Storms Wreak Havoc Across Central U.S. on Easter Weekend

At least three people are dead after a weekend of severe weather across parts of Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. What communities were hit the hardest and what is on tap to start the new work week? Read on for all of the details.

Three Deaths Blamed on Severe Weather in Oklahoma

Flash flooding and tornadoes were responsible for three fatalities in Oklahoma over the Easter holiday weekend. The storms also pushed across parts of Texas and Missouri with great ferocity. Thousands of residents were left without power as the winds whipped around. Meanwhile, roads were left impassable thanks to the flooding.

Two people died in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Saturday as floodwaters washed away two vehicles. All but two of the stranded motorists were rescued. The two fatalities were identified as 44-year-old Erika Lott and her 12-year-old son, River Bond.

Another person lost their life when a tornado touched down in the Oklahoma town of Spaulding. According to Hughes County Emergency Management, two more people suffered injuries as the twister ripped across the community. Two homes and several smaller structures were destroyed by the tornado.

The most destructive line of storms stretched from northern and central portions of Texas and up into the Oklahoma City metro area. These storms ushered in torrential rain, frequent lightning strikes, and tornadoes. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed at least 17 reports of tornadoes by early Sunday morning in Texas and Oklahoma.

Ada, Oklahoma, saw trees and power lines come to the ground at the hands of an EF1 tornado that hit before the sun came up on Easter Sunday. The twister was on the ground for about 4 miles through the town. Local officials estimate that over 20 families have been displaced as a result of this storm. The northern edge of the community experienced the brunt of the damage.

Authorities in Tulsa County are still searching for two missing people who were reportedly swept away by rising waters. The sheriff's office released a statement that confirmed that a vehicle was swept away and two of the occupants, including a child, remained missing. This happened along Highway 64 on Sunday afternoon.

Lone Star State Also Experiences Wrath of Storms

Tornadoes were also captured on video by storm chasers in the Texas towns of Tolar and Sterling City. Early reports indicate that tornadoes were also on the ground near the Texas communities of Bowie, Hico, and Weatherford.

The Montague County Sheriff's Office in Texas launched its high-water rescue teams on Sunday on highway U.S. 81 as multiple vehicles became trapped in floodwaters. Local officials were asking people to stay away from the impacted area.

Over 21,000 power outages were reported in Texas on Easter Sunday. The storms also disrupted flights out of the major hub of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The stormy conditions pushed to the northeast throughout the holiday, eventually hitting parts of Missouri. Massive power outages were reported across the Missouri counties of Boone, Pike, Marion, and Callaway. A tornado that came to life near Guthrie in Callaway County was responsible for one injury.

The heavy rain snarled travel along the section of Interstate 70 near Sweet Springs, Missouri. This point is at about the halfway mark between the large metro area of Kansas City and the college town of Columbia. Several accidents were reported in this zone as a result of the flooding.

What is Next?

The severe weather that impacted parts of the Mississippi Valley to bring the weekend to a close will push to the east and across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys on Monday. The central portions of the Gulf Coast will also be in the crosshairs of this stormy pattern.

Forecasters are predicting that the storms may creep as far north as Buffalo, New York, by the end of the day. These storm cells could carry risks of strong winds, hail, and sudden downpours.

It will continue to be a stormy week for the central U.S. with multiple waves of storms on deck. This persistent storm train will translate to a renewed flooding threat for the part of the U.S. that has seen repeated bouts of heavy rain. In addition, the influx of moisture will also pair with energy pulsing out of the Rockies to create the chance of severe thunderstorms for the central and southern Plains.

Conversely, the High Plains will welcome the soggy forecast this week. This part of the nation's heartland has been experiencing increasing drought conditions and elevated wildfire danger due to the parched landscape. Any bit of rain will help to provide relief for these concerns.

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