Large power poles downed in Edmond
Large power poles downed in Edmond
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By Matt Dinger
Published: March 30, 2008
Modified: March 31, 2008 at 5:04 am
Modified: March 31, 2008 at 5:04 am
Thunderstorms producing tornadoes, large hail and high winds raked western and central Oklahoma on Sunday and this morning.
An early-morning storm that spotters said produced at least one tornado and a few funnels rolled across north Oklahoma City and north Edmond.
A string of very tall power poles along Danforth, at least between Santa Fe and Western, were knocked down by the early-morning storm.
At 2:30 a.m., Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported about 7,300 customers without power, including 4,355 in the Piedmont area and 1,240 in north Oklahoma City, and 1,200 in Edmond.
A KWTV News-9 spotter reported a brief touchdown of a tornado about 1:20 a.m. south of 178th and east of Rockwell. Spotters later reported funnels near Santa Fe and Covell Road a the storm tracked east-northeast across northwest Oklahoma City and north Edmond and into Logan County.
The weather service issued a tornado warning at 1:32 a.m. for southwest Logan County and northwest Oklahoma County, in effect until 2 a.m. That warning was allowed to expire, but a warning for southeast Logan County was issued until 2:45 a.m.
A tornado warning also was issued for Garfield County at 1:58 this morning, effective until 2:30. A storm capable of producing a tornado was detected near Vance Air Force Base moving east-northeast at 20 mph. Locations in the warning included Breckenridge, Enid, Fairmont, Garber, Hunter, Vance AFB and Waukomis.
A tornado watch was in effect until 3 a.m. for the following counties: Alfalfa, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Creek, Garfield, Grady, Grant, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Major, Noble, Okfuskee, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee, Payne and Pottawatomie.
Storm spotters first observed brief tornadoes in the Lookeba area in Caddo County about 11 p.m. No damage has been reported from that storm, but the county experienced damage earlier in the evening when power lines were brought down in the Albert and Oney areas.
Crews were working overnight to restore power.
Tornado warnings were issued during the evening for Caddo, Washita, Grady, Canadian, Oklahoma and Logan counties.
A tornado was first spotted at 10:53 p.m. one mile west of Lookeba and moving east at 25 mph. A tornado warning issued for southern Canadian County, northwestern Grady County and eastern Caddo County expired at midnight.
The weather service issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for eastern Canadian County and western Oklahoma County until 3:15 a.m.
Storms were expected to continue throughout the morning, primarily in the northern part of the state, and continue into today. Heavy rain was expected in north Oklahoma. The storms were expected to expand to the eastern and southern parts of the state early this morning.
The Clinton weather radio transmitter lost power shortly after 10 p.m., shutting down NOAA radio weather alerts to the area. The transmitter was back in business about 11:30 p.m.
Large hail was reported in Washita County.
Two-inch hail, the size of a hen's egg, was reported three miles south of Rocky, north of Hobart, by an amateur radio operator, according to the National Weather Service. Golf ball-sized hail was reported at Binger, Foss, and Sentinel, west of Rocky. Half-dollar-sized hail was reported in Cowden, southeast of Eakly and in Dill City, north of Rocky.
The highest rainfall totals were along Interstate 40. As of 12:30 a.m., Weatherford had received 1.47 inches of rain, Hinton 1.10 and El Reno 1.40. An area northwest of Hobart received half an inch and Fairview had received .71. Early morning rains dropped 2.02 inches on Lahoma.
The highest wind gust recorded Sunday by Mesonet was 56 mph northwest of Hobart. Other high gusts included 53 mph at Kingfisher, 54 mph at Marshall, 50 at Minco and 47 at Fort Cobb.
A 46 mph gust was recorded this morning in north Oklahoma City, near Wilshire and Broadway Ext. No Mesonet sites are located in the far north Oklahoma City area traversed by the early-morning storm.
Numerous isolated storms are possible in the central and eastern parts of the state today, the weather service said. The storms are expected to move to the east as a dry line moves across western Oklahoma.
"Showers and thunderstorms are likely. There is a 60 percent chance of precipitation during the morning and through the afternoon," Taylor said.
The high temperature for the day is expected to be 77 degrees with a low of 65 degrees.
Earlier Sunday, storms pelted southeastern Oklahoma with heavy rains, causing flooding.
Street flooding was reported in Poteau and Honobia by local law enforcement and fire departments.
More than two inches of rain fell in Cloudy, Mount Herman, and Wister, while Idabel, Broken Bow, Hugo and Talihina all received more than an inch, according to the Oklahoma Mesonet.
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