With millions at risk of tornadoes, hail, and high winds on Monday night, at least three tornadoes and a number of tornado warnings have already cropped up, including in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center have issued dire warnings for a significant tornado outbreak in the central U.S. that could impact millions of people from Texas to the Dakotas. By 9 p.m., a line of thunderstorm activity stretched from just west of Oklahoma City north through Iowa and into South Dakota, with the weather service continuing to warn of an increasing risk of tornadoes.
At 2 p.m. Central, the center issued a warning for a “particularly dangerous situation” through 11 p.m., following up on its previous “high risk” warning for portions of Oklahoma and Kansas, which included the Oklahoma City metro area. Such warnings are rare, reserved only for the most serious severe weather days.
“We are expecting a serious severe weather outbreak,” said meteorologist Jennifer Thompson. The outbreak – with multiple strong, long-tracked tornadoes, large hail, and severe thunderstorm gusts – is forecast “over parts of the south-central Plains from this afternoon through evening,” the Storm Prediction Center said.
The center warned of “explosive thunderstorm development” and put the chances for at least two tornadoes at more than 95%. The risk is expected to increase into the evening.
“Intense tornadoes are probable especially as the atmosphere becomes very favorable for tornadoes late this afternoon and continuing through the evening,” the center warned. The tornado watch covers an area of Kansas and Oklahoma roughly 250 miles by 300 miles, but the chances for severe weather extend into the Dakotas and east to Kentucky and Tennessee.
In Kansas, at least two funnel clouds — meaning they did not touch the ground — have been reported to the weather service office in Topeka, one north of Chapman in Dickinson County and one northwest of Moonlight in Geary County. A tornado also had been confirmed by radar near Riley in Ogden County.
Hail stones up to 2.5 inches in size were reported in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. The severe weather comes a week after a tornado outbreak killed four people in Oklahoma.
The weather service offers tips to reduce your risk if you are in the path of a tornado. Read our story here.
Tornado confirmed in Oklahoma
In Garfield County, Oklahoma, a tornado had been confirmed near Covington, moving east. The county’s emergency management office reported to the weather service that they’d confirmed buildings destroyed and trees down, near the county line between Garfield and Kingfisher counties.
The weather service also warned that a second line of storms could develop later in the evening around the I-44 corridor, which could affect central and southern Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, with the most severe activity likely between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Just before 8 p.m. Central Time, weather service meteorologists in Norman, Oklahoma reported the storms were increasing in severity and the chance of tornadoes was increasing. Earlier in the evening, the weather service reported that spotters and broadcast media had confirmed a rope tornado about one mile south of Bison, Oklahoma.
In Kingfisher County, a spotter reported uprooted trees, snapped power lines, and damage to a home that might have been tornado-related, the weather service said. The county’s emergency management reported a downed power pole and line, where the tornado moved through Lacey.
At 6:43 p.m., the weather service said broadcast media had spotted a tornado 4 miles southeast of Okeene. Just after 6 p.m. in the northern part of the state, trained spotters reported a very brief tornado about five miles south of Helena, according to the weather service.
Reports of tornadoes in Tennessee
In Nashville, the weather service reported two radar-confirmed tornadoes, one each in Wilson and DeKalb counties. No significant damage was reported, the weather service added, but storm surveys are planned on Tuesday.
As of 6 p.m. ET, tornado warnings related to the potential outbreak had been issued since lunchtime Monday in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Tornado warnings also have been issued in Tennessee.
What is a ‘high risk’?
A high risk is the highest-tier hazardous weather forecast that the Storm Prediction Center issues.
This forecast is the first “high risk” since two were issued on March 31, 2023, said Matthew Elliott, warning coordination meteorologist for the center.
“We typically average only one or two a year,” Elliott said.
A ‘significant’ outbreak
“We’re really expecting this to be a significant outbreak of severe weather,” Elliott said, “with some long track, intense tornadoes certainly possible.”
High winds over portions of Colorado and the High Plains Monday morning are also related to the strong and strengthening low-pressure system expected to spawn tornadoes and hail later in the day.
“It’s very similar to what’s helping create the moisture across the Southern Plains that will lead to the severe weather this afternoon and evening,” Elliott said. “That’s why we see this potential for large hail, tornadoes and damaging winds.”
Preparations underway
Ahead of the storms, McConnell Air Force Base, near Wichita, Kansas, is relocating aircraft to remove them from harm’s way, CNN reported.
Also, schools across the danger zone were altering their schedules before the storms hit. Oklahoma City Public Schools and several metro-area school districts began canceling all after-school and evening activities, the Associated Press reported.
On this date in history
On May 6, 1975, a violent F-4 tornado struck Omaha, Nebraska, killing three and destroying 287 homes. It was the most devastating of 36 tornadoes that occurred during a two-day outbreak.
Contributing: Josh Dulaney, The Oklahoman