Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in six counties, citing damage to infrastructure, and efforts are underway to restore power to polling stations in advance of Election Day. Further storms are expected Monday and Tuesday, potentially bringing flash floods and additional tornadoes. Meanwhile, a community rally is underway, with residents, such as Antonio Alfaro, providing food to storm victims. Emergency responders continue to clear debris and assist those in hardest-hit areas like Oklahoma City, where two EF3 tornadoes, packing winds up to 165 mph, were confirmed. The devastation has sparked flood warnings along local rivers and creeks as rainfall accumulates. Election Day conditions remain unpredictable, with weather advisories issued from Texas to Illinois as storm systems push eastward through the week.Main Headings (H2)
Thunderstorms and tornado warnings persisted across the south-central United States on Monday, including areas in Oklahoma still recovering from weekend tornado outbreaks that injured at least 11 people, destroyed numerous homes, and left thousands without power. Flood advisories remained in effect across central and eastern Oklahoma, with weather alerts stretching into Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. Officials urged residents to monitor weather forecasts as more storms were expected.As a safety measure, schools and universities, including Oklahoma State University, closed on Monday. The Oklahoma City Municipal Court also postponed hearings in response to the dangerous weather conditions.Across Oklahoma, multiple tornadoes reportedly damaged over 100 homes, left people stranded in flooded vehicles, and uprooted trees, entangling power lines in the process. In Tulsa County, lightning set a home on fire amid the violent storms. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for six counties, pledging to prioritize power restoration, particularly at polling stations ahead of Tuesday's Election Day. He encouraged Oklahomans to stay vigilant, saying, "As a fourth-generation Oklahoman, sometimes we think 'it won't happen to us,' but we must remain cautious."
In Oklahoma City, Krystal Kearns experienced a harrowing moment as a tornado siren sounded, her dog leaping into her bed as a window shattered nearby. "My gazebo ended up in a tree," Kearns recounted. The storm destroyed her garden, broke her fence, and left debris, including a vehicle bumper, scattered around her property. Despite the damage, her shed survived. “There’s no normalcy left out here,” Kearns said.Efforts to restore power across Oklahoma were hampered by ongoing storms. Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E), the state's main power supplier, reported that over 200 power poles, 70 transformers, and 64 transmission structures were damaged in the weekend storms. Crews restored power to 94% of customers who had experienced outages, though Monday’s storms created new interruptions, with around 9,000 people still without power by late morning.In an act of community solidarity, Oklahoma City resident Antonio Alfaro, owner of La Birria SuPerb food truck, provided free hot dogs and hamburgers to those affected. “Seeing the heartbreak on people’s faces, it’s devastating,” said Alfaro. He resumed his outreach on Monday, setting up at a Baptist church in southeast Oklahoma City, where people continued to search through debris and recover valuables as storm threats loomed.As the state faced heavy rainfall, rivers and creeks swelled, threatening rural communities. The Little River near Tecumseh rose over four feet past its flood stage on Monday morning, endangering farmland and roads. The weather service in Norman warned, "Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads," as most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. In Guthrie, Cottonwood Creek’s rising waters threatened to isolate neighborhoods as roads became impassable, while areas near the Cimarron River prepared for similar conditions.The severe weather left 11 people hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries early Sunday morning. First responders found damaged homes, trapped residents, and people stranded in flooded cars. Local emergency teams reported extensive structural damage, with a confirmed EF3 tornado carrying winds up to 165 mph sweeping through the region.At least five tornadoes hit Oklahoma, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith. “While tornadoes are possible year-round, strong ones after midnight are rare, especially in November,” he said. Norman, a college town southeast of Oklahoma City, also experienced an EF3 tornado. Another EF1 tornado struck Newcastle, southwest of Oklahoma City, while an EF3 tore through a neighborhood southeast of downtown Oklahoma City.The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, used to classify tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and damage assessments, ranges from EF0 to EF5, with EF3 considered a “strong” tornado capable of significant destruction.Forecasts predict further rain and storm risks in Oklahoma and other parts of the south-central U.S. through Election Day. The Weather Prediction Center warned that areas of eastern Oklahoma, where thunderstorms are expected to bring damaging winds, large hail, and possibly tornadoes, remain particularly vulnerable. Forecasts suggest rainfall totals could surpass five inches, with heightened flash flood risks in already saturated areas.Severe weather is also expected on Election Day from northern Texas to Illinois, impacting voters across the region. AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski advised those waiting outdoors to prepare for potential lightning and heavy rainfall. Rainfall totals between 8 to 12 inches are predicted across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma by Tuesday, with some areas possibly seeing up to 18 inches of rain. By Wednesday, storms will likely shift eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.
- Tornadoes and Flooding Threaten Oklahoma with Devastating Impacts
- Severe Weather Forecasts Prompt Warnings Across Central U.S.
- Oklahoma Governor Declares Emergency as Cleanup and Recovery Begin
- Local Resident Steps Up with Free Meals for Storm Victims
- Power Restoration Efforts Face Setbacks Amid Additional Storms
- Rising Floodwaters in Oklahoma’s Rural Communities Add to Disaster
Thunderstorms and tornado warnings persisted across the south-central United States on Monday, including areas in Oklahoma still recovering from weekend tornado outbreaks that injured at least 11 people, destroyed numerous homes, and left thousands without power. Flood advisories remained in effect across central and eastern Oklahoma, with weather alerts stretching into Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. Officials urged residents to monitor weather forecasts as more storms were expected.As a safety measure, schools and universities, including Oklahoma State University, closed on Monday. The Oklahoma City Municipal Court also postponed hearings in response to the dangerous weather conditions.Across Oklahoma, multiple tornadoes reportedly damaged over 100 homes, left people stranded in flooded vehicles, and uprooted trees, entangling power lines in the process. In Tulsa County, lightning set a home on fire amid the violent storms. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for six counties, pledging to prioritize power restoration, particularly at polling stations ahead of Tuesday's Election Day. He encouraged Oklahomans to stay vigilant, saying, "As a fourth-generation Oklahoman, sometimes we think 'it won't happen to us,' but we must remain cautious."
In Oklahoma City, Krystal Kearns experienced a harrowing moment as a tornado siren sounded, her dog leaping into her bed as a window shattered nearby. "My gazebo ended up in a tree," Kearns recounted. The storm destroyed her garden, broke her fence, and left debris, including a vehicle bumper, scattered around her property. Despite the damage, her shed survived. “There’s no normalcy left out here,” Kearns said.Efforts to restore power across Oklahoma were hampered by ongoing storms. Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E), the state's main power supplier, reported that over 200 power poles, 70 transformers, and 64 transmission structures were damaged in the weekend storms. Crews restored power to 94% of customers who had experienced outages, though Monday’s storms created new interruptions, with around 9,000 people still without power by late morning.In an act of community solidarity, Oklahoma City resident Antonio Alfaro, owner of La Birria SuPerb food truck, provided free hot dogs and hamburgers to those affected. “Seeing the heartbreak on people’s faces, it’s devastating,” said Alfaro. He resumed his outreach on Monday, setting up at a Baptist church in southeast Oklahoma City, where people continued to search through debris and recover valuables as storm threats loomed.As the state faced heavy rainfall, rivers and creeks swelled, threatening rural communities. The Little River near Tecumseh rose over four feet past its flood stage on Monday morning, endangering farmland and roads. The weather service in Norman warned, "Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads," as most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. In Guthrie, Cottonwood Creek’s rising waters threatened to isolate neighborhoods as roads became impassable, while areas near the Cimarron River prepared for similar conditions.The severe weather left 11 people hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries early Sunday morning. First responders found damaged homes, trapped residents, and people stranded in flooded cars. Local emergency teams reported extensive structural damage, with a confirmed EF3 tornado carrying winds up to 165 mph sweeping through the region.At least five tornadoes hit Oklahoma, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith. “While tornadoes are possible year-round, strong ones after midnight are rare, especially in November,” he said. Norman, a college town southeast of Oklahoma City, also experienced an EF3 tornado. Another EF1 tornado struck Newcastle, southwest of Oklahoma City, while an EF3 tore through a neighborhood southeast of downtown Oklahoma City.The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, used to classify tornadoes based on estimated wind speeds and damage assessments, ranges from EF0 to EF5, with EF3 considered a “strong” tornado capable of significant destruction.Forecasts predict further rain and storm risks in Oklahoma and other parts of the south-central U.S. through Election Day. The Weather Prediction Center warned that areas of eastern Oklahoma, where thunderstorms are expected to bring damaging winds, large hail, and possibly tornadoes, remain particularly vulnerable. Forecasts suggest rainfall totals could surpass five inches, with heightened flash flood risks in already saturated areas.Severe weather is also expected on Election Day from northern Texas to Illinois, impacting voters across the region. AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski advised those waiting outdoors to prepare for potential lightning and heavy rainfall. Rainfall totals between 8 to 12 inches are predicted across Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma by Tuesday, with some areas possibly seeing up to 18 inches of rain. By Wednesday, storms will likely shift eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.
