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Transit of Venus at Science Museum Oklahoma

Adam Kemp — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:10:02 +0000

Get your No. 14 welders goggles ready, today at 5:05 p.m. Venus will become visible as a small, black dot as its orbit takes it in front of the sun.

Scientists say Earth won’t be in a position to see the ‘Transit of Venus’ again until the year 2125; so this is truly a once in a lifetime chance.

The Oklahoma City Astronomy club is hosting a live viewing at Science Museum Oklahoma for those wanting to see this cosmic event. For more information; check out my story at newsok.com.

For those wanting even more information; I will be live tweeting the event from my account, @Adam_WK

Happy viewing!

Oklahoma storms: Review thunderstorm safety checklist

Tiffany Gibson — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:27:47 +0000

Severe storms with large hail and high winds swept through Oklahoma Tuesday night, knocking out power to thousands and damaging homes and vehicles.

Several apartment buildings and homes had broken windows, as well as scattered leaves and tree limbs throughout neighborhoods.

Our reporters have been following the damage and upcoming storms expected to hit later this evening. To avoid injury, it never hurts to be prepared. Take some time to review a severe weather checklist below provided by the American Red Cross.

For more storm coverage this evening, follow or subscribe to our Weather blog here.

Severe weather checklist

Photo submitted by Leslie Berger.

Video of Woodward tornado early Sunday

Tiffany Gibson — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 06:14:31 +0000

The Woodward News posted a video on its Twitter account of a tornado on the west part of Woodward Sunday morning. Click the photo above to watch the video.

Some damage reported along 34th Street area, including houses and some cars. Some possible injuries reported.

All tornado warnings expire; several counties under severe storm warning

Tiffany Gibson — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:04:02 +0000

4:30 a.m. The tornado warning for Pawnee County has expired. Only severe thunderstorm warnings remain across the state.

Forecasters said the following counties are under a severe thunderstorm warning:

Creek, Garfield, Noble, Nowata, Osage, Payne, Rogers and Washington.

3:50 a.m. A tornado warning has been issued for Pawnee County until 4:15 a.m. Saturday. Meteorologists located the storm capable of producing a tornado near Pawnee and is said to be moving northeast about 30 mph.

3:40 a.m. The tornado warning for Logan County has been canceled, but forecasters have issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Logan, Lincoln and Payne counties.

This storm is capable of producing half-dollar size hail and is accompanied by damaging winds up to 65 mph. It was located near Meridian and is moving east at 35 mph.

Areas that could be affected by this storm include Stillwater, Cushing, Perkins, Langston, Tryon, Ripley, Agra, Coyle, Meridian, Lake Carl Blackwell and Ingalls.

3:30 a.m. The severe thunderstorm warning for Payne and Noble counties has expired, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado warning for Oklahoma and Canadian counties has also expired. Both remain under a tornado watch until 4 a.m. Saturday.

3:15 a.m. Mustang — A small tornado hit a housing addition early Saturday, a police dispatcher said.

The tornado hit about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at the Branches addition near Geronimo and Ponderosa Way. Homes in the area sustained minor damage, the dispatcher said.

There are also power poles down at SW 59 and Mustang Road, and the area will be closed to traffic. No injuries have been reported.

Mustang was without power Saturday morning.

3 a.m. The tornado warning for Logan County has been extended until 3:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters have not confirmed that a tornado has touched down in this area.

2:30 a.m. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman has issued a tornado warning for Oklahoma, Logan and Canadian counties. Meteorologists detected a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado about four miles southwest of Seward that is moving northeast at 25 mph.

Areas that could be affected by the storm include Guthrie, Cedar Valley, Meridian, Navina and Seward.

Videos of storms, damage in Norman Friday

Tiffany Gibson — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:07:16 +0000

Below are videos of a tornado in Norman and storm damage Friday. If you have a video you’d like to submit, post the link in the comments and we might add it to our list.

Power lines are blown down in Norman

Tornado warning at OU campus (3 minutes into video)

Tornado spotted in Norman

Storm damage in Norman



Video of hail in Oklahoma City
Tiffany Gibson — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:27:59 +0000

An Oklahoma City resident submitted this video of quarter-size hail falling at his home near I-40 and Choctaw Road. He also reported flooding at his home. See photo below.




Photo of storm damage in Norman
Tiffany Gibson — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:09:20 +0000

Here’s a photo of storm damage in Norman that was tweeted James Winchester. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman reported a tornado in the area about 4 p.m. Friday.
If you have more photos of damage from the storm, send them to pics@newsok.com.



Video of funnel forming in Norman Friday
Tiffany Gibson — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:57:37 +0000
Watch a submitted video of a funnel form about a half mile south of Highway 9 and Classen Boulevard. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Norman reported a tornado in the area about 4 p.m. Friday.




Oklahomans travel to Texas, help with recovery efforts after tornados
Tiffany Gibson — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:32:24 +0000
Oklahoma volunteers have responded to Texas to help with recovery efforts after an outbreak of violent storms and tornadoes earlier this week.
Rusty Surette, spokesman for the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, said nine Oklahomans were deployed to north Texas to help residents after tornados hit the Dallas and Fort Worth area on April 3.
In the video below, Surette gives a video update of the damage caused by the storms and the work his team has been doing.




Medford issues evacuation advisory due to leak at ONEOK facility
Tiffany Gibson — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:09:54 +0000

MEDFORD – Grant County Emergency Management officials issued an evacuation advisory Thursday as a precautionary measure after a leak at a ONEOK Inc. hydrocarbon facility Tuesday.
City Manager Dea Kretchmar said officials are working with the American Red Cross to open a shelter to provide a safe place for residents who are concerned about propane vapors in the air, especially due to the fluctuating temperatures and wind speeds.
She said the evacuation is not mandatory, but residents within a 5-mile radius of the facility are advised to evacuate.
Rusty Surette, spokesman for the American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, said the organization will open a shelter at the abandoned Wakita school at 200 S Spruce Street. He said those who evacuate are encouraged to bring a change of clothes and necessities.
ONEOK Inc. has been monitoring the levels since an unexpected brine release Tuesday night, spokeswoman Megan Washbourne said.
She said the leak began with brine leaking, but mostly propane vapors were being released by Wednesday afternoon.
Company officials are monitoring the site and have measured levels of flammability in the air. Washbourne said the levels still were safe as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Roads near the facility have been closed as a precaution, including U.S. 81. The Grant County Department of Transportation reports that U.S. 81 between Pond Creek and Medford will be closed for at least a week due to the ONEOK facility incident. Traffic will be diverted to State Highway 11, State Highway 74 and U.S. 60 while the road is closed.
The incident remains under investigation.
Read the evacuation advisory order for Medford