Post date: Apr 15, 2012 9:4:42 AM
NEAR BOUSE JUNCTION, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 14, 2012)(NBC) - Tornadoes touched
down in Oklahoma on Saturday (April 14) and residents braced for a predicted major outbreak of dangerous
nighttime twisters.
Tornadoes touched down in Oklahoma and residents brace for a predicted major outbreak of dangerous nighttime twisters.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were expected in the evening over parts of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas, the National Weather Service said, and severe storms were also possible from Texas to Iowa to South Dakota and Minnesota.
No deaths or injuries were immediately reported from Saturday's tornadoes by early evening. Violent twisters appeared restricted to mostly underpopulated areas.
In northwestern Oklahoma, a tornado touched down for less than a minute in the afternoon, said Rick Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Norman. Tennis-ball-sized hail fell in the region, the weather service said.
A tornado also hit Mustang, a suburb of Oklahoma City, before dawn, the weather service confirmed. One home had major roof damage, and trees, power lines and fences were down, said Kristy Yager, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma City.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said the worst conditions were expected to hit late on Saturday between Oklahoma City and Salina, Kansas, while other areas could see baseball-sized hail and strong winds.
Oklahoma activated its emergency operations center as a precaution ahead of the storms.