As we did during the winter weather of a couple of weeks ago, we are going to liveblog today’s severe weather across Oklahoma. The focus during severe storm season will depend on what’s happening at the moment.
For example, before the storms, we’ll focus on conditions. As the storms develop, we’ll focus on watches, warnings, chasers. At all times we’ll offer pertinent info to help keep you safe, and we want to get reports from you (as long as you’re not sacrificing your own safety). That e-mail is always weather@koco.com.
Alright, bookmark this page, kick back and let’s track some severe weather.
10:30 p.m. OK, we’re done with the liveblog for this severe weather event. Hope it informed you and proved valuable wherever you might be. For those of you in Oklahoma, be sure to tune in to Eyewitness News 5 In The Morning starting at 5 a.m.
Until then … take care and good night.
10:05 p.m. We have been able to confirm that three are dead and up to 50 hurt in the southern Oklahoma tornado tonight. I’m not sure until what time I’ll be liveblogging tonight, but I do know you’ll want to get the latest on Eyewitness News 5 In The Morning starting at 5 a.m.
9:44 p.m. FYI, livebloggers, we will be livestreaming our 10 p.m. newscast on KOCO.com. Links all over the home page.
9:32 p.m. The update from Lone Grove is not good. We have only one confirmed dead right now, but we have also been told that emergency relief from at least Norman and Washington are headed to the area. I really even hesitate to say more than that, but I also don’t want to paint an overly optimistic picture. Right now, we just don’t know how many people might have been killed or hurt.
8:56 p.m. Quick update from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office relative to road closings:
Flash flooding in the Deer Creek area has receded and most of the affected roads are currently re-opened.
The following roads are closed due to flooding:
- Waterloo between Meridian & Portland
- NW 164th & County Line Road
8:51 p.m. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Troop F, has confirmed that the storm in southern Oklahoma is in fact deadly. We do not know how many people might have been killed in the storm, but we have official word that it’s deadly.
8:41 p.m. Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Johnston and Marshall counties:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
EASTERN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA…
MARSHALL COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 930 PM CST
* AT 839 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM BROMIDE TO WESTERN
LAKE TEXOMA…MOVING EAST NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE
OF QUARTERS AND WINDS OF 70 MPH ARE LIKELY.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BROMIDE…COLEMAN…FILLMORE…
KINGSTON…LAKE TEXOMA…LITTLE CITY…MADILL…MCBRIDE…
MILBURN…TISHOMINGO…WAPANUCKA…WILLIS AND WOODVILLE.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING.
MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STORM SHELTER… BASEMENT OR STURDY BUILDING IF
A TORNADO IS SIGHTED.
8:39 p.m. Eyewitness News 5′s Amanda Guerra offers this update from Lone Grove:
- Lone Grove- not letting them in to where the worst damage is
- All the roads are blocked off
- Worst damage is a trailer park
- Officer told them there were some fatalities there.
- Some of the roads going out to Lone Grove are covered in downed power lines.
8:21 p.m. New tornado warning for folks in Johnston and Murray counties:
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CST FOR SOUTHERN
PONTOTOC…NORTHWESTERN JOHNSTON AND EASTERN MURRAY COUNTIES…
AT 818 PM CST…A THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES
WAS LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTH OF SCULLIN…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE HICKORY AND SCULLIN.
TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO
SEE. TAKE COVER NOW. IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE…MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND
VEHICLES FOR REINFORCED SHELTER. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
8:16 p.m. Terrible news in southern Oklahoma. Photojournalist Chris Lee is getting word of possible fatalities near Lone Grove and Wilson. Stay tuned to KOCO.com.
7:59 p.m. Emergency operations officials say there is extensive damage in Lone Grove, and there are injuries. They also said the UPS building there was hit, and people were in the parking lot. No word on the extent of injuries.
7:56 p.m. Our sources at the Ardmore hospital say they have been told to expect patients. The folks at the Daily Ardmorite said some of those injuries might have been to first responders in the area.
7:53 p.m. Tornado Warning update from the National Weather Service:
…A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM CST FOR EASTERN
CARTER AND SOUTHERN MURRAY COUNTIES…
AT 750 PM CST…DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM SPOTTERS OBSERVED A TORNADO 3
MILES EAST OF SPRINGER…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE DOUGHERTY…GENE AUTRY AND
SPRINGER.
IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO THREAT… THIS STORM LIKELY CONTAINS
DAMAGING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS OR LARGER.
TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO
SEE. TAKE COVER NOW. IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE…MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND
VEHICLES FOR REINFORCED SHELTER. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS
7:51 p.m. Chris Lee is on the north side of Ardmore and is starting to get some of that wrap-around circulation. He is seeing power flashes to the northeast of Ardmore. Also, on the north side of Ardmore, there doesn’t seem to be any power.
7:42 p.m. Bad, bad situation in southern Oklahoma happening right this second. A tornado has just crossed Interstate 35, and photojournalist Chris Lee said cars are reporting trouble in the area.
7:38 p.m. We are livestreaming again, and you can get that link atop KOCO.com. If you live in Gene Autry or Springer, take cover immediately. Here’s the tornado warning from the NWS:
* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
EASTERN CARTER COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
SOUTHERN MURRAY COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 815 PM CST
* AT 738 PM CST…A LARGE… VIOLENT TORNADO WAS LOCATED IN THE
NORTHWEST PARTS OF ARDMORE…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE ARDMORE…DOUGHERTY…GENE
AUTRY…SPRINGER AND TURNER FALLS.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 31 AND 49.
IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO THREAT… THIS STORM LIKELY CONTAINS
DAMAGING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS OR LARGER.
TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO
SEE. TAKE COVER NOW. IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE…MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND
VEHICLES FOR REINFORCED SHELTER. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
7:34 p.m. Tornado on the ground in the Lone Grove area, just a few miles west of Ardmore. Photojournalist Chris Lee is south of Ardmore, and he confirms a tornado is tracking toward the Ardmore area.
7:31 p.m. Bad news coming in from southern Oklahoma. We’re hearing word of damage reports with ambulances going out in the town of Wilson, near Ardmore. If you live in southern Oklahoma, out of the path of these storms, e-mail me at weather@koco.com and let us know what’s happening.
7:17 p.m. New tornado warning for southern Oklahoma:
* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
SOUTHERN CARTER COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
NORTHERN LOVE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 745 PM CST
* AT 715 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTH OF
WILSON…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE ARDMORE…LONE GROVE…NORTHERN
LAKE MURRAY…OVERBROOK AND WILSON.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 24 AND 38.
TORNADOES ARE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD TO
SEE. TAKE COVER NOW. IF A BASEMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE…MOVE TO AN
INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND
VEHICLES FOR REINFORCED SHELTER. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
7:16 p.m. Viewer Loren was kind enough to note that Mac users use CMD-R to refresh … Thank you, Loren!
7:15 p.m. The storms are moving east, and while this is on the cusp of our viewing area, I thought this severe thunderstorm warning would be pertinent to our friends in areas closer to Tulsa:
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHWESTERN OKFUSKEE COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
CREEK COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
NORTHWESTERN OKMULGEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
* UNTIL 815 PM CST
* AT 708 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS TO 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM KELLYVILLE TO 11 MILES SOUTH OF DEPEW…MOVING
EAST AT 65 MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE…
KELLYVILLE…SAPULPA…SLICK AND KIEFER.
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP SUDDENLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU ARE NEAR THE PATH
OF THIS STORM…BE ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
TAKE COVER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR IN AN INTERIOR ROOM AND STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.
STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.
6:55 p.m. Here are the latest power outage numbers from OG&E’s System Watch application:
Here are the latest numbers from system watch (OG&E):
Morrison – 795
Perkins – 1,574
Guthrie – 120
Edmond – 859
OKC north – 7,212
Forest Park – 4,803
Norman – 1,900
Bethany – 8,977
6:52 p.m. Here are the specifics on that tornado warning:
* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
SOUTHWESTERN CARTER COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
NORTHWESTERN LOVE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 715 PM CST
* AT 650 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 7 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF GRADY…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE COURTNEY…GRADY…PETERSBURG AND
WILSON.
TAKE COVER NOW. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE…MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. OTHERWISE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND OUTSIDE
WALLS.
6:50 p.m. Tornado warning for Jefferson, Love and Carter counties until 7:15 p.m. as another group of storms cross the Red River.
6:35 p.m. About 1,900 OG&E customers in Perkins have no power. Blog reader Laurie writes: “There is no ELECTRICITY in Perkins, the town is in total darkness.”
6:33 p.m. If you’re checking out our severe weather blog and don’t know how to refresh the page, do this: Hit the F5 key. Or do what they call a “hard refresh,” hitting the shift and F5 keys at the same time.
6:32 p.m. Fresh severe thunderstorm warning for our friends in southern Oklahoma:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
SOUTHWESTERN CARTER COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
SOUTHEASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
NORTHWESTERN LOVE COUNTY IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 715 PM CST
* AT 628 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTH OF OSCAR…MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 45 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS AND WINDS OF 65 MPH
ARE LIKELY.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE CORNISH…COURTNEY…GRADY…
HEALDTON…OSCAR…PETERSBURG…RUBOTTOM AND WILSON.
6:30 p.m. The Salvation Army is out doing good deeds in this bad weather. Just got this note to our news desk:
The Salvation Army OKC is deploying two mobile feeding units to the weather-affected areas near NW Expressway and Rockwell. In addition, one mobile feeding unit will be deployed to Perkins, where thousands are without power.
Several other mobile feeding units are also on standby to be deployed wherever needed.
6:26 p.m. Don’t want to forget our friends in southern Oklahoma because, frankly, their atmospheric conditions are ripe for svere weather. Your chances for severe wx are on the increase. Anyway, this is a ‘significant weather statement’ we just got from the NWS:
THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR JEFFERSON AND LOVE COUNTIES.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF OSCAR AT 620
PM CST…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THIS STORM HAS BECOME BETTER DEVELOPED
OVER THE PAST 15 MINUTES. A TORNADO WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MONTAGUE
COUNTY IN NORTH TEXAS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WILL LIKELY
BE REQUIRED AND POSSIBLE A TORNADO WARNING OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.
PEOPLE IN JEFFERSON AND LOVE COUNTIES SHOULD MONITOR THE WEATHER
SITUATION CLOSELY. LISTEN FOR WARNINGS AND REMAIN ALERT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS.
6:24 p.m.
Sarah writes us from Norman: The rain has finally reached Norman. There is thunder, lighting, and hail. The hail sounds as though it is still pretty small.
6:22 p.m. As storms **finally** move into eastern parts of the Oklahoma City metro area (remember: we all need the rain right now), we get this severe thunderstorm warning update from the NWS:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
EASTERN OSAGE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
PAWNEE COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
WASHINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA
* UNTIL 715 PM CST
* AT 616 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND
WINDS TO 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR OSAGE…MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE…HOMINY…
WYNONA…AVANT…BARNSDALL…PAWHUSKA…OCHELATA…OKESA…
BARTLESVILLE…BIGHEART AND DEWEY.
6:04 p.m. A viewer e-mailed us a question asking if we could put the tornado video from Sky5 on our Web site. We do have the tornado clip posted to our home page, koco.com. It’s in the “top story window,” and you can watch the tornado just as we watched it — live — on Tuesday afternoon.
5:57 p.m. Oklahoma County sheriff’s office sent us this list of roads closed due to flooding:
The following roads are closed due to flooding:
· NW 178th & County Line
· NW 178th & Council
· NW 178th & Rockwell
· NW 192nd from Rockwell to Council
· NW 206th from Rockwell to MacArthur
· NW 220th & MacArthur
· NW 234th & MacArthur
· NW 234th & Meridian
· NW 234th & Portland
· Waterloo between Meridian & Portland
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office is activating the Mobile Command Center to help manage this weather incident. The command will be located at NW 178th & Portland.
5:52 p.m. The severe thunderstorm warning has been cancelled for eastern Logan County, but this update was issued by the NWS for Payne and Noble counties:
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM CST
FOR PAYNE AND SOUTHEASTERN NOBLE COUNTIES…
AT 543 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR STILLWATER…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE GLENCOE…INGALLS…MORRISON AND
STILLWATER.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS IS LIKELY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING.
MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STORM SHELTER… BASEMENT OR STURDY BUILDING IF
A TORNADO IS SIGHTED.
5:37 p.m. Chief meteorologist Rick Mitchell is explaining that the bigger storm threat right now is to the south and southwest of the metro area — transitioning from a tornado threat (not that it’s gone) to a wind threat. The atmospheric conditions south of OKC are much more rich with the appropriate conditions for meteorological havoc.
Right now: Keep an eye out Dibble, Blanchard, Newcastle, Washington and Goldsby. Severe weather is headed your way.
5:32 p.m. All Edmond buses are running again if I didn’t post that before. There are so many bus notices coming in right now, I think I might be repeating myself.
5:24 p.m. Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM) just sent us this situation update:
A strong storm system moved into Oklahoma today and combined with unseasonable warmth and moisture to produce widespread severe thunderstorms. The storms developed early afternoon across southwest and central Oklahoma. Tornadoes have been confirmed with these storms. Additional storms will occur during the late afternoon and evening hours. A tornado watch continues for the eastern half of the state through midnight.
Injuries
EMSA reports 3 minor injuries. All were treated at the scene for debris and broken glass injuries in the NW Expressway and Rockwell area in Oklahoma City.
Power Outages
About 12,247 OG&E customers are without power, including 7,165 in north Oklahoma City and 1,742 in Perkins.
Shelters and Other Assistance
American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Waterloo Baptist Church at 3100 E. Waterloo, in Oklahoma City. Red Cross is also supporting first responders with their Emergency Response Vehicles which are staged at the Oklahoma City Command Post at NW Expressway and Rockwell.
Salvation Army reports they are deploying canteens to assist the first responders and residents in the affected areas.
Damages
Edmond Emergency Management reports 6 homes destroyed near Oak Tree country club.
Oklahoma City Emergency Management reports damage due to a possible tornado at NW Expressway and Rockwell in Oklahoma City. There is damage to businesses, homes and apartments and power lines are down. Oklahoma City fire, police and public works are on scene along with EMSA and the American Red Cross.
National Weather Service confirms a tornado touchdown in Edmond near Coffee Creek and Kelly. Additionally, baseball size hail was reported in Yukon and Guthrie.
5:23 p.m. About 12,500 OG&E customers are without power right now across Oklahoma.
5:16 p.m. Guthrie sending kids and buses out at 5:15 p.m.
5:09 p.m. Notes from a news conference in Edmond that I hadn’t had a chance to post yet:
Plan for the rest of the night.
Control neighborhoods keep all those who don’t need to be in damage out.
Control traffic- there are no traffic lights on the north side.
Actively search for damage
***NO SERIOUS INJURIES***
5:06 p.m. Viewer asked about Tinker Air Force base. Well, this line of storms — believe it or not — hasn’t even gotten that far east best I can tell. There is a tornado watch in effect for central Oklahoma until 8 p.m.; however, these storms have become more linear, meaning they’re less likely to form tornadoes.
5:04 p.m. Just got this information from Deer Creek schools:
Deer Creek is stopping buses from taking high school kids home. High school students are being unloaded at the middle schools. No buses are transporting kids at this time.
4:53 p.m. Meteorologist Andy Wallace notes that flooding could become a problem if this line of thunderstorms doesn’t scoot on east a bit more quickly. Also, new severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Caddo and Grady counties. Here are the details from NWS:
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
NORTHWESTERN GRADY COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA…
EASTERN CADDO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 530 PM CST
* AT 449 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF APACHE…MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF HALF DOLLARS AND WINDS
OF 65 MPH ARE LIKELY. ANOTHER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED JUST
NORTHEAST OF GRACEMONT.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE ANADARKO…APACHE…COGAR…
GRACEMONT…LAKE CHICKASHA…MINCO…POCASSET…STECKER…TUTTLE
AND VERDEN.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING.
MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STORM SHELTER… BASEMENT OR STURDY BUILDING IF
A TORNADO IS SIGHTED.
4:48 p.m. Just got this note from Edmond Public Schools:
All Edmond Public School buses will be released except for those that run north of Covell and west of Kelly and students who live in Oak Tree. If a student lives in an affected area, the parent needs to pick up his or her child at their school of attendance.
4:47 p.m. UCO’s home wrestling match with Newman scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday has been cancelled due to severe weather.
4:44 p.m. Here are the specifics on the tornado warning for Osage and Pawnee counties, from the NWS:
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 PM CST FOR PAWNEE
AND WESTERN OSAGE COUNTIES…
AT 438 PM CST…WEATHER SERVICE RADAR CONTINUED TO INDICATE A
POTENTIALLY TORNADIC THUNDERSTORM WITH STRONG LOW LEVEL ROTATION.
THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PAWNEE…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. THIS
IS A DANGEROUS STORM…A TORNADO IS OCCURRING OR COULD FORM AT ANY
TIME.
SOME LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE…SKEDEE…RALSTON
AND FAIRFAX.
HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OBSCURE THIS TORNADO. TAKE COVER NOW! IF YOU WAIT
TO SEE OR HEAR IT COMING…IT MAY BE TOO LATE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE.
4:42 p.m. North of Mercy Hospital, photojournalist Chris Lee is reporting a large lowering. This is northwest of Nichols Hills on the Kilpatrick Turnpike. This storm is tracking to the NE.
4:40 p.m. Red Cross has set up a shelter at 3100 Waterloo Road at the Waterloo Road Baptist Church. Red Cross is also providing relief for emergency providers.
4:39 p.m. Live north of the Kilpatrick but west of Portland Avenue? You might want to take cover. We’re seeing radar-indicated low-level rotation. Doesn’t mean that there is a tornado, but it’s a sign that one could form.
4:36 p.m. New Tornado Warning issued for Osage and Pawnee counties — out of the KOCO viewing area.
4:34 p.m. New Severe Thunderstorm Warning from the NWS:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR…
CANADIAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA…
SOUTHERN LOGAN COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA…
NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA COUNTY IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA…
* UNTIL 530 PM CST
* AT 429 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST
OF GUTHRIE TO 11 MILES WEST OF UNION CITY. THUNDERSTORMS WRE MOVING ALONG
THE LINE AT 35 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS IS LIKELY AT TIMES.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE CEDAR LAKE…COYLE…EL RENO…
GUTHRIE…LANGSTON…NAVINA…NORTHWESTERN EDMOND…NORTHWESTERN
OKLAHOMA CITY…PIEDMONT…RICHLAND…SEWARD…UNION CITY AND
YUKON.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 35 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 147 AND 165.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 119 AND 138.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING.
MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STORM SHELTER… BASEMENT OR STURDY BUILDING IF
A TORNADO IS SIGHTED.
4:30 p.m. Those of you in Piedmont and Richland should be on the lookout for big hail. As Rick Mitchell said a moment ago, “This storm is packing a punch.”
4:25 p.m. The radio station simulcast is now off the air. We are not simulcasting on Citadel stations such as The Sports Animal, BOB 96.9, KISS 98.9, etc. If there are more tornado warnings, we’ll probably be back on.
4:23 p.m. Just as I write that! Wall cloud just west of I-35 in Edmond near Waterloo. A tornado can form from this at any point, so pay attention and take cover.
4:21 p.m. As of right now — for the first time in a couple of hours — there are no tornado warnings in effect right this second. Andy Wallace points out that the threat for tornadoes has lessened. It’s still there, but it has lessened.
4:18 p.m. If you live in Edmond, you’ll want to take note of this: People living in Edmond on the north side of Kelly, Santa Fe or Broadway will have to show identification to get back into the neighborhood.
4:14 p.m. OK County is working to get somebody out of a car in Deer Creek.
4:13 p.m. Again, anybody with a report that you’d like to give us on-air, e-mail us at weather@koco.com. Give us your name, location and phone number.
4:12 p.m. There are power outages in the metro, and here are the latest numbers from OG&E:
NORTH OKC – 9,389
PIEDMONT – 1,490
WARR ACRES – 1,951
EDMOND 1,174
4:08 p.m. Significant shear found along SW59th Street. Only a severe thunderstorm warning in the area right now, but Rusty McCranie just said: This bears watching.
4:06 p.m. More damage reports:
- Hobby Lobby on NW Expressway: DOORS WERE BLOWN IN AND TORN OFF HINGES, FRONT FOYER CEILING COLLAPSED, LIGHTING IN THE FOYER FELL TO THE GROUND
- Confirmed moderate to severe damage in Oak Tree addition — 6 homes along Country Club Drive and Heritage Boulevard
4:04 p.m. Go to KOCO.com home page for livestream of our coverage. I’ve had folks e-mail us for live video coverage, and you can get that on our home page — koco.com.
4:03 p.m. Tornado warning update from NWS:
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM CST FOR WESTERN
PAYNE COUNTY…
AT 400 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 5 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF STILLWATER…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE STILLWATER.
THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE STORM WAS 6 MILES SOUTH OF DOWNTOWNS STILLWATER
AT 400 PM.
TAKE COVER NOW. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE…MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. OTHERWISE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND OUTSIDE
WALLS.
A TORNADO MAY FORM AT ANYTIME. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES
AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE… MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER.
OTHERWISE… MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
4:02 p.m. Edmond schools are still holding students.
4 p.m. If you have sustained damage in your neighborhood or at work and would like to give us a report ON AIR, e-mail us your name, location and phone number. E-mail us at weather@koco.com.
3:56 p.m. Quick update as to reports we’re getting into the newsroom:
- PIEDMONT SCHOOLS SAYS BUSES ARE RUNNING AGAIN. BUT THEY DON’T EXPECT EVENING ACTIVITIES TO BE CANCELLED.
- Oklahoma City Public School buses are running again. All evening activities for Oklahoma City Public Schools have been cancelled.
This includes classes and athletic events.
- Casady School Alumni dinner cancelled
- No delays or cancellations at the airport at this point.
- Bethany- All activities cancelled
Please forgive the all-caps, but I didn’t want to spend time transcribing what was given to me.
3:53 p.m. A side-product of this weather is that we’re getting some events being cancelled. Our closings page is koco.com/closings, and if we get reports of a closing here at the station, it will be posted online as well. It’s automatic.
3:52 p.m. Latest update from NWS:
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM CST FOR EASTERN
CANADIAN COUNTY…
AT 349 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR YUKON…
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA CITY…
PIEDMONT…RICHLAND AND YUKON.
THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THIS STORM WAS OVER SOUTHERN YUKON AT 349 PM.
TAKE COVER NOW. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE…MOVE
TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER. OTHERWISE MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR
HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND OUTSIDE
WALLS.
3:46 p.m. Tornado warning re-issued for Payne, Logan counties. Rotation spotted again near Arcadia Lake.
3:41 p.m. KATT, BOB, Sports Animal, KISS 98.9 — all among the radio stations where you can hear us. If you live in OKC, you know what those stations are.
3:40 p.m. Dime-sized hail in SW OKC. There is growing concern about the storm heading into Oklahoma City proper.
3:39 p.m. To our friends in Stillwater: Take cover now! The NWS has expressed particular concern about storms moving into Payne County. Chief meteorologist Rick Mitchell estimates the Payne County storm will be in Stillwater by 3:49, but Rick thinks it’ll be sooner.
3:38 p.m. Report of tornado in Edmond. Downtown Edmond. This is a radar-indicated twister.
3:37 p.m. Roof caved in at the Target in NW OKC on Northwest Expressway.
3:36 p.m. 15th and I-35 in Edmond: UNCONFIRMED TORNADO ON THE GROUND.
3:33 p.m. TORNADO CONFIRMED ON THE GROUND southwest of metro. Just to the west of the Mustang and Yukon areas. Three tornadic storms in area. Again, we are livestreaming. Just go to KOCO.com home page, and watch our storm chasers and on-air coverage live.
3:30 p.m. People in Langston (college students, are you following along???), take cover. Ride the storm out in an interior room away from windows. There is no evidence of a tornado on the ground, but there is evidence of rotation.
3:25 p.m. Straight from the NWS:
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CST FOR
SOUTHWESTERN PAYNE AND CENTRAL LOGAN COUNTIES…
AT 323 PM CST…A THUNDERSTORM WITH A HISTORY OF PRODUCING TORNADOES
WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF GUTHRIE…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE COYLE…GUTHRIE…LANGSTON AND
MERIDIAN.
IN ADDITION TO A TORNADO THREAT… THIS STORM LIKELY CONTAINS
DAMAGING HAIL TO THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS OR LARGER.
A TORNADO MAY FORM AT ANYTIME. TAKE COVER NOW. ABANDON MOBILE HOMES
AND VEHICLES. IF POSSIBLE… MOVE TO A BASEMENT OR STORM SHELTER.
OTHERWISE… MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM OR HALLWAY ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
3:22 p.m. If there were concerns about rotation right now with any of these storms, it would be in the neighborhood of Lake Hefner.
3:20 p.m. San in Caddo County reports: severe weather in caddo co. looks like tornado clouds are forming pretty fast .
3:17 p.m. Tornado warning continued for Canadian and Oklahoma counties until 3:45 p.m., and a new severe storm warning issued for SW of the metro. Note: Meteorologist Rusty McCranie says that folks in Stillwater should start paying attention to reports. Even though it will be awhile before the tornado-producing thunderstorm is in Stillwater, the storm is out by itself, meaning it’s not “competing with other storms for juice.”
Rusty is referring to “atmospheric juice,” and the more juice a storm has, the bigger it can be. Not saying it will. However, if you’re in Stillwater and have a shelter, consider heading that way.
3:14 p.m. Another tornado warning issued as this storm approaches Guthrie.</p.
3:13 p.m. Chris Lee has an incredible shot of a lowering at 23rd and Council/Rockwell in OKC. It doesn’t look to be on the ground, but it’s close.
3:08 p.m. New tornado warning on second storm — western Oklahoma City area. So, tornado warning north of the metro and in the metro. Storm chaser Chris Lee is covering this new one. If you go to the KOCO.com home page, he is Fast Unit 2.
3:05 p.m. Trees being ripped up. Tornado crossing I-35. This is a potentially deadly situation. No joke. Do not be on the roads in that area right now.
3:03 p.m. Tornado is on the ground near Mitch Park and Cheyenne Middle School.
3:02 p.m. Northwest Edmond: TORNADO ON THE GROUND. CONFIRMED! Moving to the northeast. Get in your shelters.
3 p.m. Between Mustang and Yukon, meteorologists are noticing “increased convergence,” meaning the potential for a tornado developing across the OKC metro area is still there.
2:59 p.m. Sky5 is seeing powerline flashes across northeastern portions of Edmond. This can be an indicator of a tornado on the ground.
2:57 p.m. Power outages reported in west Edmond and in Warr Acres. Remember: Battery-powered radios.
2:55 p.m. Reader Eric reports: Tornado Sirens SW 44th & Council RD
2:54 p.m. If you have access to a radio or know somebody who does, we are simulcasting on stations across the metro such as The Sports Animal. If your power goes out, get that battery-powered radio tuned in.
2:51 p.m. Update to tornado warning: Extended to 3:15 p.m. And, we’re getting reports of roof damage across the metro.
2:49 p.m. Check out KOCO blog reader Amy’s comment about Edmond schools. By the way, we are having some electricity issues here at the station, so bear with us, please.
2:46 p.m. Roger reports rotation at 112 and Rockwell.
2:45 p.m. Tornado Warning extended northward to Logan County. If you’re in Edmond. If you’re planning travel along I-35, be aware of this new information.
2:43 p.m. We’re getting reports of damage to a Chuck E Cheese pizza parlor along Northwest Expressway. This is a serious situation, folks.
2:41 p.m. The rotation part of the storm seems to be south of Hefner Road. Andy also just talked to Oklahoma City Public Schools, and they’re weighing what to do in terms of letting classes out.
Also, a new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Caddo, Kiowa and Washita counties.
2:39 p.m. We’re getting **unconfirmed** reports of damage at Wiley Post Airport. If you have reports, e-mail us at weather@koco.com. Here’s the caveat: Don’t you dare risk your safety to get us a report or a photo. Sorry to be blunt, but we just want to be clear.
2:37 p.m. As the storms move to the north, there could be some weakening in these storms. The atmosphere north of OKC is not as favorable for severe weather. Reports now indicate this storm will be in Guthrie by 3:04 p.m. and Langston by 3:14 p.m.
2:36 p.m. Old tornado warning has been *continued* because of reports that a tornado is forming near Wiley Post Airport in NW OKC. The storm is moving NE at 35 mph.
2:34 p.m. Andy says tennis-sized hail reported 2 mi. west of Yukon. Remember, we have tornado warnings in effect until 2:45 for Canadian and Oklahoma counties.
2:33 p.m. Sirens going off in The Village.
2:32 p.m. The KOCO weather team is looking at the possibility that this storm is going to become what they call a “right-turner,” meaning that it would head into atmospheric conditions that are more dubious for severe weather. In fact, if you’re in The Village, Warr Acres or Nichols Hills, you want to take cover now.
2:28 p.m. Sarah says Yukon police are reporting golf-ball sized hail.
2:27 p.m. Report from Stephen:
County Line Rd and Wilshire – 2:18 – Pea sized hail for approx 2 minutes
2:25 p.m. KOCO spotters confirm a well-defined wall cloud in the southwest area of Yukon. If you’re in that area, take cover.
2:22 p.m. Definite lowering. Yukon area looks to be in the direct path of the storm. Our shot is up at SW 15th and Sara Road, and remember — our trackers are livestreaming. Get the links on the home page, please.
2:20 p.m. Sorry I haven’t posted in a second, but I had to get a livestream going. A TORNADO WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY. The tornado-producing storm is just to the east of Yukon, about to cross I-40. If you are in Bethany, Wiley Post area, etc., get into an interior room away from windows.
It appears as if a tornado is imminent.
2:05 p.m. By the way, this is a good chance for you to do a good deed today. If you know somebody in the OKC area who might have a convertible or whose windows might be rolled down, give ‘em a shout and remind them they might want to jog outside to get that done in the next 10 minutes.
2:02 p.m. Our radars indicate Yukon will get hit twice by separate thunderstorms — once at 2:06 and again at 2:46. Piedmont should see the storm by 2:21, and Cashion should see it by 2:36. When you do get the weather in your neighborhood, e-mail us your reports to weather@koco.com.
1:55 p.m. Thunderstorm passing just west of Pocasset, Tuttle and Mustang. Headed to Yukon. This storm is in a county under a severe thunderstorm warning.
1:47 p.m. Significant weather advisory just issued. From the NWS:
THIS SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY IS FOR GARFIELD…GRANT…KAY AND
NOBLE COUNTIES.
A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER BILLINGS AT 145 PM CST…
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.
SMALL HAIL IS LIKELY.
1:46 p.m. Meteorologist Sarah Libby is reporting penny-sized hail just west of Cyril. Remember, if YOU have a severe weather report, e-mail us at weather@koco.com.
1:43 p.m. Severe thunderstorm warning issued for southeastern Canadian County, northwestern Grady County and eastern Caddo County until 2:30 CST. From the NWS:
* AT 140 PM CST…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR VERDEN…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. HAIL
UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLFBALLS AND WINDS OF 60 MPH ARE LIKELY.
* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE EL RENO…LAKE CHICKASHA…
MINCO…MUSTANG…POCASSET…TUTTLE…UNION CITY…VERDEN…WESTERN
OKLAHOMA CITY AND YUKON.
THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 40 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 121 AND 141.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING.
MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO A STORM SHELTER… BASEMENT OR STURDY BUILDING IF
A TORNADO IS SIGHTED.
1:37 p.m. Here’s a map of the latest risk area:
Oklahoma's moderate severe sx risk area
1:23 p.m. Just talked with Andy Wallace, who told me that storms are popping up in SW Oklahoma, moving toward the metro. In his words, they’re not “rowdy” just yet, and they’re just getting organized.
There are also storms in north-central Oklahoma, and I’ve got an eye on them all on Advantage Doppler HD.
1:08 p.m. Our chasers have left the building. We’re adding links to their livestreams at the top of the KOCO.com home page. There’s no guarantee that their streams will *always* be up, particularly depending on what part of the country they happen to be in.
However, most of the time, they should be up, giving you a first-hand look at Oklahoma skies from several vantage points.
As for those links, I’ll also add them here, but I think you’ll need to paste them into a browser window yourself. They are of MMS protocol and not HTTP.
Fast Unit 2: mms://live.newsonemedia.com/unit2
Fast Unit 11: mms://live.newsonemedia.com/unit11
Fast Unit 13: mms://live.newsonemedia.com/unit13
12:54 p.m. Here’s one benefit of the weather liveblog: Unfiltered messages from NWS:
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
TORNADO WATCH NUMBER 8
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
1250 PM CST TUE FEB 10 2009
THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA
NORTHWEST TEXAS
EFFECTIVE THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM 1250 PM UNTIL
800 PM CST.
TORNADOES…HAIL TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND
GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE
AREAS.
THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 65 STATUTE
MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 50 MILES NORTHWEST OF CHANDLER
OKLAHOMA TO 35 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ABILENE TEXAS. FOR A COMPLETE
DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE
(WOUS64 KWNS WOU8).
REMEMBER…A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
DISCUSSION…CU FIELD CONTINUES TO INCREASE OVER NORTHWEST TX AND
SOUTHWEST OK…IN REGION OF RELATIVELY STRONG HEATING AND INCREASING
MOISTURE. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THIS REGION IS NEAR CONVECTIVE
INITIATION. STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME SUPERCELLULAR WITH VERY
LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED TORNADOES POSSIBLE. THREAT FOR STRONG
TORNADOES WILL INCREASE BY EARLY EVENING AS LOW LEVEL VERTICAL WIND
PROFILES STRENGTHEN.
AVIATION…TORNADOES AND A FEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL
SURFACE AND ALOFT TO 3 INCHES. EXTREME TURBULENCE AND SURFACE
WIND GUSTS TO 60 KNOTS. A FEW CUMULONIMBI WITH MAXIMUM TOPS TO
450. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.
12:50 p.m. Tornado watch just issued for much of southwestern, south-central and central Oklahoma. Chief meteorologist Rick Mitchell predicted this about 20 minutes ago, and I hadn’t had a chance to get this posted. But the tornado watch is in place.
12:48 p.m. I just talked with meteorologist Andy Wallace, who says that during the last severe weather outlook conference call, there was some talk about upgrading the severe weather risk for central Oklahoma up to high. A high risk is rare, and it’s serious business.
Andy puts the odds at 50-50 for a high risk to be issued.
