Live Blog: Dangerous storms batter central Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA — Several very dangerous storms hit central Oklahoma on Friday. KFOR has updates from storm chasing teams on the road.
The 4Warn Storm Team’s Emily Sutton and 4Warn Storm chaser Kevin Josefy had a VERY CLOSE call with the El Reno tornado. They are fine but we can’t say the same for their vehicle. The storm taking out the back windshield is just the beginning.
WATCH: http://on.kfor.com/iBQYq7k
Reed Timmer chased the El Reno tornado & said the winds ripped the hood of the Dominator.
VIDEO: http://on.kfor.com/OTEOf7
It has been a hard couple of weeks but keep the faith, Oklahoma. – Governor Mary Fallin to Oklahomans after weeks of tornadoes.
If the area is prone to flooding, it is more than likely flooded now. DO NOT drive into water. Turn around, don’t down.
Picture of the El Reno tornado from Reed Timmer. This storm damaged a few homes. Working to confirm totals.
This is what the El Reno tornado did the the Weather Channel’s Tornado Hunt vehicle.
No tornado warnings are in effect for Oklahoma at this time. Most of central Okla. is still under a tornado watch until midnight. Flash flood is now a serious issue for the metro. DO NOT drive into water. Turn around, don’t drown.
No tornado warnings are currently in effect – though there is still huge hail and strong storms in the area.
Victoria Stahl sent us this picture of flash flooding in Mesta Park in OKC. DO NOT drive into water. Turn around, don’t drown.
KFOR’s Adam Mertz reports 5 vehicles (3 of them SUV’s) are completely submerged at Cornell and Reno.
According to reporter Lance West, a mother and her baby were killed when the storm blew their SUV off the interstate.
Confirmed double fatality in traffic accident related to the storm; details incoming.
NBC News: several injuries in storms:
Several people injured by mile-wide OKC-area #tornado, state patrol says nbcnews.to/17bQxLn—
NBC News (@NBCNews) June 01, 2013
Photo from OKC airport during shelter-in-place:
Underground @fly_okc with at least 1,200 people waiting for severe weather to pass. #Oklahoma http://t.co/NGY56R8NmI—
Janet Shamlian (@JanetShamlian) June 01, 2013
photo/1
No flights are going out of Will Rogers Airport tonight. http://www.flyokc.com
Serious flooding on Council Rd. by Outlet Mall. AVOID AREA. Flash flooding now serious issue.
Tornado Warning for Pott. County. Stay Alert. Lead circulation that produced tornado in S. OKC.
Jon Welsh in Bob Moore Chopper 4 is encouraging everyone to stay in your safe spot now.
Tornado on ground in N. Norman E. of I-35. Power out. Get in safe spot. http://www.kfor.com/live
At Oncue on 89th & Penn, store was closed but people broke through the glass door searching for cover according to La’Tasha Givens.
Tornado coming into North Norman near Norman North High School.
Adam Mertz said it looks like a transformer caught on fire west of MacArthur on Reno at the Homewood Suites Hotel.
40,000 OKC metro area residents are without power.
‘Like a Hurricane on 240′
Bob Moore Chopper 4 is in the area near the GM plant and reports many power flashes but that the storm is deeply wrapped in rain but that the storm is ‘nasty’.
Bob Moore Chopper 4 is in the area near the old GM plant and reports many power flashes but that the storm is deeply wrapped in rain but that the storm is ‘nasty’.
Report of tornado on ground in Moore near Santa Fe & 19th St.
http://www.kfor.com/live
Sheet metal in the air near Tuttle.
Watch for Flash Flooding. 4-6 inches already on ground in south OKC.
According to National Weather Service, a tornado is developing south of Del City & moving towards Tinker Air Force Base.
Del City City Hall open as public shelter.
Via CNN:
The multiple tractor-trailers overturned on I-40 are in Canadian County, West of #Oklahoma City, according to OK Highway Patrol Dispatch—
Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 01, 2013
Small tornado touchdown in area around North Moore at 19th at Telephone
OG&E now reporting 31,000 people w/o power. POWER OUTAGES: http://public.oge.com/systemwatch/mobile.asp
Picture: The Weather Channel ‘Tornado Hunt’ vehicle destroyed by tornado:
The @weatherchannel vehicle just got thrown by tornado. We stopped to help & they are OK. @jimcantore http://t.co/AayAhvuBwA—
Sean Schofer (@SeanSchoferTVN) June 01, 2013
photo/1
Getting reports of El Reno bank statements floating in air all the way in Luther.
Reed Timmer reports widespread powerlines down with 70-80 mph winds on the back side of the storm.
Power is still on in #Bricktown. No power flashes. Storm headed for Midwest City, Del City. kfor.com/live—
4Warn Storm Team (@4WarnStormTeam) June 01, 2013
Circulation dropped south. North Moore, it’s headed your way. On ground near I-240 & Western.
Almost 22,000 poeople in metro w/o power according to OG&E. Power outages: http://public.oge.com/systemwatch/mobile.asp
Tornado is now near INTEGRIS Southwest.
Tornado is on ground over new Crosstown. Mile west of Devon Tower. Headed towards Midwest City, Del City. Get severe weather plan ready.
I-35 at Crossroads is closed.
NCAA Softball World Series is in OKC. RT LadyVol_Sftball: Everyone is filing down here to hotel basement http://t.co/Q0t8xEwHuY—
David Caraviello (@dcaraviello) June 01, 2013
. @OKC_Barons fans evacuated to the Cox Center parking garage. @SchambachJess @DanielleDozier imgur.com/LKYJEir—
Aaron Riley (@intotheabyss81) June 01, 2013
If you’re in OKC, you MUST be UNDERGROUND. http://www.kfor.com/live Crossing I-40 & I-44 right now. South of Mathis Bros.
Tornado emergency for south OKC. Rotation to cross Meridian Ave. at I-40. LIVE STREAM: http://www.kfor.com/live. Power flashes.
Tornado emergency for South OKC. Tornado at Rockwell & S. 15th St.
Power flashes at I-40 & Council. Tornado may be on ground. Get BELOW ground. http://www.kfor.com/live
Tornado headed straight for downtown & then Midwest City. LIVE STREAM: http://www.kfor.com/live Get below ground or out of way.
If things don’t change, tornado will form in south OKC: Crossroads, Downtown, State Fair Park, White Water Bay, Airport. – 4Warn Storm Team
Rotation at Reno & Countyline Rd. Get to SAFE SPOT. http://www.kfor.com/live
1,000 travelors evacuated to tunnel under Will Rogers Airport. LIVE STREAM: http://www.kfor.com/live
TORNADO WARNING for Oklahoma County. Cars flipped on I-40. Town of Banner getting hit. 10 minutes from YUKON.
El Reno tornado took out Emily Sutton’s back windshield. They are safe. Mustang, Yukon, GET OUT OF WAY. Go south if can’t get below ground.
El Reno tornado ripped hood of Reed Timmer: Meteorologist and Extreme Storm Chaser’s Dominator. He said that never happened before. Get BELOW ground. LIVE COVERAGE: http://www.kfor.com/live
Poles down and live stock on road from El Reno tornado. Get BELOW ground.
Tornado Warning for Logan County.
Multi-vortex tornado headed for Mustang, Yukon. Get underground. South OKC, get severe weather plan ready.
Tornado is just south of N. 10th St. near Highway 81. Stay 4Warned on your mobile device. Download FREE apps for live streaming weather coverage & updates: http://www.kfor.com/live
El Reno, get UNDERGROUND. Tornado getting larger. Moving east. Headed for Mustang/ Yukon.
El Reno tornado to cross 15th St. & 29th St. Almost mile wide. Not hitting structures yet. Take Cover NOW.
I-40 is closed in El Reno. On track to hit El Reno airport. If continues, will take out part of airport. 4Warn Storm Team http://www.kfor.com/live
El Reno & Yukon. Get to safe spot. Tornado on ground. 5 miles west of El Reno. http://www.kfor.com/live
Tornado on ground headed into El Reno from west. Get to safe spot. LIVE Coverage: http://www.kfor.com/live
Tornado on ground on I-40 headed to El Reno. Stay Warned on mobile device: http://www.kfor.com/appcenter
Large lowering forming west of El Reno. Rotation picking up and headed into city.
Possible tornado on ground near Calumet. Reed Timmer is on this storm. WATCH: http://www.kfor.com/live
Reports of funnel cloud near Kingfisher now. Stay 4Warned: http://www.kfor.com/live
Report: 281 and 40, well-defined cone funnel, just west of Shell gas station.
Two main areas with circulation: Cedar Lake and area near Cherokee Truck Stop by bend in river
Tornado warning in Canadian County
I-40 and exit 108, So. Walbaum Rd.: large lowering, but disorganized, cloud and wrapping rain curtains.
The Women’s College World Series has been delayed and they will give a 2 hour warning when the game is expected to start. The Barons game will still be held.
Significant rotation developing on storm headed down I-40. ETA: Calumet 5:30, El Reno Airport at 5:41, Lucky Star Casino at 5:45
Wall cloud west/northwest of Calumet
“Classic super cell development” just west of Oklahoma City.
Large hail developing in storm over Greenfield. Storms near Okarche and El Reno could be severe in the next 20 minutes.
This is the first PDS of the year: “particularly dangerous situation” until midnight. This includes northern Oklahoma and northeastern Oklahoma through the OKC metro area and all the way down to Ada and Lawton.
Chase Thomason in northwest Oklahoma City — cap broken. South winds and rain starting to develop in that area.
Watch our coverage live on your phone or desktop computer here: http://kfor.com/on-air/live-streaming/
A large base, increasing in size near El Reno, according to Reed Timmer — “This is a bad a situation.” The storm is about eight miles north of El Reno.
Tower clouds forming on the east side of the metro, from Reed Timmer. Six miles east of El Reno.
Mike Morgan says today has an “exceptionally high potential” for severe weather — with the highest risk for the OKC metro around 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Today’s tornadoes have claimed the lives of 5 people so far, all of whom were in cars during the storm.
MORE: http://on.kfor.com/4mxf3