A sluggish yet potent storm system unleashed a barrage of severe weather across parts of Texas and Oklahoma over the Easter weekend, resulting in three fatalities and widespread destruction from heavy rainfall, substantial hail, and tornadoes. As communities began the arduous task of assessing the damage on Sunday, severe weather warnings remained in effect for portions of the south-central and Midwest United States.
According to Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, there were 17 reported tornado events on Saturday alone. Five of these were confirmed in south-central Oklahoma, including a particularly devastating tornado that inflicted significant damage on the town of Ada, which was still in the process of recovering from a previous tornado in March. Preliminary surveys by the National Weather Service indicated that at least two of these tornadoes were EF1 strength, with wind speeds ranging from 86 to 110 mph (138 to 177 kph).
The same storm system delivered torrential rainfall across a vast area of north-central Texas and central-eastern Oklahoma, with accumulations ranging from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) from Saturday into Sunday. This heavy precipitation led to widespread flooding, particularly in and around Moore, Oklahoma, approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City.
Moore police reported numerous "high-water incidents" throughout the weekend, tragically including two vehicles that became stranded in floodwaters on Saturday evening. One vehicle was swept away beneath a bridge. While rescue efforts managed to save some occupants, the bodies of a woman and a 12-year-old boy were later recovered. In a statement released on Sunday, the Moore Police Department described the event as "a historical weather event that impacted roads and resulted in dozens of high-water incidents across the city," which is home to around 63,000 residents.
The severe weather also claimed a life approximately 80 miles (129 kilometers) southeast of Moore, in Spaulding, Oklahoma. The Hughes County Emergency Management reported that a tornado touched down in the area, destroying several homes and structures and causing "numerous washouts" of county roads. Authorities later identified the deceased as 84-year-old Jerry Davis. Another person was injured in the Spaulding tornado.
In Marshall County, Oklahoma, emergency management director Bill Macon stated that preliminary assessments indicated a tornado "skipped and jumped around" over a 6 to 7 mile (approximately 10 to 11 kilometers) path in a rural area. This tornado damaged at least 20 homes, some of which were completely destroyed. Despite the significant property damage, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities in Marshall County.
The town of Ada, Oklahoma, still reeling from a tornado in early March, was struck again late Saturday. The north side of the town, home to around 16,000 people, sustained damage consistent with at least an EF1 tornado, according to the National Weather Service's preliminary survey. Social media posts depicted roofs torn from businesses, storefront windows shattered, and billboards toppled. Jason Keck, Ada director of emergency management, noted in a video that the tornado appeared to track across the north side of town towards a shopping center, causing extensive damage to buildings, power lines, and trees. The Ada News reported that one clothing store suffered severe damage, despite adjacent structures remaining intact. Pontotoc County emergency managers reported that as many as 30 people were displaced in Ada, with one injury reported at a local hotel.
In Texas, at least two tornadoes crossed west Parker County on Saturday, according to the county's emergency services. Photos shared on social media showed emergency crews responding to multiple homes with roofs torn off and exposed structures. One detached roof was seen completely blocking a driveway. In Hood County, south of Parker County, a tornado tore a home off its foundation, injuring one occupant who was hospitalized.
By late Sunday, the storm system had begun to move more rapidly northeastward, but it remained active, posing a continued risk of large hail, high winds, and heavy rains in Arkansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, and southeastern Iowa. Thousands of residents in Missouri were reported to be without power.
While the heavy rainfall had subsided in Texas and Oklahoma by late Sunday afternoon, additional significant rainfall is anticipated across parts of the Plains throughout the week. With rivers and streams already swollen and the ground saturated, this forecast raises concerns about the potential for further flooding in the affected regions. Authorities continue to urge residents in the path of the storm to remain vigilant and heed all warnings from the National Weather Service.
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