Severe Weather Rips through the Plains

It was a significant severe weather day for parts of Oklahoma and Kansas Monday afternoon.  At least 5 fatalities are being reported along with numerous injuries.  The National Weather Service issued 70 tornado warnings, 31 of which came from the office in Norman, and 88 severe thunderstorm warnings!  There were 37 preliminary reports of tornadoes through Kansas and Oklahoma, but a final count will be conducted by the National Weather Service within the next couple of days.

From the National Weather Service in Norman, OK....

The National Weather Service is in the process of compiling information on the tornado outbreak.  Here are some things that we know, and some important things to remember:

- As a result of the the widespread nature of the outbreak, it will take some time to sift through all the data and reports.  Bear with us as we attempt to provide the most complete picture of the events that occured.
- We do NOT have a count of the total number of tornadoes at this point.  That will take a complete survey analysis to determine.
- Storm survey teams will be out surveying some of the damage on Tuesday, May 11th.
- The possible tornado damage paths are spread over a north-south area of over 200 miles from near the Kansas-Oklahoma border to near the Red River.
- Very large hail was reported in several locations, up to the size of softballs (4.25")