At least six tornadoes tore through northern Oklahoma Thursday night as part of a severe line of thunderstorms that extended from Kansas into Iowa. The system produced baseball-sized hail, heavy rain and straight-line winds in excess of 100 mph.
Two twisters formed near the town of Bremen, tracking side by side before merging, while a violent tornado moved through the city of Enid. That Enid twister was later rated an EF4, with meteorologists estimating peak winds of about 166 mph. Officials said the storm carved roughly a 10-mile path and remained on the ground for about 40 minutes.
The tornado damaged nearby Vance Air Force Base and left dozens of homes heavily damaged or completely destroyed. Despite the widespread destruction, authorities reported no fatalities and only minor injuries.
Residents described frantic escapes and scenes of devastation. Tyler Vanover said he and his wife jumped into their car and drove away from the approaching tornado to reach safety. Raeann Hunt carried her dogs and cat into an underground shelter with family and neighbors; when they came out, a large shop and other structures were leveled.
Many houses in the affected area lack basements, making the high number of survivors with only minor injuries notable. Emergency crews and neighbors have been working on rescues and recovery, and communities were preparing for the possibility of additional severe weather expected the following day.