One person killed in Oklahoma's tornadoes; millions in the Midwest brace for powerful twisters.
At least one person was killed, with several others injured after a tornado ravaged through Osage and Washington counties in Oklahoma on Monday, as reported by Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden on CNN affiliate KOKI. The vortex affected homes in the vicinity of Barnsdall and Bartlesville, resulting in severe damage and numerous injuries. Washington County Emergency Management Director of Operations Kary Cox mentioned that Bartlesville directly experienced the wrath of the tornado.
Barnsdall faced a second catastrophic tornado within the span of five weeks. A month earlier, the town had been struck by a mild EF1 storm. In Missouri, Sullivan endured "substantial damage" due to a tornado as per storm reports, but the exact extent of the mayhem is still uncertain. Similar to Sullivan, DeKalb County, Tennessee, observed significant damage following a tornado that hit the Smithville area on Monday afternoon.
Overall, there were 244 weather-related reports documented on Monday, including 17 instances of tornadoes. Exceptionally sized hail, such as softballs and baseballs, crashed down in Kansas and Oklahoma as well as swift winds of more than 70 mph in Nebraska and Kansas and a staggering 82 mph gust near Chester, Oklahoma.
An uncommon Level 5 of 5, or high-risk, designation for the United States was issued on Monday by the Storm Prediction Center. This was the first instance in more than a year and the first time in nearly five years for Oklahoma, and the first in almost seven years for Kansas.
Furthermore, parts of the eastern United States brace themselves for more storms on Tuesday and Wednesday, not unfamiliar territory for a region that had already been subjected to severe weather. The Level 3 of 5 risk zone encompasses various regions such as Indiana, including Indianapolis; Kentucky, including Louisville; and Ohio, including Columbus, where residents face the potential of a few major F2-level tornadoes.
Although the risk area is not confined to these states, it expands to include vast swathes of the eastern US and encompasses damaging winds and hail. Millions are once more at risk on Wednesday, even in regions that had already experienced the wrath of Monday's severe weather. The Level 3 of 5 risk ranges from northeastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma to significant portions of Kentucky and Tennessee, where strong winds, hail, and tornadoes are all probable consequences.
Moreover, some vigorous tornadoes may surface, primarily in Missouri, central Kentucky, and northern Tennessee. Cities like St. Louis and Nashville are among those vulnerable to destructive tornadoes. Precipitation might also be heavy, causing flash floods. A Level 2 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall is looming over the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, where rainfall rates could potentially approach 1 to 2 inches per hour in the most turbulent storms.
CNN's Joe Sutton and Robert Shackelford were involved in bringing this news to the public.
In summary, after last Monday's tornado in Oklahoma, residents of Barnsdall are dealing with the consequences of a second damaging tornado in a short period. Additionally, severe storms have left their mark on Sullivan, Missouri and the Smithville area in Tennessee. The Storm Prediction Center reported 17 tornadoes and 244 weather-related incidents on Monday, including hail the size of softballs and baseballs in Kansas and Oklahoma, and wind gusts exceeding 70 mph in Nebraska and Kansas. A rare Level 5 of 5 risk, the first for Kansas and Oklahoma in years, was given, shortly after a Level 3 of 5 risk was issued for the US, which stretches from northeastern Texas to much of Kentucky and Tennessee, with potential for damaging winds, hail, and even more severe tornadoes. This will continue on Wednesday, as almost 13 million people are in the high-risk zone for destructive weather across the US.
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Despite the devastation caused by the tornadoes, efforts are being made to assess the damage and provide necessary aid. The Red Cross has set up shelters for displaced individuals in Oklahoma.
In the wake of the recent tornadoes, meteorologists are closely monitoring weather patterns in the Midwest, hoping to provide early warnings for any potential future twisters.
Source: edition.cnn.com
