It's peak Tornado Season, which means those of us who live in or adjacent to "Tornado Alley" have to keep an eye on storm predictions and the radar — thankfully made easier and more accessible these days by weather and radar apps.
As someone who follows tornado talk closely, I was aware that the predictions for Monday afternoon and evening were rather bleak in terms of the likelihood that dangerous storms would blow through primarily Oklahoma and Kansas. It was concerning enough that I even took the closing segment of the (political) show I sub-hosted on Monday to discuss that likelihood and the importance of weather awareness.
This gives an idea of how the outlook appeared as of mid-day on Monday.
11:04am CDT #SPC Day1 Outlook High Risk: from central and northern Oklahoma into south-central Kansas https://t.co/TgJgC6cQZw pic.twitter.com/4BrdqQSO13
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) May 6, 2024
As I alluded to in the segment, once I was home and settled, I parked in front of the computer and began following Tornado Twitter and watching the pertinent live streams. I've referenced Ryan Hall's channel previously. I recently found "Max Velocity" and recommend his channel as well.
READ MORE:
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Of course, the storm chasers were out in full force, many of them in Oklahoma, since that appeared to be where the risk was highest. A few storms kicked up through the afternoon and early evening, but nothing of particular note — so much so that the chatter on the channels began to speculate maybe the threat wouldn't materialize. (And yes, there are some for whom this spells disappointment, even while it's clearly a blessing.)
That changed around 9:30 pm Central when a monstrous storm kicked up northwest of Tulsa.
A hand-off is happening with the ongoing tornado and its heading towards Barnsdall, OK.
— StormHQ ☈ (@StormHQwx) May 7, 2024
Take shelter now!#okwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/sxfI1UUeIA
Soon came descriptions of a large debris ball lofted high.
Radar indicates debris being lofted 24,000 feet up, everyone in Barnsdall needs to be underground if possible!#okwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/DDRHzEuEtq
— StormHQ ☈ (@StormHQwx) May 7, 2024
A Tornado Emergency was declared.
Tornado Emergencies are rare and only issued when ‘severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage are imminent or ongoing’ for a confirmed tornado.
The storm ripped through the small town of Barnsdall, Oklahoma, population 1,015, before taking aim at Bartlesville, which has a population of close to 38,000. I'll let the video and images shared on Twitter in the aftermath speak for themselves here:
.@BrandonCopicWx on scene in Barnsdall, OK where a tornado just ripped through the town. @foxweather pic.twitter.com/rUeczb4hUL
— Jordan Overton (@JordanoWX) May 7, 2024
Tornado still on the ground just NE of Barnsdall OK. Grinding toward Bartlesville. pic.twitter.com/vVigvtnik3
— Seth Andrews (@SethAndrewsTTA) May 7, 2024
Buildings destroyed barnsdalle OL @NWStulsa pic.twitter.com/LWdaGGLZzI
— Aaron Rigsby (@AaronRigsbyOSC) May 7, 2024
These videos taken from the Hampton Inn in Bartlesville show the force of the storm.
WATCH: Another video shows moments when tornado hits Hampton Inn in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. #okwx
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) May 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/tUI4o39q1a
Warning: Language
Video from the annilated Hampton Inn as Massive tornado hits Bartlesville, OK! May 6, 2024 *EXPLICIT* @ryanhallyall pic.twitter.com/bJdHtvwgbX
— Ryan Merket (@merket) May 7, 2024
Drone footage taken Tuesday morning demonstrates why that second video shows how not to ride out a storm of this nature.
The Hampton Inn got speared by 2X4’s during last nights #tornado. This is the same tornado that went through Barnsdall, Oklahoma. #okwx
— Jordan Hall (@JordanHallWX) May 7, 2024
pic.twitter.com/z3K21e4lQ6
But it was tiny Barnsdall that really took the brunt of things. This is utterly heartbreaking.
First light images from Barnsdall, Oklahoma after a destructive #tornado hit the town late last night.
— MyRadar Weather (@MyRadarWX) May 7, 2024
📹 - @JordanHallWX #okwx pic.twitter.com/ta9JT8L8NH
Amazingly, per local reports, only one fatality has been reported thus far, though there are multiple injuries.
Barnsdall Mayor John Kelley confirmed that a person died after a tornado hit the city in northeastern Oklahoma late Monday night. Information about the victim has not been released.
Kelley added that seven or eight injuries also have been reported in Barnsdall, and a firefighter was taken to a hospital with chest pains.
OEM officials said in their weather update that five injuries were reported in the Bartlesville and Washington County area.
Monday's hit comes just a little over a month after an EF-1 tornado struck Barnsdall. The sirens didn't activate in that April storm due to a lightning strike. There are reports the sirens did not go off Monday night either.
Nursing home hit. Barnsdall PD said bith three town AND the tornado are 1.5 miles wide. It literally was the size of the town.
— 👮🏼♀️Admiral Foxxway 🖖💥✊🏿👊🏽 (@AdmiralFoxxway) May 7, 2024
Also said the sirens didn't go off so they got no warning. @MaxVelocityWX https://t.co/QfVQrj9BUH
Which highlights how critical it is to be and remain weather-aware — and not just to rely on the sirens. Thankfully, Barnsdall had some lead time based on the warnings issued and radar confirmation of the storm.
While a supercell in an @NWSSPC "high risk" area...
— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) May 7, 2024
Barnsdall, OK had 44 min. lead time from their 1st #tornado warning (8:56p) to when the tornado hit (~9:40p, per SPC log).
Confirmed by radar 23 min. before it hit.
Life-saving @NWSTulsa warnings. #okwx
(Loops: NCAR/RAL) pic.twitter.com/u2gXF4aAXz
That heads-up from the National Weather Service in Tulsa likely saved lives. While a huge swath of the town is utterly destroyed, it's a blessing the human casualties weren't worse.
We're not out of the woods yet, though, folks. Tuesday's and Wednesday's forecasts include enhanced risks again — Tuesday, more to the east (Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky); Wednesday, a bit to the south (Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee).
Tornado threat ramps up this afternoon in IN/KY/OH. I’ll be LIVE around 4-5pm ET. pic.twitter.com/x7Ql5RaBVw
— Ryan Hall, Y’all (@ryanhallyall) May 7, 2024
The busy week of severe weather continues tomorrow. https://t.co/7CiaCIKqrC
— Ryan Hall, Y’all (@ryanhallyall) May 7, 2024
So, consider this a Public Service Announcement from me if you're in or near an area at risk: Stay alert. Have a plan. Have a safe place to shelter if need be (lowest level, most interior room, away from windows). Have your devices charged; have close-toed shoes and a flashlight handy. Use those radar apps. And, if you would, say a prayer for the people impacted by these storms and in the path of the ones to come.
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