Following persistent heavy rain this morning across the Oklahoma City metro, flash flooding is now a concern across the area and may hinder recovery efforts for Moore. The heavy rains have finally ended and are moving towards the east, but a FLASH FLOOD WARNING will remain in effect until 12:45 PM CDT when the water finally begins to recede. Heavy rain is still pelting areas north of the Oklahoma City metro, however. You can see the latest 24-hour rainfall accumulations from the Oklahoma Mesonet HERE.
If flooding rains were not enough, more severe weather is expected across portions of western Oklahoma this afternoon and tonight. Primary threats will be very large hail to the size of tennis balls, damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, and maybe even some tornadoes in southwest Oklahoma and western north Texas. We cannot stress enough to watch the weather later this afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a moderate risk for extreme southwestern Oklahoma and areas of western north Texas and the Texas panhandle. This moderate risk is primarily for large hail, but tornadoes cannot be ruled out. Once these storms fire up, they will move towards the northeast, but they should lose severe characteristics by the time they reach central Oklahoma. Unfortunately, this may lead to more rainfall and perhaps additional flooding in central Oklahoma further hindering recovery efforts from the tornadoes, but there should not be a repeat of Sunday and Monday’s tragedies with this round of severe weather in central Oklahoma.
Sources: NWS, SPC, Mesonet, News 9 Oklahoma (photo)
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