Storms and tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma injuring at least 11 and leaving 95 000 without power
Severe weather swept through Oklahoma in the early hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024. Several tornadoes were reported, including one in the Valley Brook area that received a preliminary EF-2 rating and another in Harrah estimated at EF-3. At least 11 people were injured in areas around Oklahoma City. Numerous homes were destroyed, and approximately 95 000 customers across the state experienced power outages. Heavy rainfall was recorded across the region, prompting authorities to issue flash flood warnings for parts of the state.
Severe storms swept through Oklahoma during the early hours of Sunday, with multiple tornadoes reported across the region. According to Oklahoma City Police Department Captain Valerie Littlejohn, the severe weather injured at least six people and caused widespread damage across Oklahoma City. The number of injured people later rose to 11.
Several power lines were damaged, resulting in power outages affecting 95 000 customers across Oklahoma. Numerous homes sustained damage, with some losing their roofs. Gas lines and vehicles were also damaged by the severe weather, which brought down multiple trees.
According to NWS Norman, one of the reported tornadoes received a preliminary rating of EF-2 due to the damage it caused in the Valley Brook area, part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area.
The tornado caused significant damage across the area, several homes were completely ripped apart, some had their roofs torn off and several vehicles were also overturned in the area.
A tornado that tore through the Harrah neighborhood ripped apart several homes and damaged several vehicles across the area. Initial reports mentioned at least EF-3 damage.
In the town of Choctaw, located just outside Oklahoma City, authorities reported that a tornado struck one neighborhood shortly after midnight. Firefighters and police officers went door-to-door to check for injuries, and officials opened an elementary school gym as a shelter, according to the Choctaw Police Department.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported flooding in some areas and confirmed that one house caught fire after being struck by lightning. The Oklahoma Heart Hospital South also sustained damage.
The Oklahoma Fire Department rescued two people from an overturned mobile home.
At the University of Oklahoma, school officials urged students and staff to seek shelter and move to the lowest floor as storms approached the campus after midnight. The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Norman also issued urgent warnings, posting on social media, “If you’re in the path of this storm, take cover immediately!”
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Tornado Watch on Sunday morning for parts of Oklahoma and Texas, set to expire at 09:00 local time (LT). According to the NWS, a severe thunderstorm with a tornado moving through eastern Oklahoma City toward Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base was reported shortly before 01:30 LT.
As of 10:24 LT, several parts of Oklahoma recorded 50 – 100 mm (2 – 4 inches) of rainfall, with regions near the Oklahoma City metro area recording 100 – 150 mm (4 – 6 inches) of rain. Parts of Oklahoma remain at risk for additional heavy rainfall and thunderstorms later on Sunday.
According to the NWS, flash floods are likely with continuing storms on Sunday afternoon, particularly just southeast of Oklahoma City. A flash flood warning is in effect for Coal, Johnston, and Pontotoc till 13:00 LT on Sunday.
Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, flooding and severe weather conditions will be likely throughout Oklahoma on Sunday.
References:
1 Severe storms and possible tornadoes strike parts of Oklahoma, injuring at least 6 people – CBS – November 3, 2024
2 Severe storms in Oklahoma injure at least 6 people and leave tens of thousands without power – ABC News – November 3, 2024
Featured image credit: Chicago and Midwest Storm Chasers (stillshot)
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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