What the heck is going on? We're not supposed to have tornadoes in February!
A massive line of thunderstorms stretching from Witchita Falls, Texas, through Lawton, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Stillwater has done a considerable amount of damage in northwest Oklahoma City and near the Oak Tree area north of Edmond, OK.
Local news is reporting heavy wind and storm damage in Oklahoma City near Northwest Expressway and Rockwell Avenue including blown-off awnings, blown-out signage, and downed power lines. In Oak Tree, power lines are down and roofs have been blown off houses.
You can watch one of the tornadoes form live on TV here, at the KOCO Channel 5 website. Besides tornadoes, the storms are packing heavy rain, strong winds, and golf ball to tennis ball sized hail. Scary stuff.
I was stuck in Edmond until around 4:00 pm, after the tornado had passed. I was there to pick up my six year old from school. We stayed at the school because travel back to OKC was dangerous, and ended up doing a "duck and cover" whenever the tornado on the northwest side of Edmond touched down.
I took this photo of the storm on our way out of Edmond, at the intersection of Hefner Road and Broadway Extension, looking northwest. My family is safe right now, but we have made our basement storm shelter ready in anticipation of the other storms that appear to be headed our way.
More coverage is available at NewsOK.com.
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UPDATE: Thankfully, Oklahoma City television is reporting no serious injuries in the OKC Metro area, only a few people treated for minor cuts and bruises. Lots of heavy storm damage near NW Expressway and Rockwell Ave. though, and dozens of homes were damaged with a few completely destroyed in the Coffee Creek and Oak Tree areas in northeastnorthwest Edmond. We lost our power for about three hours, but got it back about half an hour ago. At this time (10:00PM CST) OG&E is reporting about 20,000 customers still without power.
Lone Grove, in the south-central part of the state near Ardmore, wasn't so lucky. Three people died when a tornado ripped through the area around 7:30 PM this evening.
Radar is showing the troublesome storm front moving east-northeast, through eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma and into Arkansas and Missouri. Hopefully no more severe weather will come out of this front.
UPDATE II: Authorities are reporting this morning (Wednesday, Feb. 11) that at least 8 people died in Carter County, near Lone Grove, with the possibility that there may be as many as 15 dead.
The tornadoes that ripped through the OKC Metro area yesterday struck between 2:30 and 3:00 pm, which is the normal time for school to be dismissed. Most area schools went under lockdown during the storms; the tornado that struck northwest Edmond actually touched down very near Cheyenne Middle school.
This morning, callers on local radio reiterated the point that no matter how hard Congress or the courts try, they will never be able to completely eradicate prayer from our schools. Yesterday afternoon, a lot of school children, teachers, and administrators surely were praying.
Comments (16)
psst. It's Obama's fault. ;... (Below threshold)1. Posted by SillyPuddy | February 10, 2009 6:00 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
psst. It's Obama's fault. ;)
1. Posted by SillyPuddy | February 10, 2009 6:00 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:00
2. Posted by GarandFan | February 10, 2009 6:08 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Stay safe Michael. As for the weather....I have been in places were, if you didn't like the current weather....all you had to do was wait 5 minutes.
2. Posted by GarandFan | February 10, 2009 6:08 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:08
3. Posted by retired military | February 10, 2009 6:27 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
GLOBAL WARMING.
Someone get Al Gore.
Oh wait. He opened his mouth in Kansas and now you see the result.
3. Posted by retired military | February 10, 2009 6:27 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:27
4. Posted by epador | February 10, 2009 6:38 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Prayers for Safety.
Kentucky Ice Storm still has lots of folks without power.
Weather is a Bitch.
4. Posted by epador | February 10, 2009 6:38 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:38
5. Posted by DSL | February 10, 2009 6:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
My prayers are with you and your family and their safety. February or not you never want a tornado!
5. Posted by DSL | February 10, 2009 6:39 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:39
6. Posted by Cindermutha | February 10, 2009 6:53 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm glad you all are ok. That's a scary looking storm
6. Posted by Cindermutha | February 10, 2009 6:53 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:53
7. Posted by RFA | February 10, 2009 6:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You are in our thoughts and prayers tonight. God speed.
7. Posted by RFA | February 10, 2009 6:59 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 18:59
8. Posted by Eneils Bailey | February 10, 2009 7:00 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is so sad.
Of all the weather events, tornadoes are the most sudden and devastating weather occurrences to take place.
I have been in one...don't want to be in another.
Last year, these people suffered through weeks of cruel and un-imaginal weahter.
Hope everyone is Ok. I have a lot of old friends in the midwest.
We pray and hope things are ok...I am sure they are....they are tough ole nuts...
8. Posted by Eneils Bailey | February 10, 2009 7:00 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 19:00
9. Posted by Peter F. | February 10, 2009 7:05 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
What the heck is going on? We're not supposed to have tornadoes in February!
First, hang in there.
Second, it's not all that unusual, really. Warm air from the Gulf collides with cold air from Canada starting in late winter...
9. Posted by Peter F. | February 10, 2009 7:05 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 19:05
10. Posted by pjay | February 10, 2009 7:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
As a former Okie, I have been following this with great interest. I still have family and friends all around that area, and I am very concerned for them.
10. Posted by pjay | February 10, 2009 7:21 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 10, 2009 19:21
11. Posted by Lorie Byrd | February 11, 2009 3:17 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Wow Michael, that picture is incredible. Thanks for the post. We have family there and appreciate the first hand report. I am glad you and yours are safe.
11. Posted by Lorie Byrd | February 11, 2009 3:17 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 11, 2009 03:17
12. Posted by Dodo David | February 11, 2009 8:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I still think that it is safer to live in Oklahoma than in a state that is prone to have hurricanes, blizzards, wildfires, mudslides or earthquakes.
12. Posted by Dodo David | February 11, 2009 8:51 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 11, 2009 08:51
13. Posted by SoonerGirl | February 11, 2009 9:47 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm going to have to agree with David...since WHEN has Oklahoma ever had normal weather?? I wouldn't trade it for a second though. I love living in Oklahoma! Glad everyone made it through the tornado on the NE side of the City and my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in Lone Grove.
13. Posted by SoonerGirl | February 11, 2009 9:47 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 11, 2009 09:47
14. Posted by Michael Laprarie | February 11, 2009 10:52 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
DodoDavid,
No, I'm not new; I've been here for over 20 years. It's just that "tornado season" usually runs April through June. Funny thing, I moved from Hurricane Alley (southeast Texas, with Rita, Humberto, and Ike in the last three years) to Tornado Alley. Some improvement, huh? Of course with hurricanes, the season is pretty stable, since you need spring/summer temperatures in order to stir up tropical air masses.
As for "its Obama's fault" (in jest, I know) or global warming theories, the answer is "no." I just won't be looking for any kind of official visit from Washington, DC. Oklahoma is the buckle of the "bigot belt," you know.
14. Posted by Michael Laprarie | February 11, 2009 10:52 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 11, 2009 10:52
15. Posted by Lisa | February 11, 2009 10:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Michael L.,
Great pic and so glad you and yours are safe! I'm in Wichita, KS...I knew these last 4 days of 65 degree weather was gonna brew something. The whole mess went east of us. My heart goes out to those in Lone Grove. Midwesterners are a resilent bunch, and I'm proud to be one of 'em!. Places like Moore and Greensberg are a testament to courage and faith. Lone Grove will be back!
15. Posted by Lisa | February 11, 2009 10:57 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 11, 2009 10:57
16. Posted by Matt | February 16, 2009 2:49 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Come on, if you lived here you're whole life you gotta be used to this by now!
16. Posted by Matt | February 16, 2009 2:49 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on February 16, 2009 02:49