Severe weather continues to wreak havoc across the Southern Plains, with tornadoes tearing through the nation’s heartland and flash flooding threatening parts of east-central Oklahoma. Over 50 million people are under threat as the atmosphere recharges, stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes.
The greatest threat for tornadoes on Saturday extended from Oklahoma through the Upper Mississippi Valley, with the NWS office in Norman, Oklahoma launching a special weather balloon to survey the atmosphere. The Storm Prediction Center received over 100 reports of severe weather on Saturday, including several tornadoes in Kansas and Oklahoma.
The severe weather threat is expected to diminish on Sunday, but a Level 2 severe weather threat still covers over 20 million people from Texas to Iowa and Illinois. Tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts are all possible, but the storms are not expected to be as intense as on Friday.
In addition to the tornado threat, much of the Southern Plains is at risk of flash flooding, with parts of Oklahoma facing a Level 4 out of 4 flash flood risk. Rainfall totals may exceed 10 inches in some areas, leading to significant flooding.
The risk of flash flooding is a serious concern, as high-risk flood days account for a large percentage of flood-related fatalities and damages in the U.S. Stay tuned for updates on the severe weather outbreak and take precautions to stay safe during this dangerous weather event.
