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Subscribe to RSSWeather Channel meteorologist Dr. Greg Forbes examines the dangerous tornado outbreak that may lead to a violent Saturday.
Updated at 11:55 p.m. ET: Forecasters are warning of a major tornado outbreak in Kansas and Oklahoma this weekend, with Oklahoma getting a first taste of it on Friday with a tornado touching down near the National Weather Service office in Norman.
A tornado touched down near the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman just after 4 p.m. local time - the same town that holds the National Storm Prediction Center, the National Weather Service confirmed.
An operator at the University of Oklahoma said people had been warned to get to a basement or low floor.
"I was watching this tornado on TV, which was neat until I realized it was right here in Norman," said the operator, who did not give a name.
Video from television helicopters showed the tornado ripped roofs from buildings, downed power lines and uprooted trees in the city of about 100,000 about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, but Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said there were no reports of serious injuries.
"This is just a fraction of what's to come tomorrow," Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service, warned.
Noaa / AP
This graphic, provided Friday by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, shows areas at risk of severe weather in Kansas and Oklahoma on Saturday.
Norman Regional Hospital and an affiliate treated 19 people for mainly "bumps and bruises," and one patient remained hospitalized in fair condition late Friday, hospital spokeswoman Kelly Wells said.
Atmospheric conditions for the weekend will be similar to those that caused severe storms in parts of the Midwest and Southeast in early March that killed more than 50 people, said Steve Weiss, science support branch chief for the National Storm Prediction Center.
"We see potentially some ... very damaging tornadoes," Weiss said.
Oklahoma was already having severe weather Friday -- but the biggest storms are expected Saturday, said Weiss, who was watching heavy rain out of his office window in Norman on Friday afternoon. "It's not unusual to have successive days," he said.
Conditions favor strong thunderstorms in Kansas and Oklahoma on Saturday, with a few "supercell" storms with rotating updrafts, Weiss said.
"The potential is that some of the supercells could be long-lived, so if they produce tornadoes they could be on the ground for a while," he said.
Forecasters said the storms could start Saturday afternoon into the early evening and continue after dark.
"The really dangerous part is that it looks like it's going to be overnight," said Kurt Van Speybroeck, emergency response meteorologist for the National Weather Service. "It's a really bad combination to get tornadoes at night because they're harder to see. It could be a really bad evening."
Storms could strike heavily populated areas such as Oklahoma City, and Wichita and Topeka, Kansas, Weiss said.
The high-risk area is from about the I-40 highway in Oklahoma City going north along I-35 to I-70 in central Kansas, said Van Speybroeck.
Northwest Texas into Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Missouri are also at risk for thunderstorms and tornadoes this weekend.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Hey, friends. I'm in Norman and nobody's been killed as far as we know. A couple people at the hospital with minor injuries, but that's about it. It didn't hit the OU campus, but some buildings just north of it in downtown got their roofs torn up pretty bad.
There's another supercell heading this way, so we're keeping our heads down for now.
Stay safe, prayers to you and everyone in and near Norman, OK. I've been through there several times. Nice place.
Glad to hear no one killed or badly hurt. My brother and I had thought about coming out over the weekend to do some storm chasing since we know some of the the people who do the storm tours will be out and about, i just have too much going on to do it. ya'll stay safe, going to be bumpy weekend.
Oklahoma, which primarily exists thanks to oil, now suffers the most from global warming storms. I watched a show this week that said it is going to get worse before it gets better - you can thank God all you want for no one being injured - as for myself, I would move before I counted on God to protect me... only seems logical. Not even half the homes have safe rooms in them - I hope those people have neighbors who are willing to shelter them.
That show also said the only acceptable solution is to reach ZERO emissions - maybe Clean Coal will save us.
Be careful!
I'm in SW Mo. We're supposed to get it tomorrow. I just hope it leaves Joplin alone. They've been through enough!
May God keep you all safe... prayers are with you
I'm in Norman too, west of the campus near highway 9 and I-35 where it came into town.
Had my infusion yesterday at the Veterans' Hospital and came home and laid down. Got woke up by the wife yelling, "GET UP! I CAN SEE IT THROUGH THE WINDOW!!"
We took cover and rode it out. Then I changed my pants and we went to check the damage out.......
I pray Psalm 91 over all the people in the path of this weather, especially verses 9 through 12
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy
habitation; 10 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy
habitation; 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Also, I speak to the wind and rain, just as Jesus did in Mark 9:39, Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
2nd time in less than 20 years...bad luck. duck and cover folks, best wishes and prayers.
One went about 3-4 miles north of my home last night, nothing like being woke up by sirens at 2:30 in the morning.
Glad they are small and nothing like the 1999 one.
Thanks for the update! Hunker down, really down, and stay covered!
Just barely got out of OKC when the twisters hit. Talk about timing! The system rolled on up to Stillwater (where I reside) and blew a little before it petered out. Still have to wait till 9 tonite till we get the "all clear".
I used to live in Norman when I was stationed at Tinker. I remember the May 5, 1999 tornado that took out Moore. Good luck!
Thanx AG...Not the worse for wear, but the yard is drenched! :P
Very scary! I am on Boyd here in Norman, and it was way to close! Sick and have to go to bed, so hopefully one of my children will call if it gets worse again. So grateful to God, no real injuries! Stay safe Okies!
Patsy
And BTW, this is why we all need copies of DL, our VA card, Passport, etc; and they SHOULD be laminated and stored in a locked safe box! I am 1/2 way there, but need to get busy today making sure I have important papers locked up! And personally, if I could keep all my important belongings, and my neighbors not get hurt, blow the DAMN house down! I really need to start over! LOL
The weather is really scary these days. My best to all
Oh noooooooo!!!! Not here...PLEASE!
Glad all is safe, know remember pull yourselves up by the bootstraps you dont need no big bad ol Gubment aid
I don't think anyone appreciates the silliness. Most people in Oklahoma have insurance for tornadoes because they are used to it. They don't typically need a big bailout--they do sometimes need help for unexpected things like grass fires, however.
It's one thing to be upset with people who build million-dollar homes right on a beach and have to be bailed out so that the beaches can be built back up before their houses wash away or have to be bailed out because a hurricane blew through--and to simply need a bit of help for some very inexpensive property that gets burned.
There is a middle ground between thinking that the government is "big" and "bad" and gives out too much aid, and simply accepting such aid as an entitlement. Such aid should be for the unexpected and the unavoidable. Building multi-million dollar properties within steps of a beach might make them nice to live in, but it isn't wise in terms of potential destruction. I don't think that the government should be making it easy for people to make the foolish decision to build such properties without worrying that it could be financially painful because the government will come to their aid.
There are proper roles for the federal government--and there is such a thing as excessive aid. This does not make all aid excessive.
By the way--please work on your punctuation and spelling, and perhaps you will sound less silly.
I am just getting re-grouped after the Branson tornado tore the roof off my old apt. Afraid of a flashback if we get hit again. I can only send my empathies to the people of Oklahoma. The thought of loosing IDs and important papers any proof of identies and addresses is more trying than sifting through the physical damages. I hope the Red Cross,Salvation Army and the Church Carieties are as prompt and helpful as they are in Branson. Also the Humane Society for any pets. As for FEMA....the didn't even try to help.
My prayers and thoughts are with the residents of the town that this twister blew through.
Stay safe, and God Bless!
Glad to hear no one was hurt.
There were people injured--nothing is severe, but there were people who were hurt. They need to update this particular article, as the storm blew through six hours ago, and the more complete information has been available for a while. About 10 people had minor injuries.
But remember when mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo would tell you climate change will bring you only good things. Extend the growing season and the added co2 would cause plants to grow faster. What about the old phrase - it's wrong to mess with mother nature. Drought in 48 states. Don't pay attention to it they will tell you.
Aren't Natural Disasters also referred to as "Acts of God"?
What is Act of God automobile insurance? Covers storms, floods, weather condition etc, that are caused by nature and not human influence. But not according to climate science. No. No. According to 97% of climate scientists will tell you the crazy weather we have been experiencing is due to co2 due to human activity.
Mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo will tell you that man-made co2 due to humans have nothing to with climate. That the 97% of climate scientists are wrong. That we should build the keystone pipeline so that we can make gasoline for asia and europe where there are co2 caps.
And mr grover, the gop, & rushbo will also tell you that we should do away with planned parenthood & family planning. That we should all be like romney with 5 kids and 15 grandkids already. Including many billions more kids for india & china. That although there were 2B people in 1930 & 7B today, the planet could take at least 25B to 250B more by 2090.
Oklahoma never had tornados until Al Gore invented global warming. Seriously though,the "experts" always say "this is the worst year for severe storms since 1925". So what was the cause in 1925? Very few people had cars so likely their carbon footprint was much smaller. I lived in Yukon,OK back in the mid 80's and it seemed like in May of 86 there were tornados every night. I moved away about a week before Edmond had a big one.
Climate change has brought good things to Oklahoma. There are fewer tornadoes now, and most of them (tomorrow may be a very serious exception) are not that strong (this one was only EF2).
Oklahoma is no longer in the bullseye for tornadoes. The target has expanded--and the area from Dixie Alley, up through Tennessee and into Ohio have the most tornadoes--they are not confined to just one area any more.
So, yes, some people are having better weather--this particular tornado was just not that big a deal.
Tomorrow, though--that has me worried. It looks really scary--so, we'll see.
This is from La Nina, not a man-made cause.
@marshal this scientist say's your wrong, and foolish or lying, one of the two.
Strictly speaking as a meteorologist and a scientist, global warming isn't a myth, and if you believe so you have been living under a rock and need further education. Global warming isn't in debate. It's a proven fact. The DEBATE is whether or not it is being anthropogenically hastened. The Earth goes through these cycles quite normally and predictably. Since humanity has become industrialized, we've contributed more CO2 than the Earth is used to during these cycles, but HOW MUCH is the question.
Seriously, don't just spew political propoganda before doing some research.
Anyone who actually studies and tracks tornadoes knows they are not caused by "man-made global warming/climate change" Nor are they increasing in frequency. It is tornado season, as always, in that part of the nation.
Good question Ace. If weather was so bad back then in the 20s and this weather is as bad, that's just the way is it with cycles. And in 75 years, they will say the same thing about 2012 not to mention walking to school, uphill, both ways, no shoes.
Stay safe, and make sure your weather radio is turned all the way up.
Stay safe everyone, you are in our prayers for your safety this weekend. Your friends in FL.
I live in North Central Oklahoma ; we had just a little rain awhile ago; but Oklahoma is not out of woods yet.We have tonight and Saturday to go.Thanks everyone for all prayers they are greatly appreciated.
I live in western Arkansas and the storm is supposed to hit here on Sunday. I hope it doesn't cause any dammage to homes but the Walmarts are another story.
Folks, just think of the old days when folks had no way of getting a warning and no way to run. Imagine going across the Nations in a covered wagon or on horse back and running into one of these storms, could get serious. The thing about it someone may have known or maybe not, just kind of out there on their own. I see these storms as serious, but we have a better chance of finding shelter now than ever before. I would remind everyone that many times we have no warning and do not even know the storm is there until it is upon us, so if we get through the storm we do consider ourselves blessed.
Actually--you would want to think more about the Native Americans who lived with this issue for centuries. Why start only with the settlers?
People were more weather-savvy back then. Being enclosed in a house with a false perception of security might be an issue too.
Still, I love those new wind shear things and the 3-d animations of the storm clouds and the lightning strike maps and the enhanced Doppler radar--cool stuff!
Amen S.W. Missouri. Let's not forget the men and women serving in the National Weather Service and NOAA that are helping to advance these warning systems. As a meteorologist I implore you all to make sure you write to your congressmen and congresswomen to make sure they don't cut funding to the NOAA or NWS, or we may be set back to those times.
As you mentioned here, I have also thought about how devastating it must have been to the early settlers out on horseback or travelling by wagon and having something so fierce come down upon them.
That is one wicked looking sky in the clip above...stay safe everyone.
Have lived in Bethany and in Moore. Now reside in central Arkansas. We do have one slight advantage over you, and that's our mountains. They sort of give us a bit more shelter. We're just as vulnerable in many other ways, and they're saying our risk here is Saturday night and Sunday morning. We'll pray for you out there, and hold onto our hats here. And you in Kansas, you're in our thoughts also. Be safe everyone and pay attention to the warnings.
mountains offer zero protection and only make it more dangerous. Harder to see before it gets you.
Greene County and Cocke County Tennessee, both in the eastern mountainous region of the state, were hit hard by tornadoes during last April's super-outbreak. Extensive wind damage occurred in the Great Smokies. Although it is rare for tornadoes to strike in the mountains, it can happen. I live here, and I saw it happen.
I am saying prayers for the people in Norman, Oklahoma. I have a son, daughter in-law and grandchildren living there. I am glad there were no serious injuries. It is normal for me as a grandmother to worry about these things.
Hoping your granchildren and the others are safe. And it is normal for us grandparents to worry, that's why we are grandparents.
My thoughts are with you.
Good; remember Tulsa in 1912 killing and destroying Black Wall Street! All because a White Girl lied on a Black person.
As stated by The Secretary of State;CONDOLEEZZA RICE; America was born ed with a Birth Defect; SLAVERY which motif into Hate!
John.....black chieftains sold their own people into slavery and slaves were used everywhere in the world. You folks need to stop blaming America for everything! Further, nobody becomes a slave that doesn't first allow themselves to become a slave....no matter the race.
@john...pudding has a point....I'm tired of it too. However most of the time there was no choice of being or not being a slave, if you tried to run you were killed..thats common knowledge!
these are not safe places to live....time to move ! In Florida we have hurricanes..we have 4 days notice their coming and we can take precautions..or just drive away
I hope the storm chasers got their data. Glad to hear no lives were lost.
Kudos to MSNBC, your commentary section at least has a handful of compassionate and intelligent arm-chair commentators. I have just left CBS site where the commentary on this story is nothing short of disgusting! People actually hinting at genocide within the "red" states and blaming right-wing Christians smirking at the destruction which has happened or is about to happen. I am a west-coast transplant to here in Alabama now. Yes, life is much different. The main difference I see is that people actually take care of one another. Weather happens and it is kind of interesting and fascinating until someone gets hurt! Stay safe all you alley people and will catch you on the flip side!
Tracy- I've never in my life heard such hate filled comments until I read the posts on THIS site when tornadoes hit Tuscaloosa and other parts of Alabama last year. It really was disgusting then.
Springtime in Oklahoma. I grew up there, lived there for 30 years. I can honestly say I don't miss the weather. It can be harsh. All the fear mongering that goes on there when a cloud comes up. Don't get me wrong, some of it is justified, and countless loss of life has been avoided because of advanced warning...but you don't really need a weather man to see which way the wind blows. I prefer Utah's weather. I just wish it didn't rain so many Mormons ; )
From Tennessee,,,,Okies, keep your eyes open and ears tuned to the weather radio. Take care of yourselves and your families. Hopefully this will be just t'storms and rain. You all are in my thoughts.
Hey braindrain where do you live? Oklahoma does not exist because of oil. You are an idiot and your dumbazz post shows it.
Agreed that braindamage certainly has it....and Josephine Smyth...a reflection of the Mormon Church founder?