Earth

Tornado in Oklahoma, and more developing

On the heels of the weekend’s series of earthquakes in Oklahoma, this state now has another natural hazard to contend with … tornadoes. Here are some images of the incredible tornado that touched down in the state earlier today (November 7, 2011). The images below show the awesome power of this event. Watch for more to come. As EarthSky weather blogger Matt Daniel said earlier today, severe weather is possible now across Oklahoma and Texas.

Severe weather possible across Oklahoma and Texas

Click here for up-to-the-minute info about the Oklahoma tornadoes

Oklahoma, in the heart of tornado alley, is no stranger to tornadoes. But this one was amazing, even by Oklahoma standards.

Here’s another image of the same twister, which has been moving rapidly to the northeast over the past hour. It moved from Tipton, Oklahoma – just east of Mountain Park – passed east of Cooperton, and then pushed northeast into Alden, Oklahoma. EarthSky weather blogger Matt Daniel told me:

Whether it’s the same tornado or newly formed one, I’m not sure.

Wait a minute. Tornadoes in November? Yes. Again, according to Matt Daniel:

It’s not normal, but not unusual, to have tornadoes in Oklahoma at this time of year. Check out Norman, Oklahoma National Weather Service information regarding climatology of tornadoes in this area. For the month of November, 83 tornadoes have struck Oklahoma from 1950-2007.

And here’s another image of the November 7, 2011 tornado. These storm chasers are brave!

Officials are now saying an Oklahoma State University extension field office was destroyed as tornadoes touched down in southwestern Oklahoma. No injuries have been reported in the storms so far. A home and a hay barn were also damaged and a storm chaser’s vehicle was overturned. All this is according to a story from the Associated Press.

Here’s one more image, the most recent I’ve obtained today, of the same storm (or at least the same storm system) near Alden, Oklahoma.

Bottom line: A powerful tornado touched down near Tipton, Oklahoma – just east of Mountain Park – today (November 7, 2011) at about 3 p.m. CST or 21 UTC. At this writing, the tornado had passed east of Cooperton, and was pushing northeast into Alden, Oklahoma. There are no reported injuries so far, although there has been some damage to buildings, and a storm chaser’s vehicle was overturned.Click here for up-to-the-minute info about the Oklahoma tornadoes.

Posted 
November 7, 2011
 in 
Earth

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Deborah Byrd

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