Hunker down day in the Central States

[Jim Franklin]

Keep safe y'all! From Del Rio, TX to Green Bay Wis, and from Kansas to Kentucky be careful out there. Report in as the rest of us care about your well being.

[Betty Bolerjack]

Thanks, Jim! Rough night, being awakened around 2:30 to the sound of tornado sirens and my mom knocking on our bedroom door, making sure we were hearing them! They were a little bit north of us, but the northern edge of Oklahoma county was affected, so we got the sirens.

We were up for an hour watching the weather reports. I called my brother as it looked like the tornado was headed straight for them. They were awake and trying to decide the best way to get my SIL's mother (she lives with them) into the shelter. Fortunately, the tornado skirted north of them as well. Once they were safe, we went back to sleep!

They say we are in for a really rough ride later today.

[Gina Stevenson]

Yes, thot of all the Okies when hearing Norman, OK, Betty.

[Cynthia Prentice]

My kids have access to a friend's tornado shelter where they live, but I will be the first to say that I will be glad when this weather event is over.

[Betty Bolerjack]

Other than a wind advisory, things look pretty calm at the moment for the OKC metro. However, conditions are ripe for severe, tornado producing thunderstorms to start popping up out of nowhere. We aren't under any watches yet, but one could be issued at any time. They are saying that overnight is going to be worse than last night. I am just overjoyed!!!

On the bright side... the sun is shining!

[Betty Bolerjack]

I have decided to stay up for the duration for a couple of reasons: 1) I hate getting awakened a couple of hours after I get to sleep, especially to the sound of tornado sirens, and 2) our daughter is at a Girl Scout campout this weekend and I'm monitoring the weather for them. They have a camp ranger who has a weather radio and is also monitoring the weather. The troop leader sent out a mass text to the parents earlier this evening and I have been in communication with her via text since then. So far, the campground is south of everything, but there is a line of severe thunderstorms starting to move through the state now and there is a possibility of severe weather there.

This new line of storms has spawned a tornado in Woodward in far northwest OK. They had trouble sounding the sirens. There is damage and people are trapped in collapsed houses. I just saw a video and it looked like a pretty good sized tornado. They are saying right now that there is a lot of devastation. There are two tornado warnings going right now. They are northwest, but it's gonna be a loonnnggg night!

[Cynthia Prentice]

Stay safe Betty...where is your daughter's camp?

[Betty Bolerjack]

Thanks, Cynthia! She's at Camp E-Ko-Wah down by Bray. It's on the west side of Lake Fuqua. Watches and warnings north and west of them, but nothing in Stephens county. It just started raining here and it's close to the camp now, too. It doesn't look very serious down there at all now. Some heavy rain, but probably no other threat. I'm going to be heading for bed soon.

[Jim Franklin]

I called my cousins in Council Bluffs and they had had some strong winds and knew tornados had touched down not far away. I see the report that the hospital in Creston, IA was damaged.

[Jim Franklin]

Now the severe weather progresses to the eastern Great Lakes and down along the west slope of the Appalachians. Be careful back there.

[Cynthia Prentice]

I'll be glad when this tornado season is over.

[John Kennedy]

I'm leaving about 3AM Tuesday to fly to Orlando, FL, with a friend to pick up a vehicle he's buying there - we're gonna' take turns dringing back. Will be coming up I 75 to I 10 and turning west - coming across the Redneck Riviera, through New Orleans, San Antonio, El Paso, Phoenix and home - about 2500 miles. The weather is predicted to be fair and warm - hope all the tornadoes stay well to the north.

[Betty Bolerjack]

If you see this, John, you should be fine. The weather is supposed to be pretty nice for awhile now. Only 10% chance here of precip Thursday and Friday. I'm assuming that is overnight. Have a good trip!