An outbreak of severe weather unfolded across the south-central United States on Tuesday and continued to impact parts of Oklahoma and Texas into Wednesday morning.
The powerful thunderstorms left behind damage across North Texas and caused power outages to more than 200,000 in the state. Thousands were also without power in Oklahoma early Wednesday.
There were at least 14 reports of tornadoes on Tuesday, with all of them in Texas, as well as dozens of wind damage and hail reports. A 74-mph wind gust and tennis ball-sized hail were reported in Seymour, Texas, while a 95-mph wind gust was observed in El Reno, Oklahoma.
At least one person in the Dallas-Fort Worth area was injured, according to the Dallas Morning News. Several school districts were forced to close Wednesday due to power outages, and damage to homes was also reported.
Three storm chasers were killed in a two-car accident near Spur, Texas, on Tuesday afternoon.
Two of the victims, Kelley Williamson, 57, and Randy Yarnall, 55, both of Cassville, Missouri, were contractors for The Weather Channel. The third, Corbin Jaeger, 25, was a storm chaser for MadWx.
Investigators told the Associated Press that a black Chevrolet Suburban driven by Williamson ran through a stop sign at an intersection and collided with a Jeep carrying Yarnall and Jaeger. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said that weather did not play a direct role in the accident, although a tornado-warned storm was nearby.
As the storms dropped heavy rain, flash flood warnings were issued across Oklahoma.
Road closures were reported around Oklahoma City early Wednesday due to flooding, including a stretch of Interstate 235.
by Kevin Byrne
March 29, 2017, 12:39:31 PM EDT
