At least 6 people injured as tornado-related storms left a trail of destruction across parts of Oklahoma

Written by: Paradise Afshar, Chris Boyette and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN

(CNN) — Severe storms ripped through parts of Oklahoma early Sunday, injuring at least six people and reporting tornadoes and flooding overnight, officials said.

Valerie Littlejohn, Oklahoma City Police Department public information officer, said the six injured people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

He said that many structures, as well as power lines, trees, gas lines, traffic lights and traffic signs, were damaged in the region.

Video of the damage CNN affiliate KOCO It shows cars overturned and entire houses destroyed. The storm knocked down telephone poles and split trees in half. Debris, including large pieces of wood and metal from collapsed buildings, is scattered around the affected areas.

Approximately 95,000 customers in Oklahoma were without power Sunday morning. power outage.us.

Tornadoes were reported just east of Oklahoma City, and tornado and storm warnings were issued in the Oklahoma City area. National Weather Service in question.

“Folks, don’t let your guard down too much; we’re starting to see the atmosphere begin to recover ahead of storms, heavy rainfall, flooding and possible severe weather today,” the weather service said. A post on X.

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management He said he was monitoring the severe weather.

Flooding on Interstate 35 closed all but one of the northbound lanes near Forest Park in the Oklahoma City area. Oklahoma Department of Transportation in question.

The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to numerous vehicles that were submerged due to heavy rainfall, according to Scott Douglas, the department’s public information officer.

Around 1:20 a.m. local time, weather service warned A severe thunderstorm and tornado was moving from eastern Oklahoma City towards Midwest City and Tinker Air Force Base. A tornado warning was issued for more than 300,000 people in Moore, Midwest City and Del City.

“Ask them to take shelter inside the building you are in NOW. Go to the bottom floor/interior,” the University of Oklahoma told students and staff on its Norman campus.

Nighttime tornadoes are twice as deadly as daytime tornadoes. research shows. Night tornadoes are difficult to spot in the dark, and sleepers may not be aware that danger is near.

there is increased anxiety On to this week’s tornado threat, given what a prolific year it has been for tornadoes in the United States. The number of tornadoes reported so far this year is the second highest on record, behind 2,156 in 2011.

Severe storms are most common in the spring and summer, but a second wave of dangerous storms and hurricanes occurs in the fall and winter as cold air from the north frequently collides with warmer, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.

CNN’s Mike Madrigal contributed to this report.

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