Tornadoes Destroy Homes, Injure Several People in Texas, Oklahoma

Weather Channel

Tornado-warned storms continued to rumble through north-central Texas and eastern Oklahoma Saturday afternoon, with several tornadoes reported that destroyed homes and injured several people.

Heavy damage was reported in Abilene from a likely tornado that struck around 5 a.m. CDT. Images posted to social media show structural damage to buildings and utility poles down. Several homes were also damaged. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Damage was reported near San Angelo, Texas, early Saturday after an EF2 tornado ripped through the area. The San Angelo Fire Department urged motorists to avoid driving in the area, noting that many streets are littered with storm debris and downed power lines. Flash flooding was also reported in spots.

A video of a tornado was captured near Ballinger, Texas. Damage was reported in that area, including damage to a high school baseball stadium and a water tower. At least half a dozen homes were damaged by the tornado, some heavily.

Heavy rains from storms moving through Dallas led to flash flooding on eastbound Interstate 35, where hundreds of vehicles were reportedly stranded. Some motorists reportedly abandoned their vehicles.

More than 85,000 homes and businesses were without power in Texas by early Saturday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us.

About 500 flights were canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as the line of storms approached Saturday afternoon. Another 550 were delayed, according to Flight Aware. Similar delays were being reported at Dallas Love Field Airport.

In southwestern Oklahoma, an EF2 tornado destroyed two homes in Geronimo, in Comanche County, the Oklahoman reported. A few minor injuries were also reported.

Flash flooding in Oklahoma City early Saturday prompted several rescues as motorists reportedly became stranded in high water.

Storms knocked out power to more than 14,000 in Oklahoma as of Saturday afternoon, poweroutage.us reported.

A tornado flipped a semi-trailer and caused damage in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Saturday afternoon.

More than 32,000 customers were without power Saturday afternoon in Arkansas, poweroutage.us reported.

On Friday evening, tornadoes were reported in Texas and Nebraska, including a likely tornado that damaged a home near McCook, injuring an elderly couple.

Two other EF1 tornadoes were confirmed in the Dawson County near Farnham and northeast of Cozad. No reports of damage or injuries there.

The twister spun up in northwest Kansas and moved northeastward into southern Nebraska, spawning several tornado warnings along its path. Hail was also reported in several locations.

A tornado was also spotted near Fort Stockton, Texas, between San Antonio and El Paso. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Storms hit Colorado and Wyoming earlier in the afternoon. Golf-ball sized hail fell in Dacono, Colorado, north of Denver.

Hail and damaging winds are expected to be the biggest threats on Saturday in several states, including Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

https://weather.com/news/news/2019-05-17-severe-storm-impacts-texas-nebraska-plains-midwest

11 thoughts on “Tornadoes Destroy Homes, Injure Several People in Texas, Oklahoma

  1. That one near Fort Stockton is the THIRD one this year so far! If you get your cantaloupes from Coyanosa, you may have to wait until next year…

  2. MISSED US . SE OKC STANLEY DRAPER……………JILL AND I WERE JUST NORTH OF THE MOORE TORNADO.. STORM FLOODED THE GARAGE. THE HOUSE WAS ON A HILL…….

    1. Well, that’s interesting…I just checked the link and they removed the list of tonight’s Tornado Watches. 😡
      I should have copy and pasted that section. Sorry.

  3. Today I was waiting for our 100% chance of rain which didn’t come. Good thing I watered the wilting cucumbers.

  4. I’ve always avoided living anyplace where the wind gets strong enough to pick up entire houses and drop them on witches.

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