Severe weather turns deadly in Oklahoma after pounding Texas to Iowa with damaging winds, large hail
According to the National Weather Service, one person was killed Saturday night in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, just south of the community of Scraper, when thunderstorm winds toppled a tree onto a camper on the east side of the Illinois River, trapping a couple inside.
Severe weather, flooding, ice slam communities across US
It’s been a wild weekend for weather as communities across the U.S. experience severe weather, disruptive ice and flooding. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne has all the details on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Severe weather tore across portions of the Plains and Midwest on Saturday and Saturday night, with powerful storms slamming communities from Texas to Iowa with damaging wind gusts and large hail.
According to the National Weather Service, one person was killed Saturday night in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, just south of the community of Scraper, when thunderstorm winds toppled a tree onto a camper on the east side of the Illinois River, trapping a couple inside.
The severe weather on Saturday was a precursor to what is expected to be another dangerous day of extreme weather, with more than 100 million people from Texas and the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes region on alert on Sunday.
Watch: Hail pelts car during severe weather in Oklahoma
A video shared by FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Corey Gerken shows hail falling and slamming into his vehicle during severe weather in Oklahoma on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
A video shared by FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Corey Gerkin showed hail falling during a thunderstorm while he was traveling through Oklahoma on Saturday. In the video, you can hear the hail pelting his vehicle while trucks and other cars proceed slowly during the dangerous drives.
Another video showed the damage to Gerkin's vehicle after the storm, with dents visible on the hood and roof.
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Watch: Hail damages vehicles in Oklahoma
A video shared by FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Corey Gerken shows damage to his vehicle after it was pelted by hail during severe weather in Oklahoma on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Dozens of severe weather reports were received by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC) on Saturday.
Hail the size of a baseball or tennis ball was reported in several communities in Oklahoma, including the Bridge Creek and Ninnekah areas. Teacup-sized hail was also reported in Amber.
Powerful, hurricane-force wind gusts were also reported.
The SPC said an 85-mph wind gust was reported at the Baxter Springs Fire Department in Kansas, which is as strong as a Category 1 hurricane. Damage was reported in that community, including reports of damage to multiple structures. Roofs were reportedly torn off buildings, and walls collapsed with numerous trees down.
A wind gust of 79 mph was also reported at Joplin Regional Airport in Missouri.