Water rescues reported in Oklahoma City area as storms erupt over South, Gulf Coast

The stormy weather is a continuation of a pattern that impacted the Plains for days last week. Water rescues were reported in the Oklahoma City metro area as slow-moving thunderstorms dumped heavy rain over central Oklahoma on Sunday.

Rounds of showers and thunderstorms that have been impacting the central U.S. are expected to push eastward on Sunday, affecting communities in the South and along the Gulf Coast.

The stormy weather is a continuation of a pattern that impacted the Plains for days last week with rainfall amounts upwards of 6 inches.

Early Sunday morning, water rescues were reported in the Oklahoma City metro area as slow-moving thunderstorms dumped heavy rain over central Oklahoma. The National Weather Service issued several Flash Flood Warnings for cities such as Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman, noting that considerable flash flooding was ongoing.

The storms responsible for the flash flooding also produced a 70-mph wind gust at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.

U.S. HAS ENTERED PEAK FLASH FLOOD SEASON

In addition to the heavy rainfall, storms have produced plenty of lightning, gusty winds and hail.

On Saturday in Indianapolis, a lightning strike at an apartment complex damaged several units. During the response, at least two firefighters were reportedly injured, and the blaze was contained in about a half-hour.

LIGHTNING SAFETY: WHEN THUNDER ROARS, EVEN TAKING OUT THE TRASH CAN TURN DEADLY

Severe thunderstorm risk shifts to South, Gulf Coast on Sunday

While some summertime isolated severe weather is still possible over the Plains on Sunday, the primary risk of severe thunderstorms shifts to the South and along the Gulf Coast.

A separate area of severe storms has also developed along parts of the East Coast. Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been issued for more than 25 million Americans from New Jersey to North Carolina into Sunday evening.

The severe thunderstorm risk in the South on Sunday, July 9, 2023.
(FOX Weather)


 

Cities at a level 2 out of 5 on NOAA's Storm Prediction Center's thunderstorm risk scale in the South and along the Gulf Coast include Shreveport in Louisiana, Tupelo and Jackson in Mississippi and Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama.

The damaging wind threat in the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast on Sunday, July 9, 2023.
(FOX Weather)


 

According to the FOX Forecast Center, damaging wind gusts are the main threat with any of the severe thunderstorms that develop on Sunday.

Loading...