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Oklahoma tornadoes: Warnings issued as thousands without power in Tulsa and severe weather moves toward Arkansas

Winds up to 75mph and huge 2in hailstones possible alongside tornadoes, authorities say

Jon Sharman
Tuesday 21 May 2019 15:27 BST
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Multiple tornados and funnel clouds spotted across Oklahoma

Swathes of Oklahoma and Arkansas remain under the threat of tornadoes on Tuesday, forecasters have warned, with one confirmed twister already spawning over Tulsa airport.

"A bowing line of thunderstorms with embedded ... vortices will continue to pose a damaging-wind and tornado threat, with isolated large hail, as it crosses the watch area through the morning," the National Weather Service said.

A tornado-watch area extends over eastern central and northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas, with forecasters urging residents to be prepared. It follows days of extreme weather with dozens of the storms touching down.

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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of extreme weather in the Oklahoma and Arkansas regions on Tuesday.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 13:34
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The NOAA's Storm Prediction Centre has said that tornadoes are possible again today, along with damaging winds with gusts up to 75mph.

Hail could reach 2in in diameter, it added.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 13:35
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A confirmed tornado spawned over Tulsa International Airport in Oklahoma this morning, weather experts said.

Tulsa's National Weather Service outpost issued a string of warnings and urged people to seek shelter.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 13:42
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Flights at Tulsa were cancelled or altered, local reports said.

Storms deluged the area with rain, forcing authorities to close the Interstate 40 motorway due to high water.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 13:47
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Local news reports in Tulsa say public schools plan to open today but have delayed the start of classes due to the weather.

A house has collapsed in the north of the city, KJRH reported, while the area appears to have endured significant rainfall.

It came as the NWS announced a flash flood warning for northeast Oklahoma.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 13:55
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Most of Oklahoma is now suffering severe flooding, according to disaster relief officials.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 14:16
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The threat of severe storms continues for eastern Oklahoma and the weather systems will move into northwest Arkansas by about 10am local time, the NWS has said.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 14:30
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Some 22 million people are bracing for severe weather - if not tornadoes - across five states on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.

It came as the worst US measles outbreak in 25 years spread to twister-hit Oklahoma, with 41 new cases nationwide.

Here's the latest from the NWS.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 14:44
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The NWS has issued a new tornado warning - meaning one has been sighted or found on radar - for Talihina, Clayton and Red Oak in Oklahoma.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 15:02
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Tulsa public transit is running more or less as usual bar a few diverted buses due to floods, authorities said.

But thousands of homes are without power.

Jon Sharman21 May 2019 15:09

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