Weather alert: Oklahoma faces more storms after tornadoes injure 11, damage 100 homes

At least 11 people have been injured, and close to 100 homes damaged, following a series of tornadoes that struck Oklahoma over the weekend.

The severe weather left widespread destruction, including damage to buildings, downed power lines, traffic lights, and fallen trees, according to reports from the Oklahoma City Fire Department.

Oklahoma is now bracing for more storms as the same weather system moves southward, posing fresh risks for thunderstorm activity, damaging winds, large hail, and further tornadoes across the region, the National Weather Service has warned.

An estimated 17 million people from central Texas to northern Missouri remain under threat from this severe weather system.

The weather service’s storm prediction centre has placed eastern Oklahoma and surrounding areas under an “Enhanced Risk” warning, forecasting an elevated risk of tornadoes by late morning.

Rainfall is expected to be heaviest across eastern Oklahoma, north-western Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, with up to 3 inches likely to fall by Tuesday, affecting around 7 million people across these areas, with flood alerts now in place in parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and northern Texas.

The storm system is predicted to weaken as it tracks eastwards into the Mid-Mississippi Valley by Tuesday. Severe weather risk for Oklahoma should ease, but the threat is expected to shift towards Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and the broader mid-Mississippi Valley, according to the National Weather Service.

“As the low-pressure centre tracks quickly northeastward across the Great Lakes Tuesday night, the trailing cold front will weaken with time, leading to a lessening threat of heavy rain and severe weather farther east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley on Tuesday,” the weather service stated.

However, moderate to locally heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms could still impact the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys by Tuesday night, extending into Wednesday morning.

Dallas tornado watch issued until 6 pm

In Texas, a tornado watch is in effect until 6 pm for numerous counties, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant. North and Central Texas are expected to experience widespread thunderstorms today, with severe conditions possible across regions east of Interstate 35.

The period of highest concern for potential tornadoes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is anticipated between noon and 5 pm Areas along the Red River and northern counties face a higher tornado risk, while other areas have a reduced but still present risk.

High winds are a primary concern, and hail may also accompany some storms. However, any hail that does occur is expected to be moderate rather than severe.