Thunderstorms and possible tornadoes remained in the forecast Monday for the south-central U.S., including Oklahoma, where a breakout of twisters over the weekend injured at least 11 people, damaged homes and left thousands without power, officials said.
Flood and tornado warnings were active throughout central and eastern Oklahoma as forecasters anticipated additional rain to inundate the storm-battered state. The flood advisories extended into Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Texas.
Citing the danger posed by the incoming storms, several school districts and colleges, including Oklahoma State University, canceled classes for Monday. The Oklahoma City Municipal Court postponed hearings.
Multiple tornadoes damaged at least 100 homes as flooding trapped people in their cars and wind uprooted trees and tangled power lines. In Tulsa County, about 100 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, lightning strikes set a house aflame.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an emergency declaration for six counties impacted by the storms. He said Sunday that among the state’s main priorities will be restoring power to polling places ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day. The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network, said there have been no reports of damage to polling places that would prevent voting.
The governor asked residents to monitor weather updates Monday. “Sometimes as Oklahomans, as a fourth generation Oklahoman, you think, ‘Man, it could never hit me,’ but you’ve got to be really, really cautious,” he said.