A violent tornado outbreak tore through central Oklahoma on Tuesday afternoon, with the Storm Prediction Center confirming at least six tornadoes touching down between Norman and Shawnee. The strongest tornado, rated preliminary EF-3 with estimated winds of 165 mph, carved a path of destruction nearly 12 miles long through rural Pottawatomie County.
Emergency management officials report significant damage to homes, barns, and power infrastructure, though no fatalities have been confirmed as of Tuesday evening. At least 23 people were treated for injuries at area hospitals, with three listed in serious condition. Power outages affected roughly 45,000 customers across the region.
The National Weather Service had issued tornado watches hours before the first storms developed, and timely warnings gave residents critical minutes to seek shelter. Governor Kevin Stitt has declared a state of emergency for five counties and mobilized the Oklahoma National Guard to assist with search and rescue operations.
