Storm season gets underway
Oklahoma is officially in the midst of tornado season as the first twister of the year was reported Tuesday and severe storms spawned at least three tornadoes on Wednesday.
The Tuesday evening tornado was caught on video near Buffalo in Harper County in far northwestern Oklahoma. Tuesday was the latest day of a year recorded for a first tornado in the state since records started being kept in 1950. “As of right now we are counting it as a tornado,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Rick Smith. “We will be gathering information on possible damage and looking at video and images to make a final official determination.”
A tornado watch was issued for western and central Oklahoma early Wednesday afternoon as storms began firing up in the Texas Panhandle and continued to track east.
Several tornado warnings were issued throughout the afternoon Wednesday, including in Cotton, Comanche, Greer, Caddo, Washita, Tillman and Kiowa counties.
A tornado was reported about 4:40 p.m. near Lone Wolf, another reported about 5:35 p.m. near Mountain View and a third tornado hit near Loveland about 6:50 p.m., according to preliminary reports from the weather service. There were no reports of damage or injuries. Strong wind gusts and large hail were also reported with the storms, which spanned from Texas to Kansas.
Officials at Will Rogers World Airport took precautionary measures as storms entered into the Oklahoma City metro Wednesday evening. People inside the airport were taken to the airport tunnel to shelter and all operations ceased as the storm system blew through.
About 8 p.m. Wednesday, a tornado warning was issued for Grady, Cleveland and McClain counties as a storm intensified as it tracked through Chickasha toward Moore and Norman. University of Oklahoma officials asked students on campus to seek shelter as tornado sirens blared across Norman.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers closed parts of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike due to strong winds and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority employees near Newcastle evacuated to a tornado shelter until the storms passed. Residents on social media reported power flashes in Norman and a possible tornado touched down near I-240 and Bryant Avenue, but a weather service meteorologist couldn’t confirm any tornadoes as of 9 p.m.
More than 2 inches of rain fell in less than an hour in parts of Grady County where a flash flood warning was issued Wednesday night, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet weather network. Nearly 3 inches of rain fell in Minco as of 9 p.m. Wednesday.
A flood advisory was issued for Oklahoma, Grady, Cleveland and McClain counties as heavy rain flooded streets and highways.
The weather service forecasts the potential for more severe weather Thursday, with much of central Oklahoma facing a marginal risk and southeast Oklahoma a slight risk.
The tornado risk associated with any storms the form Thursday is very low and the main threats are wind gusts up to 80 mph and up to golf ball-sized hail.