The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tornadoes rake Southern Plains as more severe weather forecast
Tornadoes swept across the Southern Plains, leaving damage and causing injuries, and parts of the region were bracing for more severe thunderstorms and possible flooding.
Tornadoes touched down Friday in Kansas and rural parts of Nebraska, tearing up trees and powerlines, and damaging homes and farm buildings, according to the National Weather Service. More twisters destroyed at least two homes and left one person with minor injuries in southwestern Oklahoma early Saturday, according to KWTV television reports.
In Abilene, Texas, 150 miles west of Fort Worth, strong winds prompted the evacuation of a nursing home and left numerous homes and businesses damaged, according to the Abilene Reporter-News. A spokeswoman for the city said no deaths or serious injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. Saturday for the western half of Arkansas. Portions of North Texas were under a tornado watch and a flash flood warning was issued in the Dallas area.
Forecasters warned of heavy rain, lightning, pingpong ball-sized hail and flooding as a line of storms moved west to east through the afternoon, covering an area from south of Killeen, Texas, to north of the Oklahoma state line.
In Oklahoma City, thunderstorms prevented workers from securing and removing glass from Devon Tower, which was damaged Wednesday when a scaffolding holding two window washers banged against the building, The Oklahoman newspaper reported. Officials said the rain and winds blew broken glass from the tower and compromised the integrity of other panes.
Fire officials in Comanche County, Oklahoma, said that two people escaped from a home destroyed by a tornado without injury Saturday, and another person was taken to a hospital as a precaution.