Severe Storms and Tornadoes Strike Oklahoma Overnight

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma — Severe storms swept across Oklahoma overnight, producing tornadoes and dangerous weather conditions. The storms, which began Thursday afternoon, have continued into Friday morning, affecting numerous counties.

At 1:30 a.m. Friday, a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for Canadian, Logan, Oklahoma, Caddo, Kiowa, and Washita counties. Locations such as Anadarko, Oklahoma City, and Yukon are at risk for severe weather.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued several severe thunderstorm warnings throughout the night. In northwestern Grady County and northern Caddo County, winds reached up to 60 mph, and quarter-sized hail was reported. Warnings for these areas are expected to remain in effect until 2 a.m.

As the storms progressed into the Oklahoma City metro area, heavy rain and the potential for hail were noted, although no severe thunderstorm warnings were active at that moment.

Throughout the evening, multiple tornado warnings were issued, especially affecting northeastern Ellis County and southwestern Woodward County. Residents in Woodward, Fargo, and Sharon faced risks from tornadoes and hail as large as golf balls.

By 11:00 p.m. Thursday, a severe thunderstorm watch was expanded to include multiple counties, indicating the widespread impact of the storms.

According to meteorologist Joseph Neubauer from KOCO 5, the tornado index for areas near Woodward and Beaver reached 4 out of 10, signifying a significant risk for tornado activity. Storms were predicted to intensify heading east into central Oklahoma through the early hours of Friday morning.

As dawn approached, damage reports began to surface, showcasing downed power lines and structural damage in various areas. The storms, while decreasing in intensity, continued to pose a threat as they moved into different regions of the state.

Further updates from the NWS advised that thunderstorms would persist into Friday morning, with the potential for additional severe weather.