Storms cause brief outages, light damage in state

By Aaron Crespo

Published: April 23, 2008

Two rainstorms rolled through Oklahoma City this evening, dropping less than one-fourth inch of rain on most areas combined.

The storms caused power outages across the metro area, knocking out traffic lights at several locations in the city. More than 2,000 customers were without power in the Metro earlier in the evening. At 11:30, more than 1,200 customers in Ravia weree without power, 86 customers in Yukon, 84 in Sapulpa and 63 in Chandler, according to Oklahoma Gas and Electric.

Hail was reported across the state throughout the day, covering the ground in Altus and Stidham.

Golf-ball sized hail was reported in Ochelata at around 5:30 p.m. and Creek at 10:15 p.m. Dollar-sized hail was reported in Kinta about 7 p.m.

Winds up to 60 mph were reported in Albion, breaking tree limbs. Wind destroyed a barn in Talihina, also breaking tree limbs and knocking down power lines.

Flash floods covered Ketchum streets in Delaware County and a Stilwell bridge in Adair County earlier in the evening.

The National Weather Service said a risk of severe storms could linger Thursday as a potent storm system tracks across Oklahoma and the southern Plains. The storm threat is forecast to shift into eastern sections of the state on Friday and Saturday and return for other parts of Oklahoma on Sunday, according to the latest forecasts.

Daytime highs will vary from below average to above average over the next several days, depending on location.

Today's highs ranged from 72 degrees in Enid to 82 degrees in Muskogee, Stillwater and Tulsa, forecasters said. The high in Oklahoma City and Guthrie reached 78 degrees.

Skies should be partly sunny Thursday and Friday, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday and a slight chance on Friday. Highs should reach the 80s on Thursday and cool into the 60s and 70s on Friday, according to forecasts. Lows Thursday night are expected to range from the 40s in the Oklahoma Panhandle to the 60s in southeastern Oklahoma, forecasters said.

Selected rainfall totals from Mesonet sites at 11:30 p.m.:

West Oklahoma City .20 inches

South Oklahoma City .05

North Oklahoma City .04

Newkirk 1.74

Vinita 1.32

Jay 1.31

Miami 1.27

Arnett 1.14

Chandler 1.14

Minco .47

Shawnee .38

Marshall .33

Fairview .30

El Reno .22

Beaver .17

Guthrie .17

Bixby .15

Putnam .15

Alva .12

Medford .10

Stillwater .04

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