge tornado was recorded in the tiny city of Minden in Pottawattamie County, reported the National Weather Service. Footage obtained by CNN showed the wreckage of severely damaged structures and widespread debris.
80 tornadoes were reported on Friday across at least five states, many of which have been verified by the weather service or through footage gathered by storm chasers.
CNN contributors Jillian Sykes, Aya Elamroussi, Ray Sanchez, Sara Smart, Mary Gilbert, Sharif Paget, Sarah Dewberry, Jamiel Lynch, Raja Rezek, Colin Jeffrey, Rebekah Riess, Kara Devlin, Michelle Watson, and CNN meteorologists Sara Tonks, Brandon Miller, Gene Norman, and Elisa Raffa provided information for this article.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
