Oklahoma has been experiencing intense weather patterns.
By late Wednesday night, a severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service for southern Oklahoma County, northwestern Cleveland County, and northwestern McClain County escalated right into a tornado watch. The intense weather, characterised by large hail and damaging winds, has resulted in widespread power outages. This comes on the heels of multiple days of wildfires across the state.
Here’s what it’s essential to know.
Which Areas Are Included within the Tornado Watch?
The next counties in Oklahoma are included within the tornado watch:
- Adair
- Cherokee
- Delaware
- Haskell
- Latimer
- McIntosh
- Mayes
- Muskogee
- Okfuskee
- Okmulgee
- Pittsburg
- Sequoyah
- Wagoner
How Long Is the Tornado Watch Issued?
Based on meteorologist Travis Meyer, here’s the timeline for the most important severe threats:
- Northwest of Tulsa: 7 p.m. — 10 p.m.
- Tulsa Metro & I-44 Corridor: 10 p.m. — midnight
- Southeast of Tulsa: Midnight — 3 a.m.
What Can Oklahomans Expect?
The National Weather Service in Norman, positioned 20 miles south of downtown Oklahoma City, has warned that just a few tornadoes are possible, together with hail the dimensions of tennis balls, wind gusts of as much as 75 mph, and evening temperatures reaching the mid-70s.
WATCHING a 3-day stretch of SEVERE WEATHER with helpful rainfall for the southern Plains this weekend Saturday-Monday! This classic mega trough has plenty of backside support because it crosses the mountain West, which implies it would still be amplifying because it ejects across the Great… pic.twitter.com/sVw4PNEFp6
— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) October 31, 2024
Jon Porter of AccuWeather cautions that conditions are highly favorable for a significant tornado outbreak across the southern Plains, stating, “All of the ingredients you wish are here today.” He warns that thunderstorms could generate winds exceeding 80 mph and produce “supercell” tornadoes—powerful, sustained storms able to causing large-scale destruction.
“These tornadoes will be particularly intense and long-lasting,” Porter explained. “They’ve the potential to last for 45 minutes to an hour or more, leaving paths of destruction of their wake.” Residents within the affected areas are advised to take shelter immediately upon receiving alerts and to closely monitor updates as conditions evolve.
