Twisters claim 8 lives in Oklahoma – toll expected to grow

February 11, 5:33 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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Clouds roll over Oklahoma City on Tuesday prior to the
deadly tornado outbreak.  (AP Photo)   Be sure to check
out our slideshow below of the destruction.

The death toll from last night’s deadly tornado outbreak continues to grow.  The Oklahoman newspaper is now reporting 15 deaths and at least 50 injuries in Lone Grove, a town of approximately 5,000 residents. 

Editor's Note (added 10:00am):  Wire reports are saying there are 8 deaths.  The Oklahoman, quoting local authorities, earlier claimed 15 but is now saying 8 as well.  We most likely won't know the final count for a couple of days.

Lone Grove Sheriff Ken Grace said “We’ve had reports of people calling for help in abandoned fields. We’re doing all we can.”  Due to a lack of light and power and debris strewn across the town, rescuers were forced to suspend their search at 1:00am rather than risk injuries to rescuers. Searches will resume at first light and the toll is expected to climb when they do. 

Tornadoes struck across Oklahoma yesterday. Edmond and
Lone Grove bore the brunt of the storms. (AP)   Be sure to
check out our slideshow below of the destruction.

Striking at 7:30pm, the Lone Grove tornado ripped a ½ mile wide path of destruction through town.  Power lines were snapped, trees were down, mobile homes demolished and buildings pulled from their foundations.  Oklahoma Gas and Electric is showing 8,200 customers without power at the current time; 3,500 alone in Lone Grove. 

The outbreak started late yesterday afternoon as twisters struck the suburbs of Oklahoma city, damaging six homes and a number of businesses Edmond (click here to view our coverage of that series of storms). The setup for these storms was seen well in advance and Monday I had in fact talked to famed storm chaser Roger Hill and he was heading to the Texas / Oklahoma area today to chase them. 

The severe weather season for Oklahoma typically doesn’t start until March and following on last year’s particularly deadly tornado season, 2009 is starting off in a way we would prefer not to see.  Click here for details on the 2008 season.