Tornadoes rip through parts of Oklahoma

The storms also caused widespread damage in north Oklahoma City and west Edmond.

Two afternoon tornadoes left at least 20 homes either damaged or destroyed in Edmond, several buildings and businesses ravaged in Oklahoma City and more than 28,500 customers were without electricity in the metro area and as far northeast as Payne County during the storm, officials said.

A third tornado killed at least 8 people and injured 25 to 50 people in Lone Grove.

This kind of weather usually doesn’t happen in Oklahoma in February.

Early in the day Mike Foster — meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service’s Norman forecast office — said, "It’s February, but we’re going to treat it like May.”

Only 44 February tornadoes had been documented in Oklahoma since 1950. The last time a twister landed on Oklahoma soil in February was in 2000. It had been 34 years since an Oklahoman had died in a February tornado.

"The rapid movement of very warm, moist air from northeast Texas into central Oklahoma provided the fuel to start these storms,” Foster said.

"I heard a rumbling and looked out the window and saw the rain and cloudiness and said, ‘It’s time to take cover.’ I heard doors slam and glass break. I didn’t hear the trees snap, but I knew something was going on out there,” Brady said.

Page 1 of 2

12Next

Show / Hide Comments

News Photo Galleriesview all

Daily Published Photos: May 21, 2012

View the pictures.

9 photos

Daily Published Photos: May 20, 2012

View the pictures.

41 photos

Daily Published Photos: May 19, 2012

View the pictures.

47 photos

Daily Published Photos: May 18, 2012

View the pictures.

15 photos

Page 1 of 5

Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next