1 dead after tornadoes hit Oklahoma as millions in Midwest face strong tornado threat

(CNN) — Destructive storms raged across the plains on Monday, spawning at least one deadly tornado, huge hail and hurricane-force wind gusts. As some communities pick up the pieces, new ones must prepare for the threat of powerful tornadoes in the Midwest.

• One dead, several injured: At least one person was dead and several others were injured after a tornado struck Osage and Washington counties in Oklahoma on Monday evening, Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden said in an on-air interview with CNN affiliate KOKI. There was significant damage to dozens of homes between Barnsdall and Bartlesville and several injuries. “We took a direct hit from a tornado here in Bartlesville,” said Kary Cox, Washington County emergency management operations manager.

• City hit by tornado for second time in five weeks: Monday night’s tornado triggered a tornado emergency in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, but residents here were all too familiar with the situation. It was the second devastating tornado in just over a month to hit the city, which was struck by an EF1 on April 1.

• Tornado damage in at least two other states: A tornado caused “significant damage” late Monday evening in Sullivan, Missouri, according to storm reports. The extent of the damage is unclear, but images from the scene showed buildings destroyed by the hurricane. Another tornado ripped through parts of DeKalb County, Tennessee, early Monday afternoon, damaging at least a dozen homes in the Smithville area, officials told CNN.

• More than 200 storm reports: According to the Storm Prediction Center, there were 244 storm reports Monday, including 17 tornado reports. Hailstones the size of softballs fell in Kansas, while hailstones the size of baseballs fell on Oklahoma. Wind gusts of 70 mph or more were recorded in Nebraska and Kansas, while a wind gust of 82 mph occurred near Chester, Oklahoma.

• Rare issue with high risk: Monday marked the Storm Prediction Center’s first high — Level 5 out of 5 — for the U.S. in more than a year. It was the first time in nearly five years that Oklahoma faced such extreme risk and the first time in nearly seven years in Kansas.

• More storms coming: There is a risk of severe thunderstorms of Level 3 out of 5 across parts of the US on Tuesday and Wednesday, with millions of people at risk from damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes.

Tornado damage was observed in Barnsdall, Oklahoma on May 7, 2024. (CNN)

The tornado threat shifts to the Midwest, Tennessee Valley on Tuesday

Severe thunderstorms on Tuesday are increasing the risk of damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes across the eastern United States.

The most severe thunderstorms are expected to be concentrated in parts of the Midwest and the Tennessee Valley beginning in the afternoon.

Nearly 13 million people here are at risk from some strong tornadoes with strengths of at least EF2. The Level 3 out of 5 risk area includes large portions of Indiana, including Indianapolis; Kentucky, including Louisville; and Ohio, including Columbus.

Outside the highest risk areas, damaging winds and hail are possible across much of the eastern United States.

Millions of people are at risk of severe storms again on Wednesday, including areas hit hard by Monday’s storms.

There is a widespread risk of severe thunderstorms of Level 3 out of 5 from northeast Texas and eastern Oklahoma to much of Kentucky and Tennessee. Damaging wind gusts, hail larger than baseballs and tornadoes are possible in Wednesday’s storms.

A few strong tornadoes are possible, primarily from Missouri through central Kentucky and northern Tennessee. St. Louis and Nashville are just two cities at risk of strong tornadoes.

Torrential rain is also possible within a storm on Wednesday, which could cause flash flooding. According to the Weather Prediction Center, much of the valleys in Tennessee and Ohio are at a Level 2 out of 4 risk of excessive precipitation. During the most severe storms, rainfall amounts can reach 1 to 2 inches per hour.

Contributor: Joe Sutton and Robert Shackelford, CNN