Severe storms, tornadoes rock Oklahoma; thousands without power
Severe storms and reported tornadoes tore through Oklahoma on Saturday into early Sunday, injuring at least five people, toppling power lines and trees and leaving a trail of destruction.
At least 14 homes were damaged, according to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Downed power lines blocked roads and debris was strewn across the ground in some areas. In Tulsa County, about 100 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, lightning strikes set a house on fire.
Firefighters rescued at least two people trapped in overturned mobile homes, the Oklahoma City Fire Department said in a Facebook post. Five people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the storms rolled through.
The storms severely damaged "numerous structures," including knocking down power lines and traffic lights and scattering trees throughout the area, the Fire Department said. Nearly 82,000 people were still without power as of Sunday morning, according to poweroutage.us.
Multiple tornadoes reported around Oklahoma City
Storms that spun up in western Texas earlier in the weekend strengthened as they drifted over Oklahoma, triggering tornado and flash flood warnings across portions of the state on Saturday evening, according to AccuWeather forecasters.
The National Weather Service received reports of at least three tornadoes throughout the state on Saturday. Firefighters also said a reported tornado swept through Oklahoma City. More than 3 million people in east-central Oklahoma and stretching over the border into Texas were still under a tornado warning through 9 a.m. Sunday.
An unconfirmed tornado significantly damaged Newcastle Elementary School, south of Oklahoma City. Videos shared with local news showed the roof torn off school buildings and the gym.
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Posts to social media showed severe damage from a reported tornado in Valley Brook, southeast Oklahoma City, the Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.
Election Day forecast::Good weather for most of the US, but rain in some swing states
Flood warnings as Oklahoma City river could crest at 18 feet
Fire officials warned people in the Oklahoma City metro area on Saturday evening to prepare to seek higher ground as torrential rains put the area at risk of flash flooding.
A flood warning was still in effect Sunday for part of the North Canadian River in Oklahoma City, which forecasters expect to crest at almost 18 feet on Sunday afternoon.
Two Oklahoma churches canceled Sunday services in response to the severe weather, according to the Oklahoman.
The National Weather Service warned Oklahomans on Sunday not to "let your guard down too much" – another round of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and flooding will keep the storm risk elevated in the area today, forecasters said on X, formerly Twitter. Winds could reach up to 80 mph on Sunday, they warned.
Storms could continue through Election Day
The heaviest rainfall stretching into Sunday will target eastern and central Oklahoma, parts of northwestern Arkansas and southern Missouri, according to the Weather Service.
AccuWeather forecasters predicted severe thunderstorms will stick around the Oklahoma City area on Sunday before shifting northeast to reach a peak on Monday. A risk of widespread, damaging winds could continue late into that night, before weakening as voters head to the polls for Election Day on Tuesday.
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