Tornadoes, flooding hit southern Plains as storm threat shifts east

Multiple significant tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma and adjacent north Texas late Wednesday, destroying structures while storm chasers jammed roadways. Hail as large as baseballs and torrential rain also accompanied the storms, which brought dozens of reports of flooding in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. Scores of high water rescues were necessary, and waterways were cresting at historic levels Thursday morning.

The rash of severe weather marked the first in a threeday severe weather episode as storms trek toward the Southeast and Mid-atlantic.

The Weather Service received reports of eight twisters Wednesday. Particularly hard hit was the town of Seminole, about 50 miles east-southeast of Oklahoma City. That’s where a confirmed tornado struck the town shortly before 7 p.m.