Forecasters Warn Of Severe Weather Outbreak In Central US
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — School districts and authorities are bracing for the possibility for a severe weather outbreak that could produce powerful, long-track tornadoes and large hail on Tuesday in some central and southern Plains states.
The most dangerous weather — heavy winds, tornadoes and hail as large as baseballs or softballs— will likely take aim at a 69,000-square-mile area stretching from southern Oklahoma to southern Nebraska, including the Oklahoma City area, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman.
In all, 25 million people from the Rio Grande River in south Texas to Omaha, Nebraska, are at a slight risk or higher of experiencing severe weather Tuesday. In the east, a separate storm system could bring thunderstorms, strong winds and hail to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., but the risk of severe outbreaks is low.
"We shouldn't assume that we're going to have a lot of information — you know, a lot of lead time," Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Matt Mosier said. "We may or we may not."
Administrators for Oklahoma City Public Schools, the state's largest school district, planned to meet early Tuesday morning to assess the weather and determine whether to cancel classes, spokesman Mark Myers said in an emailed statement.
The University of Oklahoma has sent messages on social media since last week reminding followers to be aware of conditions, and will announce any potential decisions regarding class cancelations as early as possible, spokeswoman Catherine Bishop said.
The Storm Prediction Center issued a notice last week that severe weather was possible Tuesday in this part of the country and released updated forecasts in the days since.
Residents of impacted areas should develop a plan to take shelter from a quick-forming storm without driving in severe conditions, Mosier said.
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