Sulphur, Oklahoma – A deadly tornado outbreak in Oklahoma on Sunday resulted in the tragic loss of at least three lives, including that of an infant. The National Weather Service reported multiple large and extremely dangerous tornadoes on the ground simultaneously overnight in various parts of Oklahoma. The storms caused devastation in Holdenville, where two deaths occurred, and near Marietta on I-35.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared an emergency disaster and traveled to survey the storm damage in Sulphur and Holdenville. Reports indicated injuries, property damage, flooding, and downed power lines and trees across several counties in Oklahoma, although the full extent of the damage remained unclear.
Nearly 47 million people were at risk for severe weather on Sunday stretching from east Texas into the upper Mississippi River Valley. Cities like Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa were warned of the potential for strong tornadoes as the storms moved eastward across the southern Plains. More than 7 million people were under tornado watches, spanning over 800 miles from Texas to southern Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service issued warnings of tornadoes crossing Oklahoma’s Highway 9 and heading towards Norman. Emergency response efforts were heightened, with the University of Oklahoma advising students and staff to seek shelter immediately. The state’s emergency operations center was activated, urging residents to stay vigilant and have a plan in place in case of severe weather.
The storms caused significant damage in Nebraska and Iowa as well, with multiple tornadoes touching down. Numerous homes and businesses were damaged in Iowa’s Pottawattamie County, with reports of a large tornado in Minden causing widespread destruction. The area saw over 80 tornado reports on Friday alone, highlighting the severity of the weather events across the region.
Intense rainfall accompanying the storms raised concerns of flash flooding, prompting flash flood warnings in Texas. The Storm Prediction Center elevated the severe storm threat level for various regions, underscoring the ongoing risk of severe weather as unsettled weather patterns persisted into Monday. The community response in Nebraska and Iowa underscored the resilience of residents in the face of natural disasters, with efforts underway to rebuild and recover from the destruction.