NORMAN — A tornado touched down in northeast Norman Tuesday morning, damaging at least one home and breaking off tree limbs. No injuries have been reported.
While most of Norman only received significant rainfall, the National Weather Service reported two potential small tornado rotations around 8:30 a.m., prompting a tornado warning for the city and Cleveland County. The storm moved northeast, flipping cars near Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City.
Cleveland County Commissioner Darry Stacy said District 2 road foreman Paul Meyer was out driving when the tornado sirens began to sound.
“In our district, it started at Etoway Road and 84th Avenue and then moved northeast into Cleveland County District 1 around 149th Avenue,” he said, adding he saw hunters who were shaken but unhurt. “They were on the way out of here. It was probably 70 or 80 miles per hour; that would be my guess.”
Individuals who signed up for the city of Norman’s alert warning system received a text around 8:30 a.m., informing them of the tornado warning.
Power outages were reported in Moore and Noble. Most of the eastern half of the state was under a tornado watch until mid-morning.
According to Mesonet, Cleveland County received more than two inches of rain Tuesday, and more rain is forecasted for the end of the week.
Gov. Mary Fallin announced a state of emergency for every Oklahoma county in response to severe weather and subsequent flooding since Oct. 5.
According to a release from Fallin’s office, “the storm system has delivered widespread heavy rain and high winds across much of the state since then, with damage to power lines and power poles as well as trees, roofs and structures. Numerous tornadoes have also been reported. Additional severe weather and flooding are possible this weekend.”
The state of emergency will last for 30 days and allows state agencies to make emergency purchases for disaster relief and preparedness.
by Caleb Slinkard (2018, October 9) The Norman Transcript
