KVSP Tornadoes touch down in Kansas, Oklahoma as massive winter storm moves east
Written by ABC Audio ALL RIGHTS RESERVED on February 27, 2023
(NEW YORK) — At least nine tornadoes were reported in Kansas and Oklahoma on Sunday night as a massive winter storm moves eastward across the country, according to the National Weather Service.
One tornado destroyed a home, toppled trees and knocked over power lines in Liberal, Kansas, near the state line with Oklahoma, according to local authorities.
At least 12 people were injured due to the severe weather in Oklahoma’s third-largest city, Norman, located about 20 miles south of the state’s capital. None of the injuries were critical and there were no reported fatalities, according to a press release from the city. Sections of highways and roads had to be closed “mostly due to downed power lines,” the city said.
“The extent of damage will likely not be known until daylight,” the city added.
Wind gusts over 70 mph and hail measuring 1 inch in diameter were reported in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, gusts of 114 mph were recorded in Memphis, Texas, near the state line with Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Monday morning, more than 120 million people across 42 U.S. states were on alert for strong winds, heavy snow, ice and avalanches. Data collected by the website PowerOutage.us shows over 220,000 customers were without power nationwide as of 7:38 ET.
The storm is the same weather system that left California buried under 84 inches of snow and flooded with more than 11 inches of rain last week. After sweeping the Great Plains on Sunday night, the fast-moving system is forecast to hit the Midwest before reaching the Northeast by Monday evening. Severe thunderstorms are possible in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and northern Kentucky on Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, where a mixture of ice and snow is in the forecast.
Areas from New York City to Boston could see 3 to 5 inches of snow on Monday night before the precipitation changes to rain. Farther north and in higher elevations, parts of New York and New England, including Connecticut, could get up to 9 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, yet another storm is forecast to slam California and much of the West Coast, from Los Angeles to Seattle. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for northern California mountains in the Sierra Nevada range, where up to 6 feet of snow is possible. Southern California won’t get as much rain as last week but could see an additional 2 to 3 inches. Heavy snow is also expected in the Rocky Mountains this week, with a potential 12 to 24 inches from Idaho to Arizona.
ABC News’ Victoria Arancio and Flor DeMaria Tolentino contributed to this report.
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