Tornado warnings have expired for Oklahoma, Payne, Lincoln, Creek, Pawnee, Osage and Noble counties, and the state appears to have escaped serious damage despite reports of tornado touchdowns. A tornado watch remains in effect throughout much of the state.
Video broadcast on television station KWTV-9 showed a tornado near Ralston. Spotters on television station KFOR-4 reported tornadoes touched down near Choctaw and Pawnee, and the weather service reported a touchdown near Glencoe.
No injuries have been reported.
Severe storms are moving through central and northeastern parts of the state and are capable of producing tornadoes and baseball-sized hail, according to the weather service.
Damage to structures light in metro so far
Damage to structures from wind and hail in Oklahoma County has been light so far, according to David Barnes, the county’s director of emergency management. Hail damage was reported to a mobile home near NE 63 and Triple X Road near Jones.
Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, who lives in Choctaw, said the storm caused significant roof damage to homes in the area.
“Our yard was totally covered with golf ball-sized hail,” Whetsel said.
The most significant damage in the area was an abandoned trailer near NE 36 and Henney Road that was destroyed, Whetsel said.
Dozens of deputies’ cars were damaged by hail.
“We're going to have extensive damage to our fleet, in addition to all the citizens’ cars that were damaged in the streets,” Whetsel said.
The storm was above southeastern parts of the metro area about 7:15 p.m. Jim Beckel, a photographer for The Oklahoman, was at a Midwest City restaurant near SE 15 and Douglas Boulevard when golf ball-sized hail pummeled the area.
“There were loud thumps on the roof (from the hail) and you could hear it all over the restaurant,” Beckel said. “People’s attention quickly turned from food to weather.”
Beckel said some cars in the restaurant’s parking lot sustained hail damage. The hail punched five holes in the rear windshield of a car belonging to a waitress at the restaurant.
Tornado watch still in effect
Most of central Oklahoma remains under a tornado watch, which expires at 1 a.m. Friday. Affected areas include Canadian, Coal, Creek, Grady, Jefferson, Kingfisher, Love, McLean, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Osage, Pontotoc, Seminole, Wagoner, Carter, Cotton, Garfield, Grant, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshall, McIntosh, Noble, Oklahoma, Pawnee, Pottowatomie, Stephens, Washington, Cleveland, Craig, Garvin, Hughes, Kay, Logan, Mayes, Murray, Nowata, Okmulgee, Payne, Rogers and Tulsa counties.
Contributing: Staff Writer John Estus
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i would like to say that while the skys were clear ( sun shining in my windows) hail was beating my lawn and car to a pulp ... so just because the sun is shining doesnt mean nothings happeneing
Actually they don't test the sirens in inclement weather. Also, I watched the mesocyclone, and it could have produced a tornado, and did later. Thankfully it was not organized because all the conditions were present to have a significant tornado within the city limits. I do have a major concern that is the sirens are not nearly loud enough unless you are OUTSIDE. Also, the weathermen from the various stations need more education or better technological devices to let people know WHERE the tornado or funnel cloud is located. In the last 10 years they have not improved their ability to inform the public. I heard every address in a 6 mile radius. They need to focus less about the damage already done and focus on where it is and wherre it may be going!
What is worse than the sirens is the local weathermen interrupting to tell us NOTHING is happening! They should ONLY break in if there is something within the viewing area that is a threat to life or property (tornadoes, large hail etc)..ACTUAL warnings (meaning it is happening right now, NOT a watch where "conditions are favorable..."). Also, we are in trouble if a tornado strikes at noon on a Saturday (when they test the sirens).
Since I KNOW what you described is often the case, I tune to my local station to find out of it is something I need to be concerned about (NEVER, EVER have the chicken little approach..just might save your life).
Once again, sirens are blowing in the whole county despite clear skies over most of it. Makes the warning system useless because now we ignore it. Ever heard the story about Chicken Little, county officials? And NO, you can NOT have more money to buy the system you should have bought last time.
Larry, in case you didn't see it, there was an actual Tornado that caused actual damage and could have hurt actual people. Just because it didn't hit your mobile home doesn't mean they shouldn't warn you.
Kylie Mayes, 16, shows two hailstones that pummeled her neighborhood when a severe thunderstorm passed over her family's home in Midwest City today. Photo by Jim Beckel
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.