A sprawling and slow-moving storm system swept through parts of Texas and Oklahoma, unleashing damaging tornadoes and heavy rainfall that claimed the lives of three individuals. Severe weather continued to pose a threat to the south-central and Midwest regions of the United States on Sunday.
Communities in Texas and Oklahoma spent Easter Sunday evaluating the destruction left by the tornadoes. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center reported 17 tornado events on Saturday. Among these were five confirmed tornadoes in south-central Oklahoma, one of which severely affected a small town still in recovery from a tornado in March.
The storm system brought intense rainfall to a wide area stretching from north-central Texas to central-eastern Oklahoma, with many regions witnessing 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of precipitation from Saturday into Sunday.
In Moore, located roughly 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City, police responded to numerous ‘high-water incidents’ over the weekend. This included two vehicles trapped in floodwaters on Saturday evening. Tragically, one vehicle was washed away under a bridge, leading to the discovery of a deceased woman and 12-year-old boy.
Moore police described the storm as a “historical weather event” that led to numerous high-water incidents throughout the city, which is home to about 63,000 residents.
A further fatality occurred approximately 80 miles (129 kilometers) southeast in Spaulding, where a tornado devastated the area, flattening homes and causing road washouts, according to Hughes County Emergency Management.
The preliminary investigation by the National Weather Service revealed that the tornadoes had reached at least EF1 intensity, with wind speeds ranging from 86 to 110 mph (138 to 177 kph) both in Spaulding and another area south of Oklahoma City in Love County.
Lead forecaster Bob Oravec noted that the storm system stalled over Texas and Oklahoma on Saturday, resulting in vigorous thunderstorm activity, including hail, flash floods, and tornadoes.
In Marshall County, Oklahoma, emergency management director Bill Macon reported that a tornado traced a sporadic path over 6 to 7 miles (about 10 to 11 kilometers), dealing extensive damage to at least 20 homes. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or deaths, though the tornado toppled “huge” trees and damaged numerous electric poles and power lines.
One town in Oklahoma, already in the midst of rebuilding from a March tornado, was struck again late Saturday. Ada, with around 16,000 residents, faced damage suggesting at least an EF1 tornado, as per weather service preliminaries. Posts on social media showcased destruction, including roofs stripped from businesses and storefront windows shattered.
Jason Keck, Ada’s director of emergency management, shared in a Facebook video that the tornado’s path appeared to cross a shopping center, leaving widespread damage to structures, power lines, and trees.
In Texas, west Parker County experienced at least two tornadoes on Saturday. Emergency services photographed homes with roofs torn off, including one detached roof that landed askew across a driveway.
As the storm system gradually transitioned northeastwards on Sunday, it maintained an active threat of hail, strong winds, and heavy rains in regions such as Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southeastern Iowa, leaving thousands in Missouri without power.
While the intense rainfall reduced in Texas and Oklahoma by late Sunday afternoon, forecaster Oravec warned of additional heavy rain forecasted for parts of the Plains this coming week. Given already saturated grounds and high water levels in streams, the risk of further flooding remains a concern.