The National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado warnings across parts of Oklahoma on Friday, prompting urgent warnings for communities including Owasso, Tulsa and Kellyville.
According to NWS, a tornado-producing severe thunderstorm was 4 miles northeast of Little at 6:16 PM CST, traveling eastward at a speed of 35 mph. Northeastern Seminole County in east central Oklahoma was under a tornado warning until 6:45 PM CST.
Four miles southeast of Welty, a severe thunderstorm with the potential to produce a tornado was moving northeast at 40 mph at 6:46 PM CST.
The storm has now reached Okfuskee County per the NWS tracker.
The storms are part of a severe weather outbreak stretching across the Plains and Midwest, with the potential for storms extending from Chicago to the area south of Dallas.
Damaging winds and hail, along with tornadoes, including some potentially powerful ones, have posed the biggest threat.
Read more: Tulsa tornado update: Big 12 takes major call after twister wrecks Oklahoma
Precautionary measures
{{/usCountry}}Read more: Tulsa tornado update: Big 12 takes major call after twister wrecks Oklahoma
Precautionary measures
{{/usCountry}}Authorities warned residents in Owasso, Tulsa and Kellyville to remain in shelters as radar continued to detect strong storm rotation.
NWS has suggested that residents take shelter in the basement or a space inside a solid structure on the lowest floor. Residents are also asked to avoid windows.
If someone is caught without shelter, flying debris could be harmful. Mobile homes will be destroyed or severely damaged. If outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, it is advisable to move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Read more: Oklahoma tornado path: Large twister in Bristow, sirens in Tulsa, Bixby - Watch
Tornado alert in Oklahoma since Thursday night
According to local sources, there were many powerful tornadoes in northwest Oklahoma on Thursday night, including a massive wedge tornado that killed at least two people close to the town of Fairview. The National Weather Service described the same tornado as “large and extremely dangerous.”
Just before 11 p.m. Central time on Thursday, another powerful tornado with winds likely above 150 mph just avoided striking the KVNX radar at Kegelman Air Force Auxiliary Field in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma.
The tornado passed 3.1 miles south of the runway's southern end and 4.4 miles south of the radar. After that, the circulation quickly turned left and went 2.5 miles east of the field.