A violent tornado outbreak swept through central Oklahoma on Monday evening, producing at least six confirmed tornadoes including one rated preliminary EF-3 with winds estimated near 160 mph. The strongest tornado carved a 12-mile path through rural Cleveland County, destroying dozens of structures and downing power lines across a wide area.
Emergency crews worked through the night conducting search and rescue operations. Remarkably, no fatalities have been reported thanks to advanced warning systems that gave residents up to 25 minutes of lead time before the storms arrived.
Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for five counties, and damage assessments are expected to continue through the week.
