Severe weather impacted over 45 million Americans on Easter Sunday as thunderstorms, flooding, and tornado risks affected areas from East Texas to southeastern Iowa and Illinois. In Oklahoma, heavy rain earlier in the weekend had already caused fatalities.
At least two people, one of them a child, lost their lives after powerful storms swept through parts of Texas and Oklahoma over the weekend. According to police, a woman and a 12-year-old boy were killed after floodwaters swept their vehicle off the road in central Oklahoma (per CNN).
The Moore Police Department in Oklahoma reported that emergency teams responded around 9 p.m. Saturday to calls about two vehicles stranded in rising floodwaters. Authorities said one vehicle veered off the road and was pulled under a bridge by the strong current. While rescuers managed to save most of the passengers, two individuals could not be saved. The storm event severely affected roadways and prompting dozens of high-water rescues throughout Moore.
The police department shared on Facebook “This was a historic weather event. With heavy hearts, we confirm the deaths of an adult woman and a 12-year-old boy, whose bodies were later recovered. We deeply appreciate the assistance from neighboring agencies who supported the rescue operations. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those lost.”
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center received over 120 reports of severe weather on Saturday, most of them concentrated in Texas and Oklahoma. The town of Jacksboro, Texas, faced significant damage, with photos revealing battered buildings and scattered debris. In Oklahoma’s Courtney area, storm damage included downed trees and power lines, while structures such as barns and sheds also suffered destruction.
According to the Storm Prediction Center, severe weather was expected to strike parts of East Texas through the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley in the afternoon and evening, threatening portions of Arkansas and Missouri. Severe weather, including strong winds, hail, and tornado risks, also spread to East Texas, the Ozarks, and parts of Arkansas and Missouri. Tornado watches were issued across multiple states, including Oklahoma and Texas, with boat rescues in Montague County, Texas, where flooding stranded residents. Forecasters expect the storms to subside by Monday.
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