At least six people were injured and hospitalized on Sunday morning, possibly more tornadoes The Oklahoma City area was surrounded by tornado warnings issued by authorities, including one for the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus.
One of the twisters is suspected of touching down in Oklahoma City, where most of the injuries reported Sunday occurred. Police and firefighters said the six injured people were being treated at hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
Several structures were damaged, power lines and trees down and gas lines snapped in a four-hour period as possible twisters tore through the area beginning around 11 p.m. Saturday, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Nolan Meister. in Norman, Oklahoma, he told ABC News on Sunday morning.
Oklahoma City footage showing storm damage around metro OKC on November 3, 2024.
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“We’re estimating at least six tornadoes and potentially 12,” Meister said, adding that the severe weather caused flooding and large hail in the area.
He said the NWS has confirmed “a couple” of tornadoes and is working to confirm others.
A possible tornado touched down in the Choctaw community, about 17 miles east of Oklahoma City, at 1:00 a.m. Choctaw Police Department.
The suspected twister tore through Railhead Estates in Choctaw, causing “extensive damage” to homes and prompting firefighters and police to check on residents door-to-door, officials said in a statement.
This photo from a video shows storm damage in Newcastle, OK, on November 3, 2024.
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The police reported that several people were slightly injured in the incident.
“There is extensive damage to the houses in the area,” the police said in a statement. “We have opened the gym at Choctaw Elementary for anyone who needs a temporary place for rest and shelter.”
This photo from a video shows storm damage in Newcastle, OK, on November 3, 2024.
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The nearby city of Harrah’s also suffered damage, according to the Choctaw Police Department, which added that people were sheltering at a local casino.
Images of the damage also emerged Sunday in Newcastle, about 14 miles south of Oklahoma City.
Meister told ABC News that as of 9 a.m. ET, all tornado warnings for the area had been lifted. But Meister said the NWS is predicting more severe weather for the Oklahoma City area by Sunday afternoon, including thunderstorms.
This photo from a video shows storm damage in Newcastle, OK, on November 3, 2024.
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Among the emergency tornado warnings issued Sunday was one that prompted students and staff at the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus to shelter in place, officials said.
The warning was posted at 1:22 am on the school’s official X account. The school issued additional warnings at 1:55 a.m. and 2:02 a.m
“Seek shelter inside the building you are in NOW,” he said first message he said “Take him downstairs/inside.”
At that time, NWS he said A tornado watch was in place for central and eastern Oklahoma early Sunday morning. A small area of northwest Texas was also under watch, the agency’s Storm Prediction Center said urgent update at 01:40
The center said About 15 minutes later he saw several “discrete supercells” “mature in the open warm sector of the transverse OK”.
“A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms near the watch area,” the center said. “People in these areas should be alert for threatening weather conditions and listen for future statements and possible warnings.”
