The "massive winter storm" continues to move across the country. This weekend, wintry weather caused the first blizzard warning to be activated in Los Angeles County since 1989. It is still expected to continue to cause problems in the rest of the country through Wednesday afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center reported more than 100 storms early Monday morning in selected areas of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas:
A tornado watch has been issued for portions of the OK/TX Panhandle, western Oklahoma, and extreme southern Kansas. All severe weather hazards are expected including wind gusts up to 100 mph, large hail (some over two inches), and embedded tornadoes (some EF2+).
A tornado watch has been issued for portions of the OK/TX Panhandle, Western Oklahoma, and far southern Kansas. All severe weather hazards are expected including wind gusts up to 100 mph, large hail (some 2+ inches), and embedded tornadoes (some EF2+) pic.twitter.com/yTiziWnNFR
— NWS Storm Prediction Center (@NWSSPC) February 26, 2023
In fact, CBS reported that a tornado in Norman, Oklahoma, injured at least 12 people and blew vehicles on top of one another. As of 06:38 AM (CT), a total of 21,198 users in the state have been without power, according to PowerOutage.us. In addition, the National Weather Service urged Oklahomans to take shelter to avoid damage during the tornado's path: "Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado."
Here's a quick time-lapse from the Norman, #Oklahoma livecam earlier this evening during the Observed #TornadoWarning. This camera was facing North away from the storm damaged area. #okwx @NWSNorman pic.twitter.com/70x4Ac4BBm
— BirdingPeepWx (@BirdingPeepWx) February 27, 2023
Alarms went off in Norman, Oklahoma prior to the tornado's arrival. Both the local university and the city's mayor, David Holt, advised citizens to seek shelter as soon as possible:
OU-NORMAN Emergency [9:15pm]: Tornado WARNING in effect for OU-NORMAN Campus. Seek shelter NOW inside the building you are in. Move to lowest floor/interior roo
— Univ. of Oklahoma (@UofOklahoma) February 27, 2023
There are reports of a potential tornado on the ground in west OKC. Please find a safe location in your home.
— Mayor David Holt (@davidfholt) February 27, 2023
In addition, according to the National Weather Service, many areas are experiencing strong winds and more than 65 million people remain under high wind warnings (40 to 56 mph) in the southern plains and the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.
Nine states at risk due to heavy snowfalls
Winter weather continues to affect at least nine states along the West Coast. In the Sierra Nevada, there are winter storm warnings that could bring 1-5 feet of snowfall. The Washington Cascades could see up to nine inches of snow by early Tuesday morning. On the other hand, in Oregon, snowfall could range from 2-14 inches at lower elevations and increase from 11-35 inches at higher altitudes.
Nevada is also not spared from heavy snowfall on Monday as a result of the winter storm. There could be 0.4-4 inches of snow in the valleys while the mountains are expected to get 1.60-6.7 inches of snow in the mountains with wind gusts up to 54.7 mph during the day.
In the Rocky Mountains, snowfall will last one more day, through Tuesday, and could bring 0.8-10 inches of snow in the lower elevations and 12-35 inches in the higher elevations of the mountains.
