A powerful storm system swept through Texas and Oklahoma over the weekend, bringing heavy rain, large hail, and tornadoes. The severe weather claimed three lives and caused significant damage as communities began to assess the aftermath on Easter Sunday.
On Saturday, the National Weather Service reported 17 tornadoes across the region, with five confirmed in south-central Oklahoma. One tornado hit a small town still recovering from a previous storm in March, causing extensive damage. Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the Weather Prediction Center, noted that the storm system was slow-moving, leading to ongoing thunderstorms and dangerous conditions.
In Moore, Oklahoma, located about 10 miles south of Oklahoma City, police received numerous reports of flooding incidents. On Saturday evening, two vehicles became stranded in rising waters, resulting in the tragic deaths of a woman and a 12-year-old boy. Moore’s police department described the situation as a historical weather event that severely impacted local roads.
Another fatality occurred in Spaulding, Oklahoma, about 80 miles southeast, where a tornado caused destruction to homes and infrastructure. Preliminary assessments indicated that this tornado reached at least EF1 strength, with wind speeds between 86 and 110 mph.
Emergency management officials reported that a tornado in Marshall County, Oklahoma, left a path of destruction about 6 to 7 miles long, damaging at least 20 homes. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities in that area, as many residents were at home when the storm struck.
In Ada, a town with around 16,000 residents, the north side was again hit by a tornado, causing damage to buildings and power lines. Social media posts showed roofs torn off businesses and significant destruction in a shopping center.
Texas also felt the storm’s impact, with emergency crews responding to reports of homes with roofs ripped off in Parker County. As the storm system moved northeast, it continued to pose risks for hail, high winds, and heavy rain in Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southeastern Iowa, leaving thousands without power.
While the heavy rain began to ease in Texas and Oklahoma by late Sunday afternoon, Oravec warned that additional rainfall is expected in the coming week. With already saturated ground and swollen streams, the risk of further flooding remains a concern for the region.