OKLAHOMA CITY – Thunderstorms and potential tornadoes are expected on Monday in the south-central U.S., particularly in Oklahoma. This follows a series of tornadoes over the weekend that resulted in injuries to at least 11 individuals, destruction of homes, and power outages for thousands, according to officials.

Central and eastern Oklahoma faced active flood and tornado warnings as meteorologists predicted more rainfall to hit the already storm-affected state. These flood warnings also extended to parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas.

Multiple tornadoes ravaged over 100 homes, with flooding trapping individuals in vehicles and strong winds uprooting trees and downing power lines during late Saturday and Sunday. In Tulsa County, about 100 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, a lightning strike ignited a house.

Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for six counties that were hit by the storms. During a press briefing on Sunday, he noted that restoring power to polling locations ahead of election day would be among the state’s primary objectives.

As of early Monday morning, over 12,200 homes and businesses in central and eastern Oklahoma were without power, a significant decrease from the nearly 82,000 outages reported on Sunday, according to a YSL News outage tracker.

The governor urged residents to stay informed about the weather on Monday as more severe conditions are expected. “Sometimes, as Oklahomans, we think, ‘It could never happen to me,’ but it’s important to remain very cautious,” he stated.

In Oklahoma City, Krystal Kearns was at home when a tornado siren went off. Her dog jumped onto her bed, and she heard the sound of breaking glass. Once the storm passed, she was astonished by the destruction.

“My gazebo ended up in that tree,” Kearns shared with the Oklahoman, part of the YSL News Network. The storm obliterated her garden, damaged her fence, and impaled a piece of wood into her new roof.

“How can we have any sense of normalcy right now? We found part of a bumper over there. My shed is still intact,” Kearns remarked. “I can’t believe that.”

Storms lead to 11 hospitalizations and numerous injuries in Oklahoma City

Just after 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to reports of a potential tornado.

In a neighborhood southeast of downtown, first responders found homes in shambles, two adults trapped in an overturned mobile home, and individuals stranded in their vehicles as floodwaters rose.

Eleven casualties were transported to local hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening; several others sustained minor injuries but opted out of medical attention, according to the fire department. Over ten homes and other structures were reportedly damaged in Oklahoma City.

A tornado estimated to be at least EF3, with wind speeds ranging from 136 to 165 mph, tore through the area, as reported by the National Weather Service.

Local resident Marie Bigbee heard her windows shattering before the tornado siren sounded. Then, she felt debris crashing against her home.

“I thought it was hail until I realized it was [debris from] other people’s homes hitting mine,” Bigbee said, mentioning severe destruction in nearby areas. “We’re lucky compared to those families. We can fix our home.”

Locations affected by the tornadoes

According to Rick Smith, a warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, at least five tornadoes formed throughout the state.

“It is rare to experience tornadoes of such intensity late at night, especially in November,” Smith stated. “We always remind people tornado season lasts from January 1 to December 31. Tornadoes can happen whenever the right conditions exist.”

The National Weather Service has provided ratings for at least three damaging tornadoes from the weekend. An estimated EF3 tornado hit Norman, a college town southeast of Oklahoma City with approximately 128,000 residents. This type of tornado is classified as “strong” and can produce winds of 136 to 165 mph.

In Newcastle, southwest of Oklahoma City, tornado damage received an EF1 rating. Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, damage assessments confirmed an EF3 tornado impacted a community southeast of downtown.

The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which meteorologists employ to categorize tornadoes, ranges from zero to five. This scale assesses estimated wind speeds, observed damages, and damages verified by the weather service’s surveys following tornado occurrences.

Heavy rainfall forecasted for central U.S. through election day

The National Weather Service predicts that a storm line moving through Oklahoma will bring heavy rain and additional potential tornadoes on Monday, extending into Tuesday morning.

Eastern Oklahoma, where damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes are most likely, remains at an enhanced risk for severe thunderstorms, according to the Weather Prediction Center. The weekend storms have already saturated much of the state, heightening the risk of flooding and impassable roads.

“Flash flooding is likely, with some areas possibly receiving over 5 inches of rain,” the weather prediction center noted.

The threat of severe thunderstorms is not confined to the south-central U.S. The weather service also warned that storms could impact regions from northern Texas up to Illinois. On election day, the most severe weather is expected to be focused on parts of Arkansas, Texas, the Mississippi Valley, and the Midwest, according to the weather service.

“Voters waiting in line outdoors on Tuesday should be ready for risks of lightning and heavy rain,” cautioned Dan Pydynowski, a leading meteorologist at AccuWeather.

By the time the storms depart from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma on Tuesday, rainfall amounts could reach between 8 to 12 inches, with some areas possibly seeing up to 18 inches, as reported by AccuWeather.

On Wednesday, these storms are anticipated to move eastward, bringing significant rainfall to the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.

(This article has been updated to include new details.)